The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17
TO UNITE NAVY AND
COAST ARTILLERY
L. s. Military Experts See Bet
ter Defence in Plan England
and Germany Use.
WILL ASK CONGRESS- AID

wAsutNGroS. April l6.-1n connection
with the general study and discussion
of the needs OF the military establish
ment the proposal IL being advance"
by military experts that the Coast Ar
ti,,ery Corps he put under the navy
instead OF forming part OF the army
II is the complaint of the coast ar
tiIlery arm that II does not receive the
proper attention due It from the General
stan of the army Many officers seem
to feel that the efficiency OF the coast
artillery would be increased II II were
placed under the navy and detached
entirely from the army.
The argument is made that the coast
artillery arm was established solely lot
coast defence, which is also the ch'et
rur,os. NJ tho navy. The relation of
the two il recognized in joint man
puvres held by the fleet and the coast
defences nearly every year.
Germany. II is pointed out, recognizes
the close relations between the two SER
vices and has put all her coast de-
I FENCES uflu'T lne navy
chile Made the Chnnne.
Chile has done the same thing largely
as result OF the German influence
! on her military and naval es'ap''sh
ments Even Great Britain mas place.
her coast fortifcations under controi Oh
the navy. Many officers here are con-
{ WINGED that this is the logical and most
economical arrangement.
This proposal finds support among
/ officers of the mobile army. They reahhe
/ that the inclusion of the personnel or the
/ Coast Artillery in the hgures ior inc
United states army gives hcutious
total That is. when the total hummer
Of men in the army IL mentioned inc
tendency is to forget that nearly ONE
third OF the total force are men VINO
are supposed to he tied down to forts
and guns and ought not TO he counted
az mar, of the forces of the thiteu
states available for service in the held'
Az a matter OF fact. 90 small Is the
United states army that 1t has been the
policy 20 train Coast Artillery men III
the duties Of infantry, though is APP
nreciated that they never should he
counted on for such service. The Coast
Artillery considers that this IL an m
Justice and false policy Whlch CAN
lead to no good results
At present the Coast Artillery mas MOI
sufficient, men to man so per cent oil
the guns in position
sympathy for Project In Navy.
In the navy there is much sympathy
with the view of those in the Coast Ar
tilIery who favor having that arm trans
fsrred to tho navy. Thus far. nor"
ever the project has NOT reached any
definite stage and IL merely being seri'
ously discussed as one OF the measures
which may he proposed In connec'ioi
with the programme for a reorganization
of the military establishment TO be pre-
sented to Congress next winter.
The navy has project OF its own
that of having the vessels OF the coas
guard service placed under authority OF
the navy II Is held that there Is need
less duplication OF effort and eNpendi
ture at present. while the services o.
the light, fast vessels OF the coast guar
service are not secured 10 the navy II
time Of war
! Assistant Secretary Of the Nav,
Roosevelt is giving much attention e
this plan. but II has not yet REACHED
any definite form.