Evening star., 1915-01-05
COCKTAILS IS HEARD
ON DEFENSE NEEDS
Says Canal Zone Has Guns
and Ammunition, But DupIi-
Gates Are Necessary.

Gov. Goethals of the Panama Canal
Zone told the House appropriations
subcommittee on fortifications today
that the amount of ammunition per
gun now in the zone is sufficient to
last until the use of the charges shall
finally impair the efficiency of the gun.
Gov Goethals, accompanied by Nal
Gen. Aleshire, chief of the Quarter
master Corps; Brig. Gems. Weaver OF
the coast artillery and Crozier of the
ordnance bureau. appeared to explain
their official estimates for inclusion in
the coming fortiflcation bill.
Gov. Goethals said that while the
guns and the ammunition at the zone
were ample, 1t was necessary to nave
provision for a duplication OF various
things. He told of the searchlights
which he said covered the range Of the
guns and the area Of the mine fields.
Canal Slides Not Mentioned.
The slides in the canal whose occur
renee was used as the basis for the
suggestion that the passage of the At
lantic fleet through the canal could not
be guaranteed was not discussed at
the morning session of Gov. Goethafs
hearing.
Gov. Goethals was asked about 1t
You'll have to ask Secretary Garrl-
son." he replied. Il haven't anything
to say about it, and he slipped away to
luncheon with members of the COM
mittee.
Gov. Goethals talked about the forti-
fications of the canal. in explanation of
the estimates already published.
He said the fortifications were ample,
T.
gerald piled him with questions and
reminded Gems. Crozier and Weaver
that if they had any difference OF view
on the subjects they should state them
there were matters that they had not
been asked about. They agreed that
Congress had appropriated all the
money that the army had ever asked
for for the defense of the Panama
canal.
Range of Guns Discussed.
Gould foreign warships outrange the
guns of the canal fortifications?" asked
Chairman Fitzgerald.
NO." replied Gov. Goethals. Our
guns are of equal range, so far as our
information goes"
He indicated, however, that some
notifications were being made to per-
feet them and that, while they were
ample now to meet all emergencies the
mind could suggest, he intimated that
of course what developments there
might be in armament and fortlfca-
tions in the future could not be fore
casted.
would the government be justified
in installing larger guns?" he was
asked.
mo. would not say So" he replied.
Creates Naval Chief of staff.
The naval appropriation bill, which
was presented to the full committee on
naval affairs today. carries new pro-
vision in the section creating naval
chief of staff. whose title is to be chief
of the Office of operations" The Of
flee is to be held by a rear admiral for
four years, under the Secretary OF the
Navy. The function of the office would
be the supervision of naval prepara-
tions for war emergencies. An in
crease Of Al commissioned officers in
the Marine Corps and the promotion OF
ITO n-commissioned officers is car
ried in the bill. A naval reserve Of 2s,-
900, of men who have had naval expe-
rience, is recommended by the subcom-
mittee.
The naval committee made public a
letter from Admiral Austin Nj. Knight,
in charge of the Naval War College.
The letter contains the following state
ment:
The war college believes that lack
of coordination does exist in the fleet
between the Navy Department and the
fleet; the feet and Congress- the col
lege does not regard this as a new sit
uation, although it happens to be al
Glis moment unusually acute. The
remedy rests partly with the fleet
where everything that can be done al
ready is in preparation; partly with the
department, where plans have already
been formulated for more extensive
maueuvers than ever before. and
chiefly with Congress-, where there al.
ready is pending a bill for a council OF
national defense, which more than all
other agencies combined would make
| for a CO. ordination of all other govern
ment agencies, many of which lie faI
outside of the fields of the navy and
army departments