The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-27
BILLIONS ASKED! /
TO PROTECT U. S,
FROM INVASION
Baker Submits Deficiency
Estimates Aggregating
$5,278,636,OOO ?
CONGRESS GETS SHOCK
81, ,68,613,OOO Sought for
FOrtificatiOns COnsid-
cred Impregnable.
NEW TAXES A PROBLEM
Issuance of Bonds Bearing
Higher Rate Than Liberty
Loan Is Suggested.
NEW TAXES A PROBLEM


the Treasury. to-day submitted to Con-
gress deficiency estimates for the War
Department aggreglting s5,27s.636.00
OF this amount s246S.613, 900 is for ar
mament of fortifcations. which spells
eleventh hour preparedness against In
vasion from overseas. .a
At the same time the Secretary pre-
sented supplemental estimates amounting
to $642,124,5s1, but of this amount
S63s.O0O,o00 already has been appropri-
ated In the aviation bill and should be
deducted, although Congress must make
provision to meet it, as 1t was not on
the ledger when the war tax was
framed
In the meantime the Approximations
Committee of the House completed the
preparation of a naval deficiency bill
appropriating approximately $2S0,00O,-
ooo Tor the navy. making a total army
and navy deficiency bill for the year
ending June 80 next of more than fve
and one half billions of dollars
III the announcement of Secretary Nc
Adoo TO the Finance Committee of the
Senate on Tuesday that deficiency appro-
priations of about IS. 900, ,00O, ,OO0 must be
anticipated by the revenue raisers came
as surprise, the information that more
than half of this amount must go for
the arming of harbor fortifications which
were believed inferior to none in the
world comes as scarcely less of a shock.
IT Inch Guns.
Although 1t was realized these forth,
cations had to be strengthened at cer-
tain points by the installation Of II inch
guns, the chief OF ordnance has re-
peatedly and persistently informed Con-
gress that the mounting OF guns OF in
creasngly large callbre on war vessels
has not seriously affected the efficiency
or our fortif1cations with the exception
of New York city, where large calibre
gun was recommended, and Chesapeake
Bay, where plans have been under way
for the emplacement of heavy guns for
years.
The amount of the appropriation now
asked, according to one of the leading
members of the Military Affairs Com
mittee, would lead to the belief that the
harbor defences OF the entire country
were to be rebuilt. Two billions is more
than has been expended on coast and
harbor fortihcations in the nineteen
years since the war with Spain, accord
ing to this member.
Brig. Gen. William NJ Black in his
annual report as Chief of Engineers last
December indicated that so far as at
tack from the sea was concerned the
harbor fortificatiOns were satisfactory.
but needed protection against attack
from the rear and against aerial attack.
Around the question whether big har-
Dor defence rifles should be mounted for
all around fire with a view to defending
the fortifcations AGAINST land attacks
from the rear, or should depend for
such defence on the cooperation OF the
navy with the mobile army. a contro-
versy has ragged for years in the De-
partment Gen. CroZier. chief of ord
nance. contended successfully that the
guns should be mounted only for FIRE
against a sea force, since to give them
all around fire would mean emplacing
them so far back of the protecting em-
bankment as to expose them readily 10
high angle fire from the sea.
other Estimates.
The new war budget promises now to
exceed eight billion dollars and may
mount to ten billions. In addition to
the War Department estimates sent in
to-day others of 81, ,0OO, ,OOO, 900 or more
are expected tomorrow when the other
departments report their needs and In
addition Secretary MCAdoO has Indicated
that before the year is out Congress
will he asked for $4,000, 600, 900 ap-
preparation to increase the fund avail
able for loans abroad
As soon as the departmental reports
are in the Appropriation Committees OF
Congress will 60 to work ON an imme-
date budget which probably will total
i'm the nelghborhood OF $1,000 0OO. 900
Meantime the Senate Finance Committee
which has the war tax bill in charge,
Will meet tomorrow to consider what