New Britain herald., 1923-11-23
FORTIFIED HARBORS
 ARE UNDER ARMED
Chief Og Coast Artillery Submits
 DisCOuragins Report

Washington, Nov, 2S.-Decreases made during the last fiscal year in the number of coast artillery enlisted personnel 'leaves many of our for tified harbors practically without any protection whatever, and none of them-even the most important with anything like an adequate protection in emergency" Major General F. w. Coe. chief of coast artillery, reported to Secretary Weeks in his annual re- port.
 After showing the strength of the coast artillery corps to be less than at any time since 190l," General Coe said he feels it his duty ito urge strongly that careful attention be given this condition"
 'eThe importance of this matter" he continued is such. and the neces- sity for the increase so great, that l feel impelled to urge, if it can not be accomplished in any other way that it be secured through congress sional action in the form of an in- crease in the authorized strength of the regular army for allotment to the coast artillery corps.
 Not Enough Men.
 Because of the lack of sufficient personnel 10 man the guns in the coast defenses of continental United States. General Coe declared, it was impossible to meet in the last year '''the great necessity for increased number of coast artillerymen on duty in the Panama Canal department"
 The report also asserted that many of our modern batteries will continue to be without any system for fire control and adjustment for many years" unless substantial in- creases in appropriations can be ob- tafned from congress.
 On the subject of construction and installation Of coast defense batteries and anti-aircraft guns, the report said:
 ''There are four new types of anti aircraft guns now in process of de- yelopment. The first of the new guns is the so ealiber machine gun with a horizontal range of about 27.- 600 feet, a straight up range of 5000 to st2,00o feet and a rate of fire of about 500 shots a minute, Fire con- trol is to be maintained with this gun through new tracer ammunition, visible by night up to 7,50o feet, and by day up 5000 feet. The 50-cai- her gun is under manufacture for is- sue as substitute for the S0-caliber weapon now used. which latter is a relic of war days.
 Another Big Gun.
 "The second gun under develop ment is il s7 nm. machine gun, fr- ing high explosive shells with fuses so delicately adjusted that the shells, while safe to handle before firing, explode on contact with balloon fab- rie once they have been discharged from the gun. \ rate Of fire of 100 to f20 shots a minute Is expected with this weapon as is also straight up range of about i4,000 feet and tracer ammunition visible up to 1o.- ono feet. making possible accurate firing up to that point. It is planned to install these weapons in batteries of four operating with single tele- scopic sight control and 10 be trained and fired by single gunner.
 "rhe third new gun in the group | is a 5-inch weapon on mobile | mount with a rate Of fire of IS shots | minute. effective at attitudes up to f 2I 900 feet, and with full 360 de- rrees traverse to enable the gunner | 10 follow his target in any direction. It can be fired at an elevation Of so degrees and has horizontal range | of more than 3s.ooo feet with pro- iectiies weighing IF pounds and con- taininE a heavy bursting charge. Guns and mounts Of this type arc | now under test al army proving | grounds.
 Gun No. in the anti-aircraft list l is the 47 inch. firing a 45-pound { shell to an effective altitude of about | 90. .oon feet. It Is To he mounted on l mobile carriage with full traverse end equipped for power loading and | with an automatic breech block tn l speed up firing. This gun also can { be fired at an elevation Of SO degrees \ or within 10 degrees of straight over | the runnsr's head.
 "The construction of additional ' batteries included in approved 1G- inch gun projects is being undertaken 4 as rapidly as appropriations will per nit. Adequate appropriations for | fire control installations for this 4 armament should be made at the N same time that funds are appropriat II ed for battery construction. in order that the two may be carried along | together in the most economical man ner. and in order that the hstterirs may be in condition to function when 4 the guns are mounted. This they cannot do without an adequate fire fl control installation" II