Evening star., 1939-12-06
Harbor Defense
Weakness Stressed
Al Officers Banquet
Coost Artillery
Association Chapter
Elects

THE front doors Of the Nation
are wide open" insofar as harbor de-
fense is concerned. Maj. Gen. Henry
D. Todd, jr., U. S. A., retired, last
night declared in an address at the
eighth annual banquet of the Wash
ington Chapter Of the United States
Coast Artillery Association, held In
the Army Navy Country Club IN
nearby Virginia.
Gen. Todd said There is not a
harbor in the United States that can
fight in three months and doubt
II they can fight under six months"
This he declared due to lack of per-
sonnel which would be necessary to
bring the harbor defense up to full
strength.
Portland and Narragansett Bay,
he asserted, in effect, could not be up
to full fighting strength in less than
six months: New York possibly"
could be ready in three months.
Gen. Todd, however, developed
the thought that invasion of this
country would be practically out of
question, but that with the present
lack of personnel for harbor defense
the harbors would be open to sud
den onslaughts.'
Equipment Need Stressed.
Mai. Gen. Archibald H. Sunder-
land, chief of coast artillery, who
was honor guest at the banquet, and
other prominent officers also empha-
sized the need of additional equip
ment and personnel. Gen. Sunder-
land, who is president of the ma
tional organization, the United
States Coast Artillery Association,
and who is scheduled to retire from
the Army in April, was vigorously
cheerrd by those attending the ban
quet both before and after he spoke.
The annual election of officers was
held during a short business session.
The new officers are Maj. William
j. Heale, Coast Artillery Corps,
District of Columbia National
Guard. president, who was moved
up from the Office of vice president;
Maj Thomas J. Belts, Coast Ar
tillery Corps, U. S. A., secretary
treasurer during the last year, who
was elected vice president, and First
1t. Justin Shook, a Reserve officer,
who was elected secretary treasurer.
In accordance with the custom of
the chapter, one officer was chosen
from the Regular Army, another
from the National Guard and the
third from the Reserve. Maj. Belts
is a member of the War Depart
ment general staff.
Approves Harbor Defense Steps.
Gen. Sunderland expressed ap-
proval over steps taken for i'm
proved harbor defense. While en-
phasizing the Importance of both
harbor defense and anti-aircraft
weapons, Gen. Sunderland declared
his face would turn much redder"
If an enemy ship entered a United
States harbor than it would if an
enemy airplane flew over city. At
the same time he deplored the lack
Of equipment and men to train ad-
ditional men in anti-aircraft de-
fense.
ITO make an army you have to
give men material and training"
he said. He added that this coun-
try has only five anti-aircraft regi-
ments In the States and advocated
at least 10 or IS to make it possible
to train the necessary number of
men in the National Guard and
Reserve.
Col. j. A. Green, executive officer,
ONCE of the Chief of Coast Artillery,
told of q new steel shield developed
by the Army Ordnance Department
to cover large coast defense guns.
The shields, he said, will protect
the guns from anything but heavy
bombs and shells. In stressing the
shields value, he said it Is gen
orally conceded that ships would
not attack without airplanes attack
ing first"
Col: Burns Speaks.
Other speakers were Col. Walter
W. Burns, commanding officer of
the 260th Coast Artillery Corps
(anti-aircraft District of Columbia
National Guard. who told of plans
for his outfit to get additional equip
ment; Col. Earl w. Thompson. COM
manding officer of the 916th Coast
Artillery Corps Reserve and profess
sor of physics and electrical engi-
neering at the Naval Academy; Col.
James B. Bentley, commanding off,
Ger of the 622d Coast Artillery, har-
Dor defense unit; 1t. Col. Gregory j.
Kessenick. Reserve officer; Maj.
Aaron Bradshaw, on duty at the
War Department, secretary treasurer
of the national organization, United
States Coast Artillery Association,
and editor of the Coast Artillery
Corps Journal, and Maj. F. L. Chris
tian. U. S. A., unit instructor in the
Coast Artillery, District National
Guard. Col. James S. Irwin, Pitts
burgh, commander of the 508th Coast
Artillery GA. A., was among the
guests.
Capt. w. r. Leek, Coast Artillery
Reserve, was toastmaster. The
business session was presided over