Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-03-06
fORT!FICAIlONS TO PROTECT
HAWAII 0. X, SAYS GARRISON

inch guns, with certain slight changes
which have already been ordered and
By the supply Of portion Of the pro
jectiles of lighter weight than the
heaviest now furnished, are suitable
In power and range TO meet any that
may nov be brought Against them
That The present empiacements are
as whole, satisfactory, with the pos
sfble exception Of some OF the older
magazines. which should be more thor
EoughIy protected against plunging IRE:
that this proteetion should be fur.
nisheds
That policy should be. adopted d
providing. through annual appropria
tons, Tor such undermining Of fDrtifi'
cations As vii result IN keeping pace
with the Improvement Of armament
af1oat.
THAT In the case OF those works
where undermining involves very ex'
tensiYe changes In emplaeements, gun
carriages, etc, It will be policy to con.
struct new works and provide new
ornaments adequate for the demands
Of the situation.
That che old works should be held
when practicable and desirable. as q
secondary lire Of defense.
THAT wherever it may be necessary
to construct new works. especially al
important points, such as the en-
frances OF our principal harbors, naval
bases, etc, the major caliber guns
should be ri least a 16zinch 45-caliber
gun, mounted SO as to have the great,
est possible protection and an all,
around FIRE where Il may be necessary
TO have such fire.
That the mertars to be installed
IN future should be Of not less than
l2-inch caliber, with range Of at least
81, 900 yards.
THAT this weapon should be the
numerically pferonderant type In our
coast defenses, as 81 Is cheap. has q
long life, can be easily protected, ID
very effective against ships, and can
be used Is valuable adjunct for the
land defense. II must not. however
at any important point be adopted to
the exclusion of high-power direct-fre
gems. o.
The general policy with reference
to .seacoast defenses should be to have
the armament there einplaced Of
greater range and power than any
which can be brought against 1t.
Ilisuffieient Ammunition.
Secretary Garrison gave figures
showing the proportion Of ammunition
on hand TO the amount required for
the full project. In no case Is there
anywhere near i00 per cent the
amount for field artillery being 81 Rez
cent Of the requirement. and the
amount for COST artillery being q
per cent, including that under manu-
SPEAKING 81 the project fer cpm.
nlete coast defenses. as outlined BY
the TAFT board Secretary Garrison
'sThe project Is revised 70 date calls
Tor 1901 guns and lmortars of caliberz
from s:ihch to 16.inch inclusive. o.
this number 1854 or 81 per cent have
been provided FOL. ri of which except
is are now mounted IN fortiicatioIis.
There remain to be appropriated fQI
III guns and mert1rs.r The secretary
said that TO complete the entire for
LITIGATION projects, Including guns
buildings, mines, land. ETC.. the sum
Of SIC, 900. 600 Is needed, with the pos,
sibility that this might be Increased
because az the proposed increase In
the CALDER Of the remaining guns tc
be Installed.
Discussing the ammunition supply
for the coast defense guns, Secretary
Garrison said the allowance Is based
on quantity sufficient to carry
through q two-h0ur engagement one
half the total number Of guns mount
cd. two hours having been the maxi
mum time during which any fort Is
likely 10 be actively engaged against
feet
There Is on hand and under manH
facture approximately 70 per cent Of
the contemplated allowance Of am
niunition, continued the secretary o.
war. II is estimated that approx
mateiy $4,3S8, 900 win be required e
complete the allowance Tor the guns
proyided. OF this amount 5000, 0a0 Il
asked for in the estimates. About Sc
100000 will be required to complete
the allowance for all the guns com
pleted
Brig gen. Tasker II. Bliss. who was
relieved Of command Of the Depart
meilf OF the South by Mai Fred
erlck Funston at Fort Sam Houston
Tex. is expected here to assume hi;