The Washington times., 1916-01-27
Novel Plan Sponsored by Con.
gressman Capstick Attracts
Attention.
SCHEME IS ECONOMICAL
Entire System Would Cost Only
s5o,ooo,ooo, and Only
Fifth Is Asked Now.

. for s50,0OO,00O with which to construct
mobile artillery system Of coast de-
Tense. attracted widespread attention at
the Capitol. Advocates Of preparedness
and their opponents as we'll manifested
keen interest in the terms Of the bill
because Of the unique features Of econ
omy and efficacy in it.
In a nutshell, the scheme calls for
the construction Of armored railroad
cars, mounting giant mortars or guns,
which can be switched from any Sec
ticn of the coast to another on short
notice and which. on arrival at any
strategic point, will be automatically
locked on previously constructed con-
crete foundations, ready for instant
operation. 1t Is proposed in the bill
= that an appropriation of 900 be
made within a short time to be utilized
in the manufacture Of guns and NOR
tars with their supporting cars and
for the purchase and preparation OF
sufficient number Of concrete founda-
tion sites to test the system in any
area which may be designated by the
Secretary of War.
$50 Gun Foundations.
The bill provides for the construction
of $50 foundations along the Atlantic or
Pacific coast and the manufacture OF
nifty cars mounted with mortars and
ten with ,l4-inch rifles. Provision Is
made in the bill for the selection of the
foundation sites or firing points by a
board of officers, which shall consist
OF three from the army, three from the
navy and three from the railroad whose
tracks will be used by the mobile ar
tllery and along which the firing points
will be established.
The plan calls for the shifting of the
armored railroad fiat cars from one
foundation to another as necessity de-
mands. The cars can be hauled as
easily as any other loaded railroad car.
according to Lawrence Luellen, of New
York, who together with Cecil F. Daw-
son, invented the transportation and
other features OF the new coast defense
system.
The two questions most frequently
asked about this system" said MI.
I.uellen today. are: viii ordinary rail-
road ties and rails support the weight
of these cars and guns? and VIII the
concrete foundations be able to stand
the shock of the recoil" The answer
10 both of these questions is Yes, De
cause we have gone thoroughly into
both or theSe matters ana nave the as
surances of many experts in the War
Department that the system is entirely
feasible and practical.
Support More Weight.
THE weight of a car equipped with
l4-inch rifle would be $4,000 pounds.
10000 for the gun and carriage, and
10000 for the car. This would place
weight of 5000 on each wheel. The
cars Would be siXty-seven feet long.
Railroad ties and rails are today zap
porting more than this weight In cars
and carSoes."
Mr. Luellen then exhibited letters
from three railroad presidents, each of
whom heartily indorsed his invention
and assured him their lines would be
glad to cooperate with him and the
Government. They also declared the
weights OF the cars mentioned We're
such as to make transportation a. easy
and simple as the handling Of freight.
The concrete foundations into which
the movable cars will be locked will be
Of such size and substantial nature
that they cannot be damaged by the
conclusion caused by the discharge Of
the gun. BY ascertaining the weight of
the projectile and the muzze velocity
we can determine what the recoil will
ne and construct the concrete founda-
tons large enough to take this recoil
without damage. The sides of the car
will slide into the stationary founda-
20 make the car and foundation like
one continuous piece Of concrete and
metal. Even admitting that the foun-
dations would be damaged. thev could
preparation which will harden in a few
nours. This cement was used by the
Germans in mounting their big guns
in a hurry"
Many Advantages.
MIR. I.uellcn said the mobile artil-
Icry system had many advantages over
m attacking fleet, heavy guns mount
ed on caterpillar treads like the forty
iwo-ccntimetcr guns, and over other
jested forms of heavy gun armament.
summarizing these advantages as he
sees them after many months of per-
'onal study and conference with gen.
erals in the War Department, Mr. Luel-
len said:
THE objective point of attack OF an
onemy's navy desrous of making land
ing parties is a suitable location upon
land for base from which to operate
an army. Our navy may be overpowered
or evaded until such base is obtained
by the enemy. Under present conditions
We would. in all proba bi,ity, be power
less TO then attack such base after a
large force was put ashore. The Iu-
ellen Dawson mobile armament system
however, could be used not only against
The enemy's fleet but also against land
.nG parties, and later against the
cncmy's base should they be powerful
enough to establish one
Gun fire ashore, when fired from a
solid foundation, is more aCCurate than
gun fire afloat. Our system. therefore
has greater accuracy of fire.
Battleship Big Target.
"A modern battleship offers an eXpen-
s've and comparatively large target as
compared to the mobile armament car
of the Luellen- Dawson defense system
type. One shot we'll placed on a bat.
tlcship will cause its destruction to-
Gcther with all its men and large num-
ber of guns, while one hit scored against