The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-05-24
Our Prepardness For War
Bv Frederic j. Haskin.

Ul.--Coast Defenses.

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The coast defenses of the United
States are the most extensive and
complete in the world. This fact has
been conceded by foreign military ex-
perts, who have pronounced some or
these fortifcatfons practically I'M
pregnable-
A degree Of popular mIsunder-
standing. however, undoubtedly ex-
ists as TO the proper function OF our
coast defenses. They are not coast
deSenses. in the proper sense OF the
word. but harbor detenses- they are
designed TO protect our commerce and
our great cities from attack 10y sea-
and 10 insure bases of operation Tor
our army Thus, coast defense may
be located primarily TO protect nav
al bave, as is Fortress Monroe; or.
10 secure some inland water or shell
tered roads:ead from the enemy. as
at Cape Henry; or, to protect a com
merc:al center. as at Portland: or. 10
cover strategic lines OF railways. as
at 4NarraEansett.
To prevent an enemy from euect-
ing landing al any point along our
coast line. We are dependent upon me
mobile army and the feet To pro
feet our coast1ne by means OF for
rffca1ions would be impossible. The
coast defenses merely secure the stra-t
tegic points against capture OF oe-
struccion from the sea.
II is interesting at this time to note
that an emergency was necessary 70
bring home to the American people
the need for adequate coast defenses.
AT the time that the Spanish war
broke out. our coast defenses we're
no mart
with muzzlc loading cannon which
would have been wholly inenectua4
against the armor OF modern battle
ships. The Notifications themselves
were imposing structures OF cut stone.
which would have been easily demol-
ished by the guns Of modern destroy
ers. AS long ago as 1883. the En-
dicott com liss.on had drawn up plans
for our present scheme fcoast De
tense, but not until the conflict Win
Spain and the anxiety which the pos
sihilI1v of a Spanish invasion caused
in Philadelphia. Boston and other CIT
les. We're sufficient funds appTopr1atea
10 carry out these plans.
A modern coast defense forthca-
tion consists IN a very heavy embank-
ment OF sand lined With concrete
/! Back of this are the pits in which
the suns are mounted and the rooms
from which their fire IS directed. Inc
armament OF such a fortifcat:on con-
sists in battery OF primary guns o.
from eight to Twelve inches IN calloeF.
!. incI,,dinc Pinch mortars and inter
mediate battery of 6-inch and 9-1nce
land 7-10-inch guns. and second
arv battery Of and 3-inch guns. IN
| addition 10 these batteries the mar
hor or roadstead TO be defendeo .
ciaborately mined. The mines are
placed from fifty TO hundred Saro9
apart. Some of them are contact
| mines which Will EXPLODE aqtoln -ss:Io
| callv if struck by vessei. Wnlie
o . are fired by electrical connec-
t7ons from the Qualifications
! The c1nnery of our coast detenseS
represents the highest development
OF the science Of defense The guns .,
rrase fortifcations are stationary ana
heir surroundings are known 70 tne
eI1nners. This gives them an lnca!-
culabIe advantage over the NesSelS
against which they are pitted. any
their craftsmanship may De saiu'
without exaGseration. TO pc Gmoss
perfect. Up to $500 yards. a hufforec
nor cent of hits is moi an uncommon
Directing the ere OF these guns is
| matter of mathematics. base me
> 900 Yards long is laid out upon the
shore a. each end OF this is tele-
Scone which shows the angle between
4i1is base line and line drawn from
rbe base line to the enemy shlp'
These angles are telephones 70 Tue
nlottiuS room in the foruncatlon' II
| this plotting room, an on1cer VIII t!e
+eIenhone receiver strapped 20 MS
to5 5s bent over a reNact map OF
- ha-.ho- The information sent
-! - 30 observers enables him to
nIot upon this map triangle. oA
which The enemy's ship IS the apex
while the fertilization IS at g H11o%n
-,oe:-ion on its base. In this way ne
i-nou.s 1he position of the snip ne Is
shooting at to dor Inc rate a.
which is is moving may pc
( a+elS computed. Atmospheric cOn N-
lions and the wind are taken mo a.
CONT The gun is then directed ano
fired with almost ceTtd-n'S
viii find its mark.
the coast artillery game. 1nFenIeu
hv Naior William Channberlalns. IS q
method of working out IN nlnl '1.-l =
~ -, 9robIems OF coast defense. which
is nsed by the officers at fortress
Monroe. 1t has given che coast ar
1i1lerv- corps greater commence tnau
/ ever in the 7mpresnab1l1fS o. tnesS
/ SaFo,see although some means OF
/ overcoming these fo-t1ncatlons TO- -
Tbe sea have been worked out IN n
I theory, it is eStreme4S oouolsu ~
/ any OF them would be successAuA -
p5 9bis war game is PLAYED upon a
IN n5S ,wenrv-five by forty feet IN
DO oos' Miniature models OF dread
slLs. cr,1jsres. batrleships, de-
I ngoSt and all the other units OF a
r,cd aeet are the pawns- Al one one
mo- No. of ,he board one OF our coast de,
f Gs1 all OF its equipment and