Evening star., 1918-05-26
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING

The main work Of the office Of the
chief OF coast artillery during the year
may well be UNDER
Coast Artillery stood as having had to
do with questions in
Personnel. volving the best util-
ization Of the officers and men Of the
Coast Artillery Corps in supplementing
in the most efficient manner possible the
work Of the. expeditiona1y forces in
France.
officials Of the Artillery Corps have
given it as their opinion that the COM
missioned and enlisted personnel Of
the corps might best be utilised
abroad to a large extent. 1t has been
pointed out that in view Of the fact
that uider the existing conditions the
German feet is held closely to its
fortified base. it may be assumed that
the coast cities would not be exposed
to an attack by capital ships: that
the only attack to be anticipated
would be such as might be made by
the small-caliber guns Of submarines
or stray raiders.
CHOcT tHIS ASSuHlptlONs IL udb Uceh
pointed out that the personnel as
signed as the manning body OF the
major-caliber guns might well be
considered available for service in
France in manning railway artillery,
heavy tractor artillery, trench mortars
and anti-atrcraft guns.
1t has been further pointed out that
it would be possible. without incur
ring any undue risk, to dismount a
number Of the major and interme-
date guns of the coast fortif1cations
and mount them on railway mounts
or heavy motor-truck mounts for use
In France.
After due consideration the general
staff accepted these views of the chief
OF coast artillery, approved them, and.
drawn up involving the use of a con-
siderable number Of officers and en-
listed personnel of the coast artillery
for service with artillery Of this type
in support Of the expeditionary forces
abroad.
The recommendations of the chief
OF coast artillery have also involved
projects for maintaining the instruc-
ton and training OF a complete man.
ping. ning body for the home coast de-
at any time to serve the coast arma-
ment. and. In addition. to train. in SO
Tar as practicable. q personnel capa-
bic Of filling vacancies due to cas-
ualtles ana other causes in the coast
artillery personnel on duty in France.
ther contemplated that the coast
artillery personnel of the fortifica-
tions Of Panama, Hawaii and the
Philippine Islands should not be
osa orawh ths,a upon ac.a7 materially in carrying
The regular coast artillery and
National Guard coast artillery are to
be kept under intensive training at
the coast defenses. A special course
Of instruction to meet new conditions
district and coast defense command
ers.
There is no source Of supply for the
enlisted men except from the drafted
def mite policy has been recommended
by the chief Of coast artillery for or
ganizing and training men to meet
the projects already called for from
recommendations be approved at the
earliest possible time, in order that
the machinery for replacements may
be started and results obtained.
Graphite is in various ways essen
tial to the success of the military op-
erations Of the United
Graphite States. according to spe-
cialists in this line at the
III "ar. geological survey. Large
amounts are required for the manu-
facture of crucibles. for foundry
facings. for dry battery filters and
for a protective polish for explosives.
It's most familiar uses. in lead pen
ellis and stove polish, consume COM
paratively little of the total output.
A~-
tain as high as e5 per cent Of
graphite carbon and should be free
from mica. pyrite and iron oxide,
which are particularly harmful i'm
purities. Il should also preferably
one millimeter or more in diameter,
so that its fragments may interlock
and thus be more easily bound to-
Eether by the clay with which it is
Most makers Of crucibles prefer to
use a mixture of Ceylon graphite
with American flake graphite. Do
nestle flake graphite may be used
the domestic production cannot yet
be increased sufficiently to supply the
needs Of the crucible manufacturers.
graphite imported from Ceylon and
Madagascar must still be used.
crucibles during the last two years
has been due to the fact that cruel
bles made with domestic clays did not
stand as many heats as those made
from the Bavarian clay, SO that q
larger number were required to per-
form the same work, but the diff
Guilty Of obtaining satisfactory clay
for use in crucibles has been largely
overcome and crucibles now made
with domestic clays are thoroughly
satisfactory.
1t is estimated by experts that
about 10000 tons Of graphite suitable
for crucible manufacture will be
needed this year. II freight and mar
ket conditions and an improved labor
situation favor the shipment of do
nestle graphite about 5000 tons Of
flake of crucible grade, exclusive Of
dust: can be marketed in this country
in 1918, an increase of more than 100
per cent over the production Of 1917.
If the freight conditions that pre-
vailed in the autumn Of 1917 should
recur the domestic production of No.
! and No. fake will hardly exceed
$500 tons. If the domestic produc-
ton could be stimulated to its maxi
mum capacity, reasonable assurance
Of a steady market given, and en-
couragement offered to new plants, a
production as high as 1900 tons
might be reached. It is estimated. The
situation Is more favorable with re-
spect to non-crucible graphite.