New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-19
Army Board Urges Gen
eral undermining of
Land FOrtihCatiOns.
TO COST S4O,0O0,000.
GARRISON ESTIMATES
General Weaver Admits Battle
ships at Range of ~ Miles
Could Bombard New York.
[Eron III, Tribune Bureau

Warrington, reD. TO- Inc HVuei"
izing Of Notifications 70 keep pace with
the improvement Of armament af'oat,
is recommended in the report OF the
Breckinridge board Of the War Depart
ment, recently appointed by Secretary
Garrison TO report what changes, II
any, we're necessary in seacoast de-
fences. The board recommends the
remountinc of existing guns to give
them a range and power equal to the
guns aboard modern dreadnoughts, and
the Notifications appropriation bill,
presented to the House to-day, contains
funds for the suggested remounting.
Assistant Secretary Breckenridge,
Major General Leonard Wood, Briga-
der General william Crozier, Briga-
der General E. VI. Weaver, Brigadier
General Dan c. Kingman and Captain
Frank S. Cocheu signed the report,
which is unanimous.
The report says its signers find that
the old type l2-inch guns and mortars
are not equal in range and power to
major calibre guns shoat. and that By
such minor changes in the carriage OF
the old type 12-inch gun as at present
emplaced as will permit an elevation OF
fifteen degrees, and By the provision
of a certain proportion of lighter pro-
iectiles of approximately 700 pounds
weight, an effective range Of about
20 900 yards can be given these guns.
Fourteen-Inch Guns Effective.
THE great majority of our 14-inch
guns, with certain slight changes
which have already been ordered, and
by the supply oi portion of the pro-
iectiles Of lighter weight than the
heaviest now furnished, are suitable
in power and range to meet any that
may now be brought against them,
continues tn. report. THE present EN-
placements are. as whole, satisfac-
tory. with the possible exception Of
some of the older magazines, when
should be more thoroughly protected
against plungng tire.
"A policy should be adopted of pro
viding, through annual appropriations
for such undermining of fortihcatlons
IS will result in keeping pace with the
'Tmproyement in armament anoat'
Where undermining involves very eX-
tensiye changes it will be policy TO
construct new works and provide ade-
ouate new ornaments. The old works
should be held. when practicable and
desirable, as a secondary line or de-
fence.
wherever it may be necessary to
construct new works, especially at the
entrances Of our principal harbors,
naval bases, etc, the major-callbre gun
should be at least a 16-inch 45-calibre
gun. mounted so as TO have the great
eat possible protection and IN all
around fire where it may be necessary
to have such fire. The mortars to be
installed in the future should be oil
not less than 12-inch calibre, with a
range of at least $1,000 yards.
Urges Use of Mortars.
"This weapon should be the numerl-
csllv preponderant type IN our coast
defences, as it is cheap, has long
life. can be easily protected, IS very
effective against ships and can be USED
ga a valuable adjunct for the land
Jofence. 1t must not, however. at any
important point be adopted to the eN-
cmsion of high power direct-hre guns
"rhe general policy with reference
N sea coast defences should be to nave
the armament there emplaced OF
greater range and power than any
which can be brought against 1t.
Secretary Garrison's statement 10
the committee reviewed the programme
for construction of coast detences'
which he said would require s4O,oOo,oVo.
"The project as revised to date, ne
said. "calls for 1901 guns and mortars
~ cslibres, from three-inch to sixteen
inch inclusive. Of this number Lisa,
or 81 per cent, have been provided Tor,
all of which. except sixteen, are no"
mounted in fortifications.. There re-
main to be appropriated for III guns
and mortars." 80,
nronriation Of S6,060,2 80, cut OF
s133 900 in the estimates and s34Z'OOo
more than was appropriated last year
Must Have Twelye-Mile Range.
The coast defences are reasonably
sdeouate." in the opinion OF Secretary
of War Garrison, whose testimony Dc
for the House Committee on Appro-
nristions was made public with the
renort on the bill. The testimony
taken at the hearings also revealed me
admission OF Brigadier Gen{al Il. VI.
Weaver. chief Of coast artillery; tnat
:, would be possible for battleshlp
70 lombard an American coast city
from a distance OF $1,000 yards or
t,veIve miles. This statement wouid
annlv to any coast city, New iorh'
Rnston. San Francisco or Seattle,
Granting that sea coast deiehSes
were for three purposes-to defend
particular place, to release the meet
wbirh otherwise would have to De at
rat Mace to defend it and to require
,bs enemy TO 90 TO some other place
~ Isnd-Secretary Garrison thought
the coast defences were properly 10
lid 81 think, on the whole ne
said. they are well located Tor ae-
fanding the great centres upon whiGh
a.,sck would be made by hostile
snst without, any intention OF landing
In but simply 70 destroy enormous
ualues in property by bombardment.
81 do not mean to say that there
nov not come along naval snip OF
.nso or more naval ships, with hlgher
erwaments than are on these sea coast
Licences. but what they could do un-
a. such circumstances would be