The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-19
RECOMMENDS
LARGER GUNS
ARMY BOARD ASKS FOR
STRONGER AMERICAN
COAST DEFENSES
NEW WORKS
WHERE. NEEDED
Want Guns of Greater Ranges
and Power Than Other
Nations
By Associnted Prees.l

WASHINGTON, FEB. 1S.-GunS OF
greater range and power than any
that could be arrayed against them
were asked for American coast de-
fenses in an army hoard report sub
mitted by Secretary Garrison and
preparations committee. The board
guns and mortars '.are not equal in
range and power to major calibre
gins afloat."
| Mr.. Garrison recommended the i'm
mediate improvement OF some OF the
coast defenses so that the range Of
the old 12-inch guns could be increas-
ed to 10000 ysrds and the board sug-
gested that wherever 1t was necessary
to construct new works the larger
guns should be 16-inch weapons.
The boards report said in part:
After full consideration OF the
question presented by the secretary OF
war the board finds:
! THAT the old type 12-inch guns
| and mortars are not equal in range
and power to major calibre guns
afloat;
THAT by minor changes In the car
riage of the old type 12-inch gun and
| by the provision OF a certain proper
tion OF lighter pfojectiles, an effective
range of about 10000 yards can be
given these gunsi that these changes
should be made;
"That the great majority four IA
inch guns, with certain slight changes
which have already been ordered and
by the supply OF atportion OF the pro-
| jectiies Of lighter weight are suitable
In power and range to meet any that
may now be brought against them.
That policv should be adopted
OF providing, through annual appro-
priations. for such undermining Of for
i ttifcations, as will result in Keeping
pace with the Improvement In arma-
msnt afloat. & asis ~ 4.
That In the esse of those works
where undermining involves very ex-
tensiFe changes In ernplacemeSts, gun
carriages. etc., 1t will be policy & 10
construct new works and provide new
Earmaments adequate for the demands
Of the situation.
That the old works should be
held. when practicable and desirable,
fas secondary line Of defease.
That the mortars 20 be installed
! IN future shoul5 be os not less than
12-inch calibre, with q range Of at
least $4,000 yards.
THAT this weapon should be the
numerically preponderant type la our
coast defenses. 1t must not, however.
Of any important point be adopted to
the exclusion OF high power direct
fire guna"
Secretary Garrison's statement to
the committee reviewed the program
for construction OF coast defense.,.
which he said would require $40 .006,.
600. -
''The project as revised to date, . he
said, "calls for 1901 guns and mortars
OF caltbres from three-inch to 16-inch
Inclusive. or this number ], ,1S4 or 81
per cent have been provided Tor. !. all
OF which, except 16, are new mounted
In fortifications. There remains to be
Appropriated for III guns end NOR
tars.''
For the coast guns, the secretary
said, the allowance a. ammunition was
based on a Quahtity sufficient for
two-hour engagement for, half. the
total number OF weapons mounted,
and that there was on hand and under
manufaeture apprcxinia ately 7S per
cent o this allowance. The prescribed
allowances OF ammunition for fortiflca-
lions OF the innnlar possdssiuhs and
TIE Panama Canal, he said, was
enough Ito carry the guns thfotrh 4
two-hour enlargement, together WITH
specip provision In some batteries for
land defense needs.
Approx oxiinately II per cento tie al
loWance has been auppiied for the
Hawaiisas. and Philippine ayqtaflienta
and iS per. cent for Panama. 81
0t the total project for asfd ar
tfilery, Mr.. Garrison said Ii ttirefadsd
l,E91 guns and hoWit fers. OF which
funds had been provided FOR the man
niacturs Of 500 Ammunition on hand
the amount required Tor the ains- nisss
yided for, and 81 ref cent of the al. I
tire project a 4
Lessons Of tho European war! Ai,s
Garrison added. had tlsnoiisfra} ~
that aercplanes were absoiuteiy -
Esentiai fpr scouting, and that 4 iils,.
tlons 3, 7, .1,i B q as'ss ~
The fortiieasloh apntonriatioa Mi,
Aa approved by Secretary aaYrikoIs III.
ciudes the provision proposed IN fl5t
war department 20 at;thorise tilss -. (
cEesary OF war to grant to che .Vn4fSil.
southern Railto6d 4 pernefual rirl,f ~
wHy through the lands seouire9I ri,
togtt naatlOna st Cape H4nrv a. al.
phanEe Tor all the co1apanys 4 ltiSsIs
ma rights BY way within those II ssilfS
tno railroad 10 b. res.s sssssa sslS7 iiS
expense In exchanging the iocaisns 81 I
rs tfacEs, stations or ether nfo6erts.
:. : g ~ q &c
a weight atsA;:iied hs 4 nbaiS y, ,ke
atop fer Of q hot water bottle ana nss...
I'd inside the lettef prevents tks sfns,-
nor from hefrlr} 4.fAsil, "a ~ ~, -