The Washington times., 1916-04-06
four l6lNCH GUNS
AT CAPE HENRY TO
GUARD WASHINGTON
War Department Plans to
Spend $2,500,000 for
! Notifications There.
WORK WILL TAKE 3 YEARS
General Defense Bill, Reported
Today, s17,ooo,ooo in
Excess Of Last Years.
WORK WILL TAKE 3 YEARS

Cape Henry. Virginia. guarding the
approach by sea to the National Capital.
will be fortified within three years at
q cost Of approximately s2,5OO,OOo. ac-
cordihg TO plans Of the War Department
as made public today at the Capitol.
-Four great sixteen-inch guns will be
among the defenses OF the mouth of the
Chesapeake. These guns will be capable
of meeting the long range Are of any in
vading enemy ship.
Land already has been acquired at
Cape Henry and Lieut.. Col. E. e.
Wlnslow Informed the Sherley sub
committee that work would proceed ex:
pediuously upon the Notifications.
Million t. start.
The Notifications bill reported today
slightly more than 100000 to begin
construction at Fort Henry.
The. Notifications appropriation bill
reported today by the House Commit
tee on Appropriations is nearly 17.Ooo.-
900 I'M excess OF that of last year:
Congressman Swagar Sherley, chair
man OF the subcommittee framing the
bill. made the report of the fortiications
budget. The accompanying statement
was comprehensive review Of what Is
being done toward the terrifying of the
continental and insuIar possessions of
the United States, although, of course,
the committee does not reveal the actual
nature Of the Notifications at strategic
points
Significant Statement.
he Ill a.
In the report Of the sherley subcommit-
tee Is that the War Department has
submitted estimates. which were allowed,
Tor the building of emplacements and
mounting seven twelve-inch guns upon
barbette carriages. with high angle fire.
20 as to give such guns a rance of 81, 900
yards"
This is about 5000 yards beyond the
enective range OF any gun mounted
aboard battleship. Even the Queen
Elizabeth type ships have no such range
as u suggested for these land fortifica-
lions, ...-..
The report says that these guns of
record breaking range are to be placed
at New York, Boston and either Port
land OF San Francisco.
The Sherley report refers to the find
ings of the Treat Board on the subject
OF field artillery. In view of the les
sons of the European war, the report
says. there must be employed by the
United states not only increased num-
bers of guns of existing caliber but
others OF greater calibers than hereto
fore contemplated.
$21, ,050 Carried.
The total carried by the fortihcations
bill for the next fiscal year is S21 ,997. oe0
and authorizes contracts In addition
amounting to 81. 3OO. 900. The amount of
direct appropriations Is SIC, 936. 1888. 10 more
than the Notifications budget OF a year
ago,
1t Is shown by the report that the
War Departments Board of Review has
worked out a scheme OF Notifications
for continental United States. its insular
possessions and the Panama Canal to
cost 3a6, 900 900. The appropriations for
the Panama Canal are carried in the
sundry civil bill.
The bill reported today makes an
ambitious start on this S96. 900. 900
project. When the Notifications
scheme shall have been completed II
Is stated in the Sherley report chat
there win be h total of twenty-five
sixteen-inch guns In Continental
United States.