The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-07
Largest Of Kind Ever Reported
There and the First of -Four
Yearly Measures.


WASHINGTON, April 7. - Tho
third great element OF the national
preparedness program was Thursday
brought to the House. 1t is the
largest fertilization bill ever report
ed. and the first OF our annual meas
ures under which 1t is proposed to
spend approximately 500, 900, 900
for Increasing and undermining tho
coast defenses. already officially de.
clared 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 sixteen-inch direct fire
rifles to guard New York, Boston,
San Francisco and other great cities
from long range naval bombardment.
Provision Is also made for mounting
twelve-inch rifles now in reserve 10
they will have range OF more than
10000 yards. or fifteen sea miles.
No ship could live within that dis
lance Of the guns.
Big Mortar Batteries.
The plan will add sixteen-inch
mortar batteries to the present
twelve-inch emplacements because Of
the Increased armor protection OF
modern howitzers and fourteen-inch
guns on railroad cars to defend
points not protected by established
forts. :
In approving the bill the commit
tee accepted almost without altera-
ton the proposals of the war depart
ment and the officers who have
studied the subject OF coast defenses
for years.
The bill carries appropriations Of
s23,305.123 and additional authors
cations to reach total Of $s4. 299,-
$50. 1t Is the first OF the bills map
ped out by former Secretary Garr:-
son to cover a four-year program OF
expenditure to,aling sS2.064,557 on
the coast defense and reserve ma
terial. The Panama canal defenses
will add $13,995,O00 to the project
reaching q grand total Of $96,059,-
$50.
The committee cut down the 1917
estimate s1.37S,073. AS the bill
stands. however, 1t represents an in
creased expenditure over last year
of s16,936,S33.
Projects Outlined.
Outlining the projects approved,
the report says:
While 1t 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 at certain points to defend tho
harbors and existing defenses against
long-range naval bombardment,
made necessary by the Increased
range Of guns Of modern battleships:
to increase the volume OF gunfire at
certain places in order to make 1t
adequate to meet the increased vol
ume Of gunfire that could be directed
against the fortifications by fleet
OF modern warships: and in a few in
stances to cover water areas not COW
cred effectively by existing arma-
ment: and to deny to an enemy the
use Of certain harbors not now pro-
tected.
The total additional armament for
continental United States included in
the above projects comprises twenty
two sixteen-inch guns, twenty-four
guns mounted for long
rage FIRE; twenty-three six-inch and
four three-inch guns, and forty-eight
mortars; for the insular
possessions eight twelve-inch guns
for long-range fire; and for
the Panama canal four sixteen-inch
guns, four twelve-inch guns mount
ed for long-range fire, and twelve
iortars.
Anh-Aircraft Guns.
"In addition to the above, the
projects OF the board include one
hundred and thirty-four three-inch
mortars.
lenses of continental United States,
three-inch aircraft guns
guns for seascoast de-
eight three-inch anti-aircraft guns
for the Panama canal.
THE board also recommends the
construction of six sixteen-inch
howitzers and an expert
mental fourteen-inch gun on railroad
car mount for defense against hos
tile landings in unfortified harbor5. :"
The present armament to which
the above batteries will be added Is
described as follows:
Guns now mounted or being
mounted latter eliminating batteries
declared obsolete by the war depart
ment board of review: 16-inch, i:
14-inch, "a; 12inch, Ill: 10incn,
1871; 8-inch, 40: 6-inch, 206; 5-inch.
Sc: Al inch, 81; 4-inch, a; 3-inch,
276; mortars, 40s. Total. 1898.
THE mine defenses are elaborate
and practically completed for all ex-
listing Notifications and provision
will be made for mine defenses In
connection with new Notifications ps
soon as the emplacement of guns
make such action desirable"
Reserve Ammunition.
AS to reserve ammunition the re-
port says:
"a review of the subject in the
light OF the European war caused
the board to very greatly increase the
amount Of such reserve ammunition
thought to be requisite, and it has
submitted this year an estimate OF
three millions of dollars, with 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
appropriation in effect of six and
one-half millions for this purpose.
as against previous annual appropri-
atoms of 100000"
In addition, to the new guns, the
bill provides for the expenditure OF
$750,000 to purchase the rights of