The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-29

some results OF he tQSt cur "
In the entire corps area in
are less than 800 coast artill'
zation of the coast artillery
ate two of the great guns WI
All the coast artillery of Il
by a sudden emergency to d
exactly sixteen guns-about
brought to bear by one first
90 great il the shortage Of
trained Coast Artillery personnel
that the secondary defenses Of New
York city at Fort Hamilton ana
Fort Wordsworth have been aban-
doned.
GRASS ON GUN EASEMENTS.
Grass grows on the gun case
ments. Great guns and anti-air-
craft weapons for which this Gov
eminent has spent millions are
slowly falling into decay. q.
In order to preserve some sem'
blancs Of military order infantry
has been moved into these posts.
Infantry can no more handle ertl.
lery than they can fly. The infan-
trymsn are merely caretakers for
the grounds.
From it's depleted personnel the
Coast Artillery has assigned one
man to the battery. Thirty-six
men from the Coast Artillery are
now charged with taking care OF -
many batteries Of guns. One man
to the battery. one man to look
after the oiling, the cleaning and
the constant care needed to keep
high-ranse artillery In good condi.
ton.
what these expensive weapons
will be worth In q few years Of
this treatment no one darss pre-
dict.
SANDY HOOK DEFENDLESS.
At Sandy Hook, one of the main
defensss OF New York city. whose
capture would involve the loss of
the city and the bombardment
from the sea Of Manhattan Island
itself. almost equally poor condi.
tons prevail.
The coast artillery, In addition
to maintaining the guns. Ia charged
with the duty Of operating mines.
anttwar craft guns, and other duties
peculiar TO this branch Of the ser
vice.
Experiences Necessary.
The firing Of coast defense
gun 10 q technical matter. Each
element In atmosphere, In water.
in wind and tide must ne studied
and plotted in order that hits may
be scored against the enemy.
Halt train.d men may Be showed
into the ranks Of the infantry to
walk forward. to die from lack of
knowledge. Men who know moth
ing Of military drill may be used
by the light artillery in capacities
which 10 not require their direc-
ton Of the guns: But in the coast
artillery practically each man must
be trained as q technical expert.
No hurried training oan accomplish
this.
Coast artillery officers who
know say that II would take three
Of New York back to q point in
which they would be effective. II
would take at least six months
to train the men needed to handle
the material.
In order to carry out the On.
tremely technical work Of the
coast artillery tides must be gauged,
channels plotted and . thousand and
one other technical but vital details
arranged.
CONGRESS AT FAULT.
In order to make hits against an
enemy fleet. officers and mon Of
the Coast Artillery must study the
conditions in their own particular
section Of the coast line. To that
end the officers and men Of this
branch Of the service are seldom
transferred. They are permitted
to remain at one station that they
guns at this point.
There are several hundred guns
of all sizes in and around the
fortresses guarding New York. At
present only sixteen guns could be
manned.
Major General Payton c. March
in his report predicted exactly what
has occurred. Congress, as usual,
disregarded the advise Of the sworn
and paid experts Of the country.
The conditions In and around New
York are the result. Here 10 what
General March wrote:
ITO those who have no knowl-
edge Of army organization and re-
quirements, a reduction OF the army
from 100000 to 10000 Ii only a
Is per cent cut and the smaller
army provides rs per cent as much
national defense as the larger army.
GENERAL MARGINS WARNING.
This b . dangerous failacy. The
10000 extra men above lb0, 900 10
the combat part 81 the army, In
instant readiness 20 meet whatever
emergency may develop. The 70
duction 70 10000 win almost an
initiate this force, constantly need.
ed In peace and providing the life
saving first line 10 hold back the
enemy In time Of war until the Sec
ond line elements Of defense arc mob
ilized and reach the thcater Of active
operations" -, ...
William Randolph Hearst has
been the only great publicist In the
country 10 protest against the ruin
Of the Regular Army.
But II In very probable that
neither he nor any other publisher
In the country knows to Just what
extent this proceeding has gone.
Congress In making Its cut In the