The Washington herald., 1919-01-02
War Department VIII Ak
Congress for $1,000, ,0oo
Extra Appropriatien.
TO STRENGTHEN COAST
Lessons Learned In War -
Make Nation InvulnerabIe
Against Invasion.

As a counterpart OF the navy-s plAn
for a great feet, the War Department
will ask the appropriation OF millions
Of dollars TO be expended during the
coming two years in completing tns
coast defenses Of the United sutee
and her insuiar possessions. accord
ing to Mai. Gen. W. NJ Black. chief
Of engineers.
In discussing the coast defenses OF
America and the effect which the les
sons of the war will have upon the
coast defense systems OF the United
States, Gen. Black said:
The coast defense Of The UuneS
States now rests upon the navy and
heavy artillery posted at twenty-eieft
points from the Kennebec River, Me-.
to Puget Sound, Oregon. In addition
there are, OF course. the Panama
Philippine and Hawaiian defensea
Principles All Right.
1T is perhaps a bit early to ststs
what lessons in seasosst defense have
been learned from the war But "
can be stated that, in general, moth
ing has happened in Europe TO make
any change in the fundamental prip-
ciples upon which our coast defenses
have been planned. or to throw any
doubt upon the truth OF the principle
mat properly constructed seacoast de-
lenses, when properly manned and
operated, may be relied upon to euc-
cessfully resist a naval attack
New elements such as barrare
nre, drum hre, etc, many of which
are aimed not at SPECIAL targets.
but are intended merely to deny GER
tain areas OF lines to the enemy
will be given careful study.
system OF "barrsge" FIRE may have
an important function in seacosst
defenses. Many OF the channels Of
approach to our harbors lie at
considerable distance from the
shores and may not be completely
closed by mines because Of naval
an5 commercial needs,
Covered by Gsns
Such channels. in many cases. are
so fully covered by the FIRE Of suns
NSbNNAoAAN VI ouT oAueE NnoflhT
batteries, as to make Il certain that
no enemy would attempt TO make
use OF them. except under cover of
night fogs. or thick weather. such
conditions will necessarily arise
from time to time and IL Is be-
lieved that the safest defense under
such conditions will probably be a
barrage fire from our older mortar
ba tterieE"
Seacoast defenses. other than guns
mounted upon railway trucks, will
be essential in the opinion OF Gen.
Black. He pointed out that in IRE
upon moving targets. emplsced guns
can give faster and more effective
fire. In this connection he said:
The sea target must be observed
to be fired upon, for IL is in motion
On land. fire may be directed at
great range. and while IL may prove
Inaccurate will do great damage.
1t is found that though artillery
has been employed on land with
ranges as high as $4,000 yards. at
sea the limiting rage used has beep
little beyond 10000 yards"
Outlines Expansion PIsps-
In outlining the plan by which the
coast defenses are 20 be expanded.
Gen Black said:
When necessity reolires the CAP
ture or reduction Of seacosst defenses
the only method as yet found fairly
successful Is by attack from the Land
: To provide the necessary wired en-
! trenchments the army will ask that
S2OooOoO be expended by the govern
ment. In addition plans for the use
~
are being perfected.
Relative 10 the opinion that in view
of the long range being used by naval
guns, the seacoast defenses should he
/ far more simple and the expenditure
Of funds for intricate emplacemeut Of
guns be eliminated. Gen. Black
pointed out that the first cost Of q
disappearing l4-inch gun is about s2na. :
O9c. and that since the life OF the run
! is but twenty-five years. the annual
running cost is $4,000. He compared
/ this with the 500 necessary 10 main
tain the guS and the seo. 600 expended
/ yearly in the maintenance Of sne
seventy officers and enlisted men need
ed to man it. making the point THAI
the cost OF emplacement was a small
factor in computing the cost Of our
seaccast defenses.
Thinks Pnrnpets Invaluable. -
The annual cost Of the parspets,
which some people think are needless
expense, Is about per cent Of the
whole annual cost" said Gen. Black.
But we must remember that these
parapets. by actual test, have shown
that they enable a gun 70 FIRE per
cent more shots at the enemy before
the gun is knocked out than would
be the case IL the guns were plseed
in the open =
Great progress has been made "a
mapping the country. These military
maps are similar to those used BY
the European armies. We have beer
given $4,000 to be expended In map
ping the coastal plain OF the United
States from Virginia to Texas"