The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-19
RECOMMENDS
LARGER GUNS
ARMY BOARD ASKS FOR
STRONGER AMERICAN
COAST DEFENSES -
NEW WORKS
WHERE NEEDED
Want Guns of Greater Ranges
and Power Than Other
Nations
By Associated Pmsa.,

(By Associated Prhsa.i
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.-Guns of
greater range and power than any
that could be arrayed against them
were asked for American coast 6e-
fenses in an army hoard report SUBJ
mitted by Secretary Garrison and
made public today by the house ap-
preparations committee. The board
advised that the old type 12-inch
guns and mortars "are not equal In
range and power to major cllibre
guns afloat."
Mr.. Garrison recommended the i'm
mediate improvement OF some Of the
coast defenses so that the range Of
the old 12-inch guns could be increas-
ed to 10000 yards and the board sug-
gested that wherever it was necessary
to construct new works the larger
guns should be 16-inch weapons.
The boards report said in part:
after full consideration OF the
question presented by the secretary OF
war the board finds:
"That the old type 12-inch guns
and mortars are not equal in range
and power to major calibre guns
afloat;
That by minor changes in the car
y
by the provision of q certain proper
range of about 10000 yards can be
given these guns; that these changes
should be made;
THAT the great majority o four IA
inch guns, with certain slight changes
which have already been ordered and
by the, supply of q portion of the pro-
jectiles OF lighter weight are suitable
in power ana range to meet any that
may now be brought against them.
9 Fpai Q policy should be adopted
OF providing. through annual hppfe-
priHtions, for such odefniging OF for
tifications as will result In keeping
pace with the Improvement in afma-
ment afloat.t i.os 49,
;i That In the case of those works,
where, undertaking involves very ex-
tensiya changes In emplacements, gi,d
carriages, etc, 1t will be policy To
s.ss:.ss. ct .eg werks and prayfde new
armaments adequate for the demands
of the situation.
That the old works should he
held, when practicable and desirable,
as q econdaTy line OF defense.
That the mortars to be installed
in future should ba OF not less than
12a-iach calihre. with q range os at
least "a 900 yards. 81
That this weapon should be the
numerically preponderant type in our,
coast. defenses. 1t must not, however,
at any important point be adopted to
the exclueicn OF high power direct
fire guns" ,,a
Secretary Garrison,s statement to
the committee reviewed the program
for construction of coast defenses,
900. s''
THE project as revised to date" he
said, calls for 1901 guns and mortars
OF calibres from three-inch to I6-inch
Inclusive. OF this number 1884 or 81
per cent have been provided for, all
of which, except 16, are; now mounted
Ia fortiications. There remains ito be
appropriated for III guns ard NOR
tare.e ss \, e 4
For the coast guns. the secretary
said the allowance of ammuniticn Was
based on Q gnantity sufficient for as
two-hour engagement fori half the
total number of Weapons II1ounted.s
and that there was on hand and under.
manufactnre approximately 7s per
cent o fthis allowance. The prescribed
allowance OF ammunition for SS-s tiS;sa Z.
tions Of the snsular possessions and
the Panama Canal, he said, wai,
enough etto carry the guns Through d
tsgoshonf engagement, together with
specif,t provision In some batteries for
land defense needs
.spfoxifiateiy IL per cent OF the al.
IS,gance has Dsen supplied for the
Hawaiian and Philippine armaments.
and 78 per cent for Panama.
s Of the total project Tor field hr-I
tnlery. Mr.. Garrison said It Included
I l,291 guns and iowitxetssy OF which
funds had been provided fcF the nianl 4
ufacturesof $50. Ammunition al, hand
for the artillery vas SO ner cent az
the amount requisei Tor the guns nm
vided for. and 81 per cent OF the en-
tire project IS 3 lss
Lessons Of the Europsan way Ar.
Garrison added, had demonetrafef;
that aercDlanes were absolutely aEs
Eez5ial for scouting, and that natf,-
9ehiiss were rtant m trans d.:
The Qualification apnrnpflatsou hili
IS approved BY Secretary aafrisea fsl-
elndes The prosiaien proposed 81 mo,
Har dspnEtnant 20 auth0rize fise Sc
cretnFy of war to sfant TO ehs Norfoskl
sioathern Raiisoad q rereefusi right 81
WY tiiros1gh the lands acahifed foI
Lortln slQfls at Cape denf3 tn hxA
ensnee Tor all the conSpAliy.s lasfss
sLss Eslsnts hy way Within those lands,
INC rallr9na 70 be reznelab aberst 2nS it3
psnee IN exchanging the location 81
iks ( tsAe ~ stations or other property.
a Sseizht attaphed bSsa chain 10 sIIe
al