New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-21
General Weaver Says Foe
Could Shell New York
from ROCkaway.
ONLY ONE 16-INCH
GUN GUARDS COASTS
Philippines Prepared for Siege
of Year-Alaska Invites
Attack.

chance Of success In war with frs
class European power was the testimony
given this afternoon by General L
NJ. Weaver. chief Of the Coast ARTILLERY
Division Of the War Department, sn'
Major General W. II. Carter (retired
before the military committees OF th'
House and Senate. respectively.
General Weaver said Rockaway
Beach. near New York. was DANCE
noint for naval attack, because an en-
emv might lie of there and throw
shells into Fourteenth Street. in New
York City.
"Steps are now being taken" sale
General Weaver "to remedy this sltua
alton At Far Rocksway Beach, Ne"
York. and at san Francisco we are plan
ming 70 install sixteen-inch guns tha
will command every approach and VII
equal in range any naval gun now OF
board any battleship.
while we are waiting for those guns
10 be built, we plan TO mount on mgr
elevation carriages, with long range
forty surplus twelve-inch guns now al
Sandy Hook. These will be installed
as soon as possible, and will temporar'
ily relieve the situation. IL must OF
taken into consideration, also, tha'
shore guns have an advantage over
naval guns of eight TO one in accuracy
of fire.
Naval Gunnery Less Effective.
"The coast artillery is not parti.u'
larlv alarmed by the reports or aoility
of naval guns to damage coast iortih'
cations at long IA &c. Recent occur
rences. especially in the Dardane i!es
show that naval fire against coast iorU'
fcatio is not very efficient Never
theless. we propose 10 equip Ne" iorS
and other large ports with the larger
guns not because OF fear OF attack
but TO protect better the property bacs
of US"
An inquiry IA 20 the claim by some
officers that American coast fortlhca'
tions ar, the best in the world, whlie
some public men declare an enemy
could levy tribute on any American
coast city at will. was made by Repre-
sentative Greene.
81 hesitate TO criticisc public men,
said General Weaver. 81 do not thinS
any well Informed officer would MAKE
such q statement
General Weaver said the new gnns
in the coast defences would he mounted
for an "all round fire." so as TO permit
the guns 20 be used IN repelling land
attacks As well IS those fror. the sea.
Representative Kahn inquired about
defending Alas b, and General Weaver
said that d landing at juneau, Tor IN
stance. would be a problem for the mo-
bile army. not the coast defences.
Can Hold Philippines for Year.
"Thc policy Of the department in the
PHILIPPINES and Hawaii has been 70
eouin the islands to hold out for SIX
months or a year. until command OF the
seas could be determined, said the
general. "Corregidor Island, at the
mouth Of Manila Bay, Is the key TO the
Philippines and all the tr, ops IN the
islands would be concentrated there "a
withstand the siege. Unless we should
secure free control within year al
most, they would be obliged to sur
render"
Major General Carter declared that
the United States must discard all
theories and no; count on the state
militia, Cnder any circumstances. as
defensive force.
Every wal in which we have been
engaged has been followed b. scandals
ant Investigations" the general said
"Our army has always been below even
a peace standard and We have neveI
seriously faced the question OF prepars-
ton vs. must 10 50 Z We are 20 lave
the slightest nance 81 success. -nde'
moder1 conditions no time IS left tor
preparation after declaration 0: var.
"While no student mas any doubt tha'
the oes; and Sisest pan IS universal
service. distributing defence 20 the
whole nation. = q plain :hst ,he .oun.
trj "a act yet ready Cor Ills. T1e aex;
best pisn 'or volunteer ,o!ce TX,
.As ~ont.nen,a. ARM proposed - Sec
rotary Garrison. While DO 40, sp-
prove Of shat ?lan n detail, "a ,!e-
men;s are 81 there.
Congressional Districts Basis
My plan would be 20 save the Fed
eral force recruited by Congressional
districts sct stationed a the Estrlcts
where. tarough the Satch.ulne.s 81 he
Congressmen al would get exactly he
same treatment. would give hem {
two years enlistment wit. AZ auto
matte extension sol three years. 81 Tie
war r. -as. war shou.t break oct De.
fore t., expiration OF the'i erlistments
,hou.e as, everJ possib, mean. o!
appealing 70 local pnde such "a hhs
beer used w..h 50 nach success, IL Eng
land
90 .houl1 provid, ". helt and non.
commissioned stat officers from Ia.
regl.s; army an other officers from
whatever source va. poss!ol. cudei =
system. &c insure promotion according
q theI hoi!;:y. ac -ot oeHevt q
uou.G >. s.ss a. CeLers. Wooc sug
gestec YESTERDAY &C tAs, ever -. pes.
eri m..itis o.scers without s.iuus
S:nce worse system thai that Caaei
which they ar nov ohosei eoulo
hardy b, derisec 4r5 while mar! Q.
then. az, oorotles, capable. Others
woulc be serious soure, Of weakness "
Tie genera. was emphatic IA MS
opinion ths, &c system within the
power Of Congress could make "a,
STATE militia valuable as an organized
force IT, case II war Il. did not, how
ever. sgree With General Wood that
Federal support should be withdraw
r. m T., nor with those who have
feared that the Federal militia system