The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-21
COAST FORTS SOON
CAN DEFEND CITIES
Gen. Weaver Says New York
Would Fall Now. but Big
Guns Are Being Mounted.
EMERGENCY STEPS TAKEN

WAsHiSGToN. Jan. o0.--Cnder present
conditions The cities OF New York and
San Francisco could be pounded TO bits
by a hostile naval feet and the wa.'
Gen. L. NJ. Weaver, Chief Of Coast Ar,il-
lery. who appeared before the House
Committee on Military Affairs to-day.
He admitted that the guns now
mounted a. the approaches TO New York
and San Francisco were lacking in the
range sufficient TO hold of the high
power guns Of modern naval vessels
md from a military point Of view he de-
scribed the situation at New York and
San Francisco as "emergent."
He told the committee steps were be-
ing taken to get New York and San
Francisco In a better state Of prepared
ness. He though, that with the COM
pletion OF new defences the two ports
could be successfully defended against a
powerful enemy.
AT Far Rockawuy Beach and San
Francisco,' said Gen. Weaver. we are
planning TO install rs inch guns that Will
command every approach and Will equal
IN range any naval gun now on any bat
,leshlp afioat. While We are waiting for
those guns 10 he built We plan to mount
OH high elevation carriages with = .ong
range forty SUI plus IL inch guns now IA
Sandy Hook. These will be Installed
as soon as possible and VIII tempoNirii!
relieve the situation.
sf. ,,,,S. he fakan into CDllelueFAtlOn
aiso. that shore guns have an advantage
over naval guns OF eight 10 one in ac-
curacy.
The coast artillery IL not particularly
alarmed by the reports OF ability OF
naval guns to darnagc coast fortitca'ions
nj long range. Recent occurrences. es-
pecialIy in The Dardanelles. show that
nnyal FIRE gains coast Notifications Is
not, very effcient. Nevertheless We pro-
pose to equip New York and other large
ports with the large guns, not because
OF, fear OF attack but in order tn pro-
tect better the property back OF us
Gen. Weaver told the committee that
the new guns to be mounted at New York.
San Franchco. and. other ports would
be mounted for all round Are" SO as to
permit them to repel land attacks as
we'll as from the sea. In this respect,
Il was brought out. the present coast de-
fence guns are sadly lacking.
The chief wAs questioned as to the
deftnces OF thu Philippines and other
outlying possessions. p
THE policy OF the Government in the
Philippines" he said. lis To equip the
islands to hold out for six months or
a year. until command OF the seas can
he determined. CorreGidor Island. at
the mouth OF Manila Bay, Ia the key TO
the Philippines and all the troops In
the . islands would be centred there TO
withstand a siege. Unless we could se-
cure free control OF the sea within a
year the command at Corresidor Island
would he Obliged to surrender"
The attention OF the General was di-
rected to claims that American coast
fortihcations are the best IN the world.
whereas others declare an enemy could
levy tribute on any American city at
will.
II hesitate to criticise public men,
said Gen. Weaver. ~ do not think any
we'll informed officer would say that our
coas defences are the best in the world
Gen. d. {. kinsman, chief OF the Fin
gineer Corps, told the committee that
that branch Of the military service was
well equipped with trench digging and
bridge building apparatus and search
lights and that IL has on hand n mile
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