New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-05
Chief of Engineers Reports
Some Notifications Date
to Sixteenth Century
Must Keep Pace
He Asks So, s03, $50 for Work
on Frontiers This
Year
[Staf Correspondence

WASHINGTON, Dec. A pro-
gramme OF coast defence building that
will better enable this country to repel
attacks from an invading foe is out
lined in the annual report of William
Black. chief of engineers, submitted to-
day\to Secretary Of War Baker.
Frank admission that 100 per cent
of our coast defenees were completed
or in progress at the end Of the Spanish
War" and there are a number Of old
tyne Notifications along our frontiers
some Of which date from the sixteenth
century, is made in General Blacks re-
port.
The chief Of engineers recommends
"a regular annual programme which
will provide for replacing each year
from TO 10 per cent Of our older EN-
placements" depending uDc2 "the rate
OF progress being made in naval Of
fence"
The art Of fertilization is progress
sive one, the report ADDS. Emphasis is
placed on the fact that fOrtihcationA
must continually grow 10 keep pace
with the set progress in the develop
ment Of naval vessels and armament
against which the forts are expected TO
contend"
General Black asserts that the sea-
coast defences already erected at the
entrance of the most important harbors
are "a formidable obstacle against en-
trance By a feet" When these are re-
inforced by the additional defences
planned and partly IN course Of con-
struction, the chief Of engineers be-
lieves "the use Of these harbors by an
enemy fleet will be forbidden and ade-
quate provisions will have been made
against destruction by direct fleet IRE
OF the cities bordering these harbors
and Of the important military obJec
tives contained therein
"But even then safety is not as
sured." General Black warns. because
under such conditions the attack usual
" is made from the land by an CN-
peditionary force supplemented by at
tacks from the air" To meet these
possible attacks, General Black recon-
mends that immediate steps be taken
70 provide mobile artillery of all
classes, including heavy guns and
howitzers mounted for transit on high
ways and on railways, and OF power
sufficient to compel shipping to keep
beyond range.
"Armored trains, with and without
heavy ordnance" General Black as
serts. "must be provided for the patrol
of exposed coasts bordered by railways.
And equally important anti-aircratt
guns must be provided IN large num-
bers for protection for our fixed mill
tary utilities against destructive at
tacks from the air" General Black
acknowledges that comparatively lit
tie has as yet been done along these
lines, although projects for anti-air
craft guns have been adopted and their
accomplishment is now in progress.
The report shows that in addition
10 twenty-seven permanent seacoas,
defences now built, fertilization work
is in progress in the districts Of Port
land, Me; Boston, Mass; New Bedford,
Mass; New York, Delaware Bay, the
entrance 20 Chesapeake Bay, Pensacola,
Galveston and San Francisco.
General Black estimates S3.s0t.2oO
will be needed for 1919 fortihcation
work in the United States, as follows:
Battery construction, S3,24l,OOO;
undermining older cmplacements, $751;
$50; preservation and repair Of FORTH
cations, 100000; plans for fortlnca-
tons, S25 5000; supplies for seacoast de-
fences. $4,000; easements, galleries,
etc, for submarine mines, S26O,OOO'