The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
COAST DEFENSE PLANS

regarding the Pacific fleet. He will pur- sue the subject tomorrow.
 COAST DEFENSE PLANS
 Further light on the war departments plans for additional coast defenses also was obtained today when testimony of Brigadier General William Crozier, chief of army ordnance, before the for tifcations committee became available. The committee has had no open hear ings. While General Crozier told the military committees of both houses the substance of his recomm mmendations, his statements before the Qualifications committee amplify his position some what.
 Charleston, S. C., and New Orleans might be damaged by long range fleet fire General Crozier said and 12-inch guns with high angle fire giving them a range beyond any guns afioat or con- templated for navy ships, would an- swer the defense purposes at such points.
 The heaviest new Notifications. Gen eral Crozier said will be placed at the mouth of Chesapeake bay, which he described as one of the several places where facilities for land operations are so good that it is worth while to es- pecially fortify them to prevent that operation, notwithstanding that they are not places where admissible dam age can be done by the guns of a fleet" est
 At other points, such as Rockaway Beach, N. Y, and San Francisco, he said, 16-inch guns mounted in turrets would be added to the batteries.
 ON CHESAPEAKE BAY
 Of Chesapeake bay the general added: "We have Norfolk defended at Fort Monroe, Washington very much over defended and Baltimore defended. But they could come into Chesapeake bay and establish base along that shore, then send an army in any direction. There are few such points as that"
 General Crozier said it was impracti cable to defend the whole coast against damage.
 Certain points are selected for forti- fication where the damage would be so important as to affect the fighting ability of the United States" he said, they are still not protected against damage which could be done by bodies of troops landed and marched over land to one of these cities
 "The theory is that we have plenty of people and plenty of resources to take care of that condition, if we will use them. If we will not use them there is no way to take care of it."
 Admiral Winslow told the naval com mittee that gunnery on American ships
 
 it had been brought to it's most efficient point during President Roosevelt's in- cumbency
 "Just lately'' he added, "the depart ment began working out a new system of finding faults with our gunnery. They are finding them. In my opinion, how ever if we had a general staff our effi- cency would never have gone down.
 LEAD TO GENERAL STAFF
 The admiral maintained that the origi- nal plan under which the general board was created was intended to lead to a general staff. That he said, was the vital need of the navy; all military func- tions should be under the direct control of professionally trained naval officers. He declared that no Secretary of the Navy had ever had or possibly could have had, the knowledge necessary to pass upon the questions which he must decide under the present system. It would take 30 years he believed, to bring the fleet to it's possible standard of efficiency and in answer to a question, he said he did not believe the navy now to be even moderately efficient.
 What was lacking, said the admiral, vas authority vested in a board Of trained naval officers to coordinate all the military work and keep the fleet at fighting pitch at all times. He believed no ships should be placed in reserve but that all should be kept constantly in commission and fully manned in order that sufficient men might be trained Asked what authority he would take from the secretary and lodge in the staff he said he would have the entire military side of the service ab bsolutely under the staff.
 If it is a question of mounting a 14- inch or a 16-inch gun" said the wit ness, naval officers should decide that. They are the men who will use those guns,
 NAVAL COLLEGE VALUABLE The navy war college Admiral Winslow said, was very valuable adjunct. and other nations had followed the America |. lead in establishing such institutions. vet 1t had been nearly done away with un der several secretaries.
 ''The war college' he added. lis receiv- ing better backing from Mr. Daniels than it has ever had
 Enactment of laws to permit promo ton by selection, as recommended by the navy department, also was urged l y the admiral Such law was vitally neces- sary. he said, in order to bring young. vigorous men to flag command where nerve, quick thinking and a high de- gree of skill were demanded to make for fleet efficiency.
 The military committee is making rapid progress in considering the bill Chairman Hay was authorized to frame and which now las been printed confdentially. 1t is expected this draft will be made pub | lie this week and that it will be favor ably reported to the House sometime sideration by the House fixed to follow fha ino,pigration hill The conrnitfaa is