The Washington times., 1916-01-27
Novel Plan Sponsored by Con.
gresham capstlCk Attracts
Attention.
SCHEME IS ECONOMICAL
Entire System Would Cost Only
S5o,ooo,ooo, and Only
Fifth Is Asked Now.

yucca In the HOUSE SATURDAY, tdhihb
2 for S5o,OOOOOO with which to construct
mobile artillery system Of coast de-
Tense, attracted widespread attention at
the Capitol. Advocates Of preparedness
and their opponents as we'll manifested
keen interest in the terms Of the bill
because Of the unique features Of econ
: omy and efficacy in 1t.
In nutshell, the scheme calls for
the construction Of armored railroad
cars, mounting giant mortars or guns
which can be switched from any Sec
ticn Of the coast to another on short
notice and which. on arrival at any
strategic point, will be automatically
b locked on previously constructed con-
crete foundations, ready for instant
operation. 1t is proposed, in the bill
= that an appropriation of $lO.OoO.OOO be
> made within a short time to be utilized
in the manufacture OF guns and NOR
= tars with their supporting cars and
for the purchase and preparation OF q
sufficient number of concrete founda-
ton sites to test the system In any
area which may be designated by the
Secretary of War.
$50 Gun Foundations.
The bill provides for the construction
of $50 foundations along the Atlantic or
Pacific coast and the manufacture OF
nifty cars mounted with mortars and
ten with >14-inch rifles. Provision is
made in the bill for the selection of the
foundation sites or firing points by a
board of officers, which shall consist
of three from the army, three from the
navy and three from the railroad whose
tracks will be used by the mobile ar
. tillery and along which the firing points
will be established.
The plan calls for the shifting of the
armored railroad fiat cars from one
foundation to another as necessity de-
mands. The cars can be hauled as
easily as any other loaded railroad car,
according to Lawrence. Luellen. of New
York. who, together with Cecil F. DaW-
son, invented the transportation and
other features OF the new coast defense
system.
THE two questions most frequently
asked about this system" said Mr..
Luellen today. ARE: 'Will ordinary rail-
road ties and rails support the weight
of these cars and gunsY and VIII the
concrete foundations be able to stand
the shock of the recon? The answer
TO both of these questions is Yes De
cause we have gone thoroughly into
both OF these matters and have the as
surances of many experts in, the war
Department that the system is entirely
feasible and practical.
Support More Weight.
1.-THE weight of a car equipped with
a 14-inch rife would be 37O,OOO pounds,
10000 for the gun and carriage. and
10000 for the car. This would place
a weight of 5000 on each wheel. The
cars Would be sixty-seven feet long.
Railroad ties and rails are today up
porting more than this weight in cars
and cargoes."
Mr.. Luellen then exhibited letters
from three railroad presidents, each of
whom heartily Endorsed his invention
and assured him their lines would be
glad to cooperate with him and the
Government. They also declared the
weights OF the cars mentioned were
such as to make transportation as easy
and simple as the handling of freight.
The concrete foundations into which
the movable cars will be locked Will be
Of such size and substantial nature
that they cannot be damaged by the
conclusion caused by the discharge OF
the gun. BY ascertaining the weight OF
the projectile and the muZZle velocity
we can determine what the recoA will
be and construct the concrete founda-
tons large enough to take this recoil
without damage. The sides of the car
win slide into the stationary founda-
tons and be locked there so securely as
10 make the car and foundation like
one continuous piece of concrete and
metal. Even admitting that the foun.
dations would be damaged. thew could
be repaired with a special concrete
preparation which will harden in a few
hours. This cement was used by the
Germans in mounting their big guns
in hurry"
Many Advantages.
Mr.. Luellen said the mobile artil'
Iery system had many advantages over
an attacking fleet, heavy guns mount
ed on caterpillar treads. like the forty
two-centimeter guns. and over othel
tested forms OF heavy gun armament
Summarizing these advantages as III
sees them after many months OF per,
sonal study and conference with gen.
erals in the War Department, Mr.. Luel
len said:
THE objective point of attack Of al
enemy's navy DESTROYS OF making land
ing parties is a suitable location upoI
land for base from which to operat
an army. Our navy may be overpowereC
or evaded until such base is obtained
by the enemy. Under present condition!
we would, in all robabi,ity, be power
less to then attack such base after 1
large force was put ashore. The Lu
ellen Dawson mobile armament system
however, could be used not only agains
The enemy's fleet but also against land
ing parties, and later against thu
enemy's base should they be powerful
enough to establish one.
Gun fire ashore, when fired from
solid foundation, Is more accurate thai
gun fire afloat. Our system, therefore
has greater accuracy of fire.
Battleship Big Target.
"A modern battleship offers an expen
slve and comparatively large target a
compared to the mobile armament ca
Of the Luellen-Dawson defense system
type. One shot well placed on a bat
tleship will cause it's destruction TO
gether with all its men and large mum
Der OF guns, while one hit scored agaIns
the Luellen-Daws0n mobile armamen
car loses only one or two guns an
comparatively few men.
IAN attacking navy offers a large
> Within sight and the possibility OF OBJ
, serving where the shots fall for re
calculation on the next shot, while tn