The Washington times., 1915-12-18
HEAVIER DEFENSES
FOR j. s. COAST ARE
URGED IN REPORTS
Lessons From Europe's War Are
Cited by Generals Weaver
and Scriven.
FOR BIGGER AERO SERVICE
Gunfire Ashore More Than Equal
Match for Gunfire AfIoat, 1t
Is Asserted.

Lessons OF the Eurorear war are
1ited in reports of the chief OF coas'
artillery and the chief signal officer Of
the ar:ly. made public today. In adN2'
,.acy of heavier coast fortifications ant
increases in the aviation service.
"The European war has confirmed II
a rema -k.ble way the value OF coast
tortificati3ns." said Brig. Cen. L. NJ
Weaver. chief of coast artillery. N his
report to Secretary Garrison. The re-
ports of adiutant genera surgeon gen
eral uuartermaster general. and chiel
signal officer also were submitted
"AlI that has ever been claimed in the
way Of coast fortincations being able
successfully to resist tho attacks OF
warships in an attempt to run BY has
heen and is being demonstrated at the
Dardanellcs, General Weaver said
'Revond question. it there has heen cs'
tablished that Sunfirc ashore Is more
than an eqral match for sunGre ahoat.
U. S. System Formidable.
''Simlarly. the fort!dratsons protect
ing the German coast on the North and
Baltic seas have served tc protect the
German navy from the ovcrpoUcT z
Erglish fleet Also the imr;ovised coast
dctenses constructed by the Germans
along the Belgian coast have proved
'hcir effectiveness in holding off tho
British warships.
thereafter the ability of coast forti-
fcationS to protect coast cities and an
choraGes rom bomhardrlcnt. and TO
prevent an enemy naval force from run
ming past forttfiCations in restricted
waters. cannot he doubted.
The United states possesses today
the most formida BILE system Of coast de-
fenses in the world" General Weaver's
report says. He declares, however. tina t
it is insuffcientlv manned. The Coast
Artillery CORDS is short $50 officers and
necessary to man the present coast for
tif1ca tions, he said. He places the ap-
nroximatc cost Of the guns and mortars
for which no manning bodies have been
provided at s4l .OOO, 900. TO provide for
this shortage will require s., $50 900 an
nually.
For manning the Potomac river de-
lenses. General weaver holds that
thirty-seven officers and 762 men are
needed.
T., Recommends 17-inch Gun.
General weaver suggests that advant-
age will be gained by adopting guns of
1I-inch caliber. The effectiveness of the
42-centimeter guns in Germany is cited
as an argument for large calber
The shortage in ammunition Is a
serious deficiency. General Weaver de
ciares. He urges that the accumulation
OF ammunition should be such as to
enable the Government to conduct a
war OF the first magnitude for such q
neriod rs will enable the industrial and
manufacturing agencies of the country
10 become organized and operative. At
nrfSent fhnTa lie nn1N
ance for the half the armament in con-
tinental United States.
In the report of Brig. Gen. George p
Scrivcn. chief signal officer. a strong ar
gument is made for increas sed aviation
strength.
The war in Europe has emphasized
the oSsolCtS caoessitv f"~ oc adequate
aviation service" General Scriven saws.
and has illustrated in a. most forceful
way the dangers resulting from an in
terial."
Wants More Aviators.
General Scriven saws the proper
strength should he eighteen aviation
sduadrons Of 36S officers and 1850 men.
The total cost of the equipment for
these organizations would be A2s4, 900
This is peace footing. He would in
crease the war strength by giving COM
missions to licensed amateur pilots. He
"'ulu the RESTRICTIONS regarding
age, rank. and marriage SO AS to open
the service to all officers OF the line.
The report of Mai. Gen. James p. Ale
shlre. duartermaster OF the army also
made public today. urges the advisa bill
ity of procuring fabrics in which Ameri,
can dyes could be used as a means OF
calming independence of German dye.
stuffs.
The report OF Brig. Gen. II. r. Nc.
caln. adlutant general. places the actua
a 81 Nr-l,i i,l
i.%S are officers and l01 l9j enlisted men
The records showed that of the commits.
stoned officers only one. Col. John l..
elem. was in service during the civi
war. Colonel Glenn was retired in Au'
gust.
General Mccain saws that additions tc
the clerical force in his offices probably
viii be needed soon. During the yeal
ment. The average age of the clerks whO
died was sixty-iive years. and their av'
erase service thirty-one years.
Heavy decrease in malaria cases al
port of Brig. Cen. William G. Gorgss
surgeon general of the army.
Reduction In Malaria.
1T is satisfactory to note that Fort
Wa shington, Nd, has an admission
rate for malaria of only AL. as con-.
pared with %5.62 in 1918" General Gr,'-
gas sald. ncn IL is ieCaIled thal
this post had the excessive rate Of 13(
as recently as 1906. and that for the
wears 1876 to 1911 the rate was only
once below 20, the result of intelligent
and persistent work 10 reduce malarial
disease is apparent Lieut.. 4. &. Jack.
son.. Medical Reserve Corps. is given
chief ere dit for the success Of the cam
naign against malaria.
General Gorcas recommends that
quarters should be built for all officers
en- duty at Walter Reed Hospital. Al
Iiresent there are only two sets of Of
Gccrs' quarters there.
The army had its healthiest year IN
1914, General GOrgas reported.
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C-o:eL Mo- Uatarorc