The Washington times., 1915-12-18
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, It
Is Asserted.


Lessons OF the European war arc
cited in reports of the. chief OF coast
artillery and the chief signal OFFICER OF
the army. made public today. In adVo-
cacy OF heavier coast fortihcations and
increases in the aviation service.
"The European war has confirmed In
a remarkable way the value OF coast
fortiications." said Brig. Gen. L. NJ.
Weaver. chief of coast artillery, IN his
report ito Secretary Garrison. The re-
Dorts of adjutant Eencrat surPeon gem
eral, quartermaster general. and chief
signal officer also were submitted
'AlI that has ever been claimed in the
way Of coast Notifications being able
successtuHv to resist thes attacks of
warships in an attempt to run, by has
heen and is being demoItstrated at the
Dardanelles,' General Weaver said.
BEYOND question, it there has been cs-
tablished that gunfre ashore Is more
than an eqiial match for SGnfre ahoat.
u. s. System Formidable.
Similarly. the fortidcations protect
ing the German coast on the North and
Baltic seas have served 10 protect the
German navy from the overpowcring
English fleet. Also the imrrovised coast
dofenses constructed by the Germans
along the Belgian coast have proved
their effectiveness in holding off the
British werships.
Hereafter the ability Of coast forti-
fcations to protect coast cities and an
ChoraCes from bombardmcnt, and TO
prevent an enemy naval force from run
ming past fortifications in restricted
waters. cannot be doubted.
The United states possesses today
NJ
fenses in the world" General Weaver's
report says He declares, however, that
IL Is insuffcientlv manned. The Coast
Artillery CORDS is short $50 officers and
necessary to man the present coast for-
tifications, he said. He places the ap-
nroXimatc cost of the guns and mortars
for which no manning bodies have been
provided at $4,000, ,0Oo To provide for
this shortage will require $5,75o,000 an
nually
For manning the Potomac river de-
. lenses, General weaver holds that
thirty seven officers and 7s2 men are
needed.
# Recommends 17-inch Gun.
General weaver suggests that advant-
age will be gained by adopting guns of
17-inch caliber. The effectiveness of the
42-eentimeter guns in Germany Is cited
as an argument for large caliber.
The shortage In ammunition Is a
serious deficiency. General Weaver de-
clares. 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 a
period as will enable the Industrial and
manufacturing agencies of the country
to become organized and operative. At
present there is only a two-hour allow
ance for the half the armament in con-
t'nental United states.
In the report of Brig. Gen. George p.
Scriven, chief signal officer. a strong ar
gument is made for increased aviation
strength.
The war in Europe has emphasized
fhe :sso!uto ce"ess'tv 70" ~ adequate
aviation service" General Scriyen saws.
and has illustrated in a most forceful
way the dangers resulting from an i'm
adequate supply OF personnel and ma
terial."
Wants More AviatOrs.
General Scriven SAYS the proper
strength should be eighteen aviation
squadrons of 1858 officers and 1850 men.
The total cost OF the equipment for
these examinations would be &,2S4 900.
This is peace footing. He would in
crease the war strength by giving com
missions to licensed amateur pilots. He
would modify 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 B. Ale
SHIRE. quartermaster Of the army also
made public today. urges the advisab bill
ity of procuring fabrics in which Ameri,
can dyes could be used as a means OF
gaining independence of German dye
stuffs.
The report OF Brig. Gen. II. r. Nc.
Cain. adjutant general. places the actual
strength of the army at 105993. of which
.lSS are officers and 101. 1876 enlisted men
The records showed that of the commits.
stoned officers only one. Col. John l.
CleIn, was in service during the civi
war. Colonel Glenn was retired in Au'
gust.
General Mccain says that additions tC
the clerical force in his offices probably
Will be needed soon. During the year
there We're eleven deaths IN his depart
neilt The aVeragclaRe OF the clerks who
died, was stxty-five years. and their av'
craze service thirty-one years. ...
Heavy decrease in malaria cases al
Fort Washington is noted in the re-
port of Brig. Gen. William c. Gorgas
surgeon general OF tho army.
Reduction In Malaria.
1T is satisfactory to note that Fort
Washington, Md, mas an admission
rate for malaria of only 1l.Tl. as com.
pared with 25.SS in 19iS,'' General Ger
gas said. when it is recalled that
this post had the excessive rate Of 73(
as recently us 1905. and that for the
years 1896 to 1911 the rate was only
once below 20, the result of intelligent
and persistent work to reduce malarial
disease is apparent Lieut.. 4. c. Jack
SON., Medical Reserve Corps. is giYer
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
licers' quarters there.
'rhe army had its healthiest year III
1914, General GOrgas reported.