The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-04-06
Biggest Fertilization Bill in
History of Country
\ Reported.
SIXTEEN /. inch RIFLES.
Will Bring the Coast De
fenses Right UP to
Date.

WASHINGTON. April 6.-The third
great element OF the national prepared
ness sssprogram was today brought INTO
me House 1t is the largest fortttlca'
ton blll ever reported, and the first
Of four annual measures under which
lit is proposed to spend approximate
i lly s10OS00,O0 for increasing and mod
eFniztng the coast defenses. already
oticiailyS declared to be superior TO
any Underworld, and to supply all am
ME store of reserve ammunition for
The guns
Included in the bill a:e provisions
Tor mounting 1G-inch direct fire rifles
tosgIarl New York. Boston, San Fran
cisco and other great cities from long
range naval bombardment. P:oyis-
ionsis also made for mounting 19-inch
rffies now ia reserve to they will have
81 Irange iofs more than 10000 yeards or
a. sea miles. No ship could live with,
in that distance OF the guns.
Fhes plan xviii add l6inch batter
ies to the present 12tnch cmpince-
mentsShecauGe of the Increased armor
protection of derl. shatt tllssh .sealn
addition its provide for l6+inch mobile
towftzerssatid t4-inch guns on railroad
ctr 10 defend points not protected by
establisHed forts.
1nSapproyfng the bill tho committee
accepted almost without alteration the
pFop6ssls OF the War department and
the officers who have studied the sub
ject ofk coast defense5 for years.
ThaH bill carries appropriations OF
ss3! S05,138 and additional authoriza-
tions to reach total OF S34. .299, ,O50.
ii Is the first of the bills mapped out
by former Secretary Garrison to co"'
er d -four! year program OF expenditure
tetaIing $50, ,064,557 on the continental
coaat refenses and reserve materinl:
The Panama Canal defense5 will add
$is S95.000 to the p:ojeCt reaching a
gfaad total of $96,059,557.
The Committee cut down the 1917
eefimatesl 81 1913 ,073. As the bill stands,
afoweyers It represents an increased cS-
penditure over last year OF $16.9SG'-
sss.
Outlining the projects approved, the
report says:
ssWhileitt may not be proper to state
iii detail the proposals made. II is
properfto state that tho ends sought
~ the additional armament are at
certain points to defend the harbors
and existing defenses against long
fanEesnayal bonn bardment, made nee
essay by the increased ranged OF guns
of modern battleships; TO increase the
volume OF gunfire at certain places
Ia order to make 1t adequate to meet
i the Increased volume OF gun fire that
enuld be direct against the fortit1ca-
tion byia fleet of modern warshtps;
aud ina few instances TO cove- water
areasSnot covered effectively by exist
iiig armament; and to deny to an
enemY the use OF certain harbors not
now protected.
sThestotal additional armament for
continental United States included III
the above projects comprises twenty
two 1B.ineh guns. twenty-four 12inch
gums mounted fos long.range fire.
twentysthfee 6-inch guns, and forty
eight 1Binch mortars; for the insiilar
possessions eight 12.inch guns mount
ed for longrange fire; and for the
\ Panama ycauaI four 1G'inch guns, four
i2:ineh guns mounted for long-sangc
inc. and twelve 16-inch mortars.
IN HuHlLlQl4NI W Llle uuONts Ght ~
iects OF TIE; board include one hundred
and thirty:four S-inch antt-aircraft
guns for the insular possessions, and
aightf 8ilch Santi.ai:cratr guns for the
Penamascanal.
ssrhe board also recommends the
construction of six lGlnch movable
h6B1fzer1i and an experimental 14.inch
sun onlrai1road car mount for defense
against hostile landings in unfortificd
hasbors.p ST.
The pfesent armament to which the
above batteries will be added Is de-
] sdribeds sas follows: q
Guns. now mounted or being mount
cd eafters eliminating batteries declar.
ed obyblete by the War Department
Hoa5d ot REVIEW: 16-lnch, /; 14.inch,
"a: 12!tnch. III; 10.inch, 131; .s.inch,
e:tnch, 2o5; 5-inch, 50; 4.7.inch,
81, ftnct q s-tnch. 276; mortars, 4oS.
Total 1898.
aIyhe mine defense are elaborate
tGontinued on page 60