The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-06
COAST DEFENSE
BILL IS BROUGHT
TO HOUSE TODAY
Plans for Spending 100000
600 Started in Congress.
Permanent FOrtificatiOns and
Movable Batteries in Measure.
.S13,995, ON PANAMA
First of Four Annual Acts
Planned by c. S.
Defenses Already Superior to
Any in the World.
Permanent FOrtificatiOns and
Movable Batteries in Measure.
s13,995,OOO ON PANAMA

| great element of the national pre-
paredness program was today brought
into the house. 1t is the largest for-
tifications bill ever reported, and the
first of four annual measures under
which it is proposed to spend approx
imately 100000 900 for increasing
and undermining the coast defenses, al
ready officially declared to be superior
to any in the world, and to supply an
ample store of reserve ammunition for
the guns.
Included in the bill are provisions
for mounting 16 inch direct fire rifles
to guard New York, Boston, San Fran
cisco and other great cities from long
range naval bombardment Provision
is also made for mounting IL inch
rifles now in reserve so they will have
a range of more than thirty thousand
yards or fifteen sea miles. No ship
could live within that distance of the
guns.
The plans will add 16 inch morta.t
batteries to the present II inch en-
placements because of the Increased
arrnor protection of modern battle
ships. In addition it provides for 1S
inch mobile howitzers and IA inch
guns on railroad cars to defend points
not protected by established forts.
In approving the bill the committee
accepted almost without alteration th9
proposals of the war department ana
the officers who have studied the sub
ject of coast defense for years.
The bill carries appropriations 81
S233O5123 and additional authorize
lions to reach a total of $34,2S9,O5O
It is the first of the bills mapped out
by former Secretary Garrison to cover
a four year program of expenditure
totaIing SS2,O64,5 57 on the continental
coast defenses and reserve material
The Panama Canal defenses will add
s13,995000 to the project, reaching 2
grand total of see. 059,557-
The committee cut down the lsl
estimates s1,37s,O73. AS the first bill
stands. however, it represents an IN.
creased expenditure over last year OF
SIC, 936,S33. :
{. Outlining the projects approved, the
report says:
"While it may not be proper to state
in detail the proposals made, It Is
proper to state that the ends sought
by the additional armament are AZ
certain points to defend the harpors
and existing defenses against long
range naval bombardment, mace
necessary by the increased range OF
guns Of modern battleships; to in
crease the volume of gunfire at Ger
tain places in order to make II aoe-
! of gunfire that could be directed
against the Notifications by a fleet OF
modern warships; and in a few IN
stances to cover water areas not COW
cred effectively by existing armament;
and to deny to an enemy the use OF
| certain harbors not now protected
Mount 16-Inch Guns on Cars.
1.-The total additional armament for
continental United States included IN
the above projects comprises twenty
!, two 1e-inch guns. twenty-four 1z-l men
guns mounted for long range fire,
! twenty-three 6-inch and 4-inch guns,
and forty-eight 16-inch mortars; for
the insular possessions eight 12-lnch
guns mounted for long range fire; ana
for the Panama canal four 16-inch
guns, four 12-inch guns mounted for
long range fire and twelve 16-inch
mortars.
: I'm addition to the above, the prof.
: ects of the board include one hundred
: and thirty-four 3-inch anti-aircraft
; guns for the sea coast defenses of con-
tinental United States, seventeen 3
inch anti-aircraft guns for the insular
, possessions and eight 3-inch anti-air-
| craft guns for the Panama canal.
1.-The board also recommends the
, construction of sixteen 16-inch nova
BILE howitzers and an experimental IA
: inch gun on railroad car mounted fol
defense against hostile landing in un-
j. fortified harbors."
The present armament to which the
above batteries will be added is de-
scribed as follows:
Gums now mounted or being
mounted (after eliminating batteries
declared obsolete by the war depart
ment board of reviews): 16inch, 1
! 14-inch. "a; 12-inch. III; 10inch
: 1871. s-inch, 40: 6-inch. 2o6; 5-inch
50; 47-inch. 81: 4-inch, 4: S-inch
g 276: mortars. 40S. Total, 1928
Prepare Mine Defenses.
1.-The mine defenses are elaborated
and practically completed for all ex-
listing Notifications and provisions vii
: be made for mine defenses in connec-
ton with new fortification as soon a:
the emplacement of guns makes such
4 action desirable"
AS to reserve ammunition the re
port says:
: "A review of the subject in the
= light of the European war caused the
4 | board to very greatly increase the
: | amount of such reserve ammunition
= | thought to be requisite, and it ha:
| submitted this year an estimate Of
q | three millions of dollars, with a con.
: tract authorization of three and one
| half millions to be expended TOWARD
securing new reserve The com.
mittee has allowed in its entirety the
| estimate submitted, making an ap-
Q | preparation in. effect of six and one
/ half millions for this purpose a.
: against previous annual appropria
ton of 100000.
|. In addition to the new guns, the BIZ
a provided for the expenditures of $3.50,
i. 000 to purchase the rights of the
t | radio-dynanic torpedo control devised
|. by John Hays Hammond, Jr Accep
= lance is conditioned, however, on the
!. | report of a joint board of army anC
: navy officers after a test for which
= the bill provides.
I The report shows that four of tn,
: new 16-inch guns will be emplacet
o at Cape Henry, Va, two at Rockaway
: Beach, n. Y, others at San Francisc,
and San Pedro, Cal, long range IL