New Britain herald., 1916-04-06
BILL
 THE BIGGEST EVER
Improved Deienses for Large Gen.
 ters to Cost SS4,299,050
MAKE SEA ATTACK HOPELESS
No Hostile Battlcship Could Live il, Dclugc of Shells From Proposed Sixteen and Twelve Inch Guns Hay ing Range of Fifteen Miles.

ing Range of Fifteen Miles. Washington, April 6-The third great element of the national pre- paredness program was today l brought into the house. It is he l largest fertilization bill ever reported, and the first of four annual measures
 under which it is proposed to speud approximately S1O0.OOO,OOO for in l creasng and modernizing coast de- lenses, already officially declared to be superior to any in the world and to supply an ample store of reserve ammunition for the guns. Included in the bill are provisions for mounting 16-inch direct fire rifles to guard New York, Boston, San Francisco and other great cities from long range naval bonn bardment. Pro- vision is also made for mounting 1:3- inch rifles now in reserve so they will have range of more than 30,- 900 yards or 5 sea miles. No ship could live within that distance of the guns.
 The plan will add 16-inch mortar batteries to the. present 12-inch. e1n- placements because of the increased armor protection of modern battle ships. In addition it provides for 16-inch mobile howitzers and 14-inch guns on railroad cars to defend points not protected by established forts
 In approving the bill the commit tee almost without alteration the proposals of the war department and the officers who have studied the subject of coast defenses for years.
 of s23,305.123 and additional authoriza- tions to reach a total of $34,299,O5O. It is the first of the bills mapped out by former Secretary Garrison to cover a four year program of expenditure totaling $S2,O64.557 on the continen- tai coast defenses and reserve mater lal. The Panama canal defenses will add $13,995,0O0 to the project reach ing a grand total of s96,o59,557
 The committee cut down the 1917 estimates $1,37S,073 As the bin stands, however, it represents an in- creased expenditure over last year of s16,936,S33.
 Objects of Proposals.
 Outlining the projects approved the report says:
 While it may not be proper to state in detail the proposals made, 1t IS proper to state that the ends sought by the additional armament are at certain points to defend the harbors and existing defenses against long-range naval bonn bardment, made necessary by the increased range of guns of modern battleships; to in- crease the volume of gunfire at cer- 1 tain places in order to make it ade- 1 quate to meet the increased volume of
 
 the fortinca+ion by fleet of modern 1 and in a few instances to | cover water areas not covered affec- | lively by existing armament; and to 1 deny to an enemy the use of certain 1 harbOrs not now protected.
 '"The total additional armament | for continental United States included in the above projects comprises twen- ty-two 16-inch guns, twenty-four 1 2 inch guns mounted for long range fire; tWenty-three 6-inch and four 8 inch guns, and forty-eight 16-inch mortars; for the insular possessions eight 12-inch guns mounted for iong- range fire, and twelve 16-;nch nor tars.
 Anti-Aircraft Guns.
 ''In addition to the above, the prof. ects of the board include one hun dred and thirty-four 3-inch anti-air- craft guns for the seacoast defenses of United States, seventeen 3-inch anti-aircraft guns for the in sular possessions, and eight 3-inch anti aircraft guns for the Panama Canal.
 'The board also recommends the construction of six 16-inch movable howitzers and an experimental IA inch gun on railroad car mount for defense against hostile landings ;n un- fortified harbors.'
 The present armament to which the above batteries will be added is des- ;ribed as follows:
 Guns now mounted or being (after eliminating batteries declared obsolete by the War Depart nent Board of Review): 16-inch, 1: 4inch, "A; Finch, Ill; 10-mch |31; S-inch, 49; 6-inch, 205; 5-inch, 52; A. inch. 31; finch, f; 2-inch, ZIG: mortars, 4OS. Total, 1,293
 "'The mine defenses are elaborate md practically completed for al! existing Notifications and provisions will be made for mine defenses in con- 1ection with new Notifications as soon as the emplacement Of guns makes such action desirable.''
 Great Ammunition Reserve.
 As to reserve ammunition the re- port says:
 "A review of the subject in the , fight of the European war caused the board to very greatly increase the mount of such reserve ammunition bought to be requisite, and it has ubmitted this year an estimate of hree millions of dollars, with a con- ract authorization of three and one