The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-05-10

new defensive force for use in time
of war This force is to grow out OF
1.-THE Coast Guard. which was created
by the last Congress by combining
| two historic agencies OF the govern
ment. the Revenue Cutter Service
! and the Life Saving Service. The
i duties of these two guardians OF the
coast line, both romantic and heroic.
and occupying warm places In rtne
hearts of all seamen, were along KIN
dred lines. In fact. they overlap
ped so frequently that il was though:
advisable to put them under a COM
mon head.
But the act of Congress that
brought about this coalition specihc-
ally stated that the Coast Guard
should. in time of war. automatically
become part OF the navy and be SUP.
| ject to the orders of the secretary o.
/ the navy. Because of this provision, ,
representatives of the Coast Guaro
and OF the navy have been gong over
the ground very thoroughly that tney
might have definite plans mapped out
for the new war auxiliary In case
an emergency should arise
Consideration has been given: fo1
instance. to the part that the force
of the old Life Saving Service might
play. and some striking possibilities
| have been developed. These men are
| scattered from one end to the otneF
of the American coastline- They oc-
cupv many headlands and promon-
tories. They are so stationed tnat
ithey may see as far as possible OUT 70
sea. Their business has been to look
ont for ships that were in trouble
and TO lend aid where there was as
tress.
| When this organization came to be
| considered with the idea in mind OF
making use of it in time OF war I'M
| portant possibilities Immediately re
| yealed themselves. Might not TINS
]. aoencv. which was constantly on the
| lookout for ships in distress. aiso
keep its weather eye open ZOE
| vessels OF an enemy? Mlgn1 no'
/; those hundreds of skilled observers.
| strategically located. pick up many
| facts of interest 10 the navy in TINS
| of war?
| The navy department has mum,
her of wireless stations scattered
| along the coasts. and these transhi -.
lmessap from vessels at sea 10
| washin yton and from Washington 70
those vessels. These wireless stalion ;
offer a means through which sns
coas, guards might report The more
,,,roerons stations of the life savers
r,ay he connected with the scattered
wireless stations. Then, wneh
coast guard picks UP bit OF inforna-
/ ton he may telephone il to the near.
| ast wireless station. and from tnal
| noint ii may be relayed TO Nashihs-
ron or TO the ships of the navy at se@.
But it is also planned that tne me-.
coast guards may play a NOR iiat -
tant part in case of war than IN az
w. as observers. Consideration has
baen given 10 the possibilit OF devei-
onin. them into expert marksmen-
-I,he conditions under which they I'VE
give them much opportunity TOT rue
5ractice II is proposed that they De
Il given rifles and instructed IN t het.
Ii use and developed TO nlsh oesLee
/, nj skill II is further proposed tnas
~ he given machine guns ana
4 Thoroughly trained in the use OF thes>
Il death-dealins instruments.
i Then when war came. the partlcu-
(, ~ nroyince of the coast guards IN
addition to acting as observers. Womb
| he tha protection of the wireless sta
tons. These would probably oe
points of attack. The skeleton tow
ers OF these stations DO not oner Si ,
attractive targets from the sea and II
would probably be necessary that
narlies be sent ashore to destroy
ltbem Certain of the coast guards
would be concentrated at the WIRE
iIass stations and there, with rifles and
machine guns, they would be able 70
put up such resistance that the oe'
Estruction of wireless station would
be task requiring considerao DIE
force
The navy plans further TO make
use az the knowledge of the waters
I of the coast that is in the possession
4 IF the guards. Should necessity
/ drive a vessel OF the navy into any
stream for refuge or for ether poF-
pose. the coast guard might be taken
aboard as pilot. His business Is 10
know every detail OF the i9ea,
waters and he would be the fdeai
man fer the emergency
The Old Revenue Cutter Service
would perform n more belhgerent
part on a wartime program In ene
first place. It is found that these yes
sells are very expert IN the handizns'
of mines Every season they plant
many mines in the hulks OF dere4icts,
or vessels that are sunk IN the waters
where they interfere with navigation
and blow them into harmless pieces
The navy plans to utilize this train
ing in time of peace in the laying of
mines In time OF war. The bigger
vessels OF the coast guard would De
Immediately converted Into mine
layers in time of war.
Six-pounders and rapid fire guns are
the chief weapons OF offensive 9oodt
the coast guard vessels in time OF
peace. When war breaks out they
are prepared to take aboard four-inch
guns The training OF Offices and
crew is strictly military and this
would add about ]. 500 trained men
TO the fighting force at sea Many OF
these might be transferred direct into
the navy and prove themselves OF
great value. But aboard their own
vessels there are many services that
they might perform that would be
very important
Their six-pounders are adequatt