The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-04-13
HOUSE BODY 0.K.'S
FORT|F|CATIONsBILL
$34, 297, $50 for Defense Sought
in Measure.
PROVIDES MORE AMMUNITION
Bill Also Asks Adoption Of AntlaIP.
craft Guns and Huge Cannon to
Guard New York and Other
Places.

Washington, April THE fortifca-
tons sbill-second OF the big prepared
ness measures-was reported favor.
ably to the house. II carries direct
appropriations OF $21,997, $50 and au-
thorizes the war department to enter
into contracts amounting to s12.S00,.
900, total of 1927 $50, by far the
largest bill of this sort ever brought
before congress. Last year the bill
carried about $6,00O,000. The out
standing features of the bill are
these:
Huge increases in reserve ammuni-
ton for field. seacoast and siege can.
non, based on European standards.
The adoption of antiaircraft guns.
Requirement OF the exclusive rights
and installation OF the Hammond
radio-controlled torpedo,
Fertilization of New York and
Chesapeake bays with 16-inch guns.
Fertilization OF Boston, San Fran
cisco, Hawaii. and the Philippines
with, -l2inch guns. having range OF
10000 yards
Completion of the Notifications Of
Los Angeles and San Diego.
Appropriation OF 100000 to equip
private plants with tools and machin-
cry necessary to manufacture standard
munitions for the army.
Provision that government arsenals
shall be operated at their full eco
nomic capacity.
To Change Gun Mounts.
Changes in gun mounts, to give ex-
listing coast defense cannon greater
range and securacy.
The secret hearings OF the com.
mittee disclosed that the European
war has convinced army officers that
the ammunition reserve, good for only
two hours, was hopelessly inadequate.
The bin provides $40. roc, 900 for the
purchase of shells for field and sea.
coast guns for the regular army. Last
year this Item was $1,S60,000.
The new scheme Of terrifying the
country and the insular possessions
was disclosed in the report. The plan
provides for an eventual expenditure
Of $22.064. 557 for continental United
States and the insular possessions,
and s1S,995,O00 for the Panama canal
and does not take into account forti-
flying Alaska, Guam and Guantanamo.
1t recommends that future directhre
coast artillery guns should be at
least 16,inch rifles, and that seacoast
mortars installed in the future should
be of the same caliber.
Provision is made for the construc-
ton of an experimental 16.inch mobile
mortar, and one 14-inch direct-fire gun
mounted on a railroad car for the de-
Tense of unfortif1ed harbors.
Sixty-four anti-aircraft guns are
provided, ten Of them for installation
in Hawaii and the Philippines. The
bill appropriates $750,0OO for acquiring
the exclusive rights to the radio.con-
trolled torpedo perfected by John
Hays Hammond, Jr., and installation
Of one unit. preferably at Fishers Is.
land. N. Y. Il
Twenty-Five 16-Inch Guns.
The complete general scheme OF for.
tifying the harbors Of the country
recommended the ultimate purchase
and installation OF % 16-inch guns.
Six are provided in the bill, four OF
them to be placed at Cape Henry. at
the entrance to Chesapeake bay, and
two at Rockaway Beach, for the pro-
lection Of New York city and end of
the bay.
Boston and San Francisco are to be
further fortified by mounting 12-inch
guns on barbette carriages, allowing
"high-angle" fire and making possible
effective range of 10000 yards. Seven
are authorized in the bill Seventeen
more are provided in the plan of the
board Of review. Six guns of this type
will be mounted in the defense of
Hawaii and two in the Philippines.
On its own initiative, the commit
tee included in the bill $1,O00,00 to
equip private munition plants with
digs, dies, tools and machinery neces-
sary for the manufacture Of American !
standard guns and munItion.
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