The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-06

first of four annual measures under which it Is proposed to spend JapproS1- mately S1oo, 100000 for increasing and modernizing the coast depenses, al- ready officially declared to be supe- rior to any in the world, and to sup ply an amplesstore of reserve amInu- milton for the guns.
 Included in the bill are provisions for mounting 16-tnch direct fire rifles 1 to guard New Y ork, Boston, San Fran cisco and other great cities from long range naval bombardment. ProVis- 1 ion is also made for mounting -12-1nch rifles now in reserve so they will have ] a range of more than 30,00O yards or IS sea miles. No ship could i've within that distance of the guns. The plan will add 16-inch mortar batteries to the present. 12-ineh enn- placements because of the increased armors protection of modern battle ships In addition it provides for l 6- inch mobile howitzers and <14-fnch guns on railroad ears to defend points not protected by Established forts. ~ In approving the bill the commit tee accepted almost without altera- 1 ton the proposals of the War Depart ment and the officers who have studied the subject of coast defense for years. The bill carries appropriations of l $23 3O5123 and additional authoriza- tions to reach a total of $34,299,050 It is the first of the bills mapped out l by the former Secretary Garrison to cover a four year program of expen- diture totaling 82,O64,55 on the con- tinental coast defenseS and reserve ma | teriaE The Panama Canal defenses will add $13,995, 900 to the project reaching a grand total of $96,059, ,557.
 The committee cut down the. 1917 es- tmiates $1,378,073- As the bill stands, however, it represents an in creased expenditure over last year of | e.
 Outlining the projects approved, the report says:
 While it may not be proper to state i in detail the proposals made, 1t IS 1 proper to state that the ends sought by the additional armament are at l certain points to defend the harbors and existing defensess against long
 range naval bombardment, made nec- Iessary by the increased range Of guns Of modern batt1eships; to increase the volume of gun-fire at certain places l in order to make it adequate to meet l the increased volume of gun-hre. that would be directed against the fortif- | cation by 9 fleet of modern warships; land in a few instances to cover water I areas not covered effectively by exist Ling armament; and to deny to an l enemy the use of certain harbors not now protected. E | saThe total additional armament for l continental United States included fin 1 the above projects comprises twenty 1.-two 16-inch guns, twenty-four 12-inch Eguns mounted for 1ong-range fire, ltwenty-three 6-inch and four S-inch guns, and forty-eight 16-inch mortars; | for the insular possessions eight 12- finch guns. mounted for 1ong-range | fire; and for the Panama Canal four l169inch guns, four 12-inch guns mount I ed for long-range fire, and twelve 16- l inch mortars.
 .sIn addition to the above, the pro- i iects of the board include one hundred I and thirty-four $3-inch anti-aircraft 1 guns for the seacoast defenses of con tinentals United States, seventeen g. finch anti-aircraftv guns for the insular
 possessions, and eight S-inch anti-air- craft guns for the Panama Canal.
 s'The board also recommends the construction of six 16-inch movable l howftzers and an experimental 14- inch gun on railroad car mount for , defense against hostile landings in un- fortified harbors.''
 The present armament to which the above batteries will be added is de-
 scribed as follows:
 "GunS now mounted or being mount
 ed (after eliminating batteries declar- ed obsolete by the War Department $ Board of Review): 16-inch, 1; A. inch, 24; 12-inch. III; 1O-inch, 131; :. 8-inch, 49; 6-inch, 255; 5-inch, 52; | A. -mortars, 4O8. Total, 1,293.
 The nine defenses are elaborate ) and practically completed for all ex- isting Qualifications and provision will
 be made for mine defenses in connec- ] ton with new Notifications as soon as , the enplacement of guns makes such action desirable.''
 As to reserve ammunition the report : says
 CA review of the Subject in the light I of the European war caused the board
 to very greatly increase the amount
 of such reserve ammunition thought te
 De requisite, and it has submitted this Iyear an estimate of three millions o1
 dollars, with a contract authorization ! of three and one-ha1f millions to be expended toward securing a new re
 serve The committee has allowed 1T it's entirety the estimate submitted ma 2 king an appropriation in effect of si1
 and one-half millions for this purpose
 as against previous annual appropria
 tions of $200, ,O00-"
 In addition to the new guns, tht 1, bill provides for the expenditure O.
 S75O,OOO to purchase the rights of the
 radio-dynannic torpedo control devised
 by John Hays Hammond, Jr. Accept
 ance is conditioned, however, on th'
 report of a joint board of army ana
 navy officers after a test for whicI
 the bill provides
 The report shows that four of tn, tnew 16-inch guns will be emplaced a
 Cape Henry, Va, two at Rockawa!
 Beach, N. Y., others at San Francisco 1 and San Pedro, Cal. Long range 12
 finch guns will go to New ork, Bosto1
 and either Portland, Maine, or Sal EFrancisco.
 The full estimates ~for the insuIa, possessions were allowed by the com
 mittee as were the War Department
 figures for additional mobile arti1ler!
 Including field guns. In addition tn I committee inserted an appropriation t for $1,0OO,O ,OOO to provide tools and fix ] lures for commercial plants to equil l. | them for the manufacture of govern ment ammunition. It is provided |, however, that the prices paid for am r munition or other matepiaI purchase,