Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-19
Big Guns Wanted
 for CoastDefenCeS
ASKED FOR IN REPORT OF ARMY
 BOARD.
RANGE AND POWER
 
To Be Greater Than Any That Could Be Arrayed Against Them-Wanted immediately.

Washington. Feb. IS-Guns Of great CT range and power than any that could be arrayed against them were asked for American coast defences, iu q report Of the army board submitted by Secretary Garrison and made plrb- lc today by the house appropriation colnmtttee. The board advised thai the old type tWelve-inch guns and mortars are not equal in range ana power to major calibre guns af1oat."
 MT. Garrison recommended the inaa mediate Improvement of some of ths coast defences so that the range of the old tHelVe-inch guns could be in- creased to 10000 yards and the board suggested that wherever it was nec- essary to construct new works ths larger guns should be 16-inch, forty five calibre weapons.
 The boards report said iii part:
 After full consideration of the uues. uon presented by the secretary of the war the board finds:
 Old Type mortsrs inadequate.
 That the old type 12-fnch guns and mortarS are not equal in range and power to major-calibre guns ahoat; that by such minor changes in ths carriage of the old type 12-iuch guns at present emplaced as will permit an e!eNauon or 15 degrees and by the pro- vision cf a certain preparation of lighter protectileS of approximately Tod AfothIAho CLcIlL, 1n GIIeEIiEG range Oi about 29,O00 yards can be given these guns; that these changes should bs made.
 That the great majority of our IT, inch guns, with certain slight changes which nave already been ordered ana oy the supply of a portion of the pro !ectiles or lighter weight than the heaviest now furnished, are suitable m power and range to meet any thai may now be brought against them.
 Modernizing of Notifications.
 That a policy should be adopted Of providing, through annual appropri- atIonS, for such modernizing of forfi- ncatlo1s as will result in keeping pace with the improvement in armament That in the case of those works where modernizing involves very eys tensive changes in emplacements. gun carriages, etc, it will be policy to con 1 stfucr new works and provide new arnanents for the demands of the sits That the old works should be held when practicable and desirable as a secondary line of denfense. That wherever it may be necessary 70 construct new works. especially al important points, such as the entrance of our principal harbors naval bases etc, the major -caliDre guns should hs at least a sixteen-inch forty-five cali ore gun, mounted so as to have tFs greatest possible protection and all. round fire where it may be necessary to have such fire.
 Range of 21,ooo Yards.
 That the mortars to be installed 7o future should be not less than twelve inch calfbre, with a range of at least 21,000 yards.
 I hat this weapon should be the nlJ- mericalIy preponderant type in ouI coast defences, as it is cheap. has lons life, can be easily protected, is very effective against ships and can be used as a valuable adjunct for the land de- fence. 1t must not, however. at any important point, be adopted to the ex. clusion of high power direct fire guns
 The general policy with reference 10 Seacoast defences should be to have the armament there emplaced of great CT range and power than any which can be brought against it'' Will Require $40, ,ooo, ,0o0, Secretary Garrison's statement fs l the committee reviewed the pro- gTanlne for construction of coast de- l fences which he said would reuuirs i $40-000,1j0.