The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-13

coded by two weeks notice, 1t Is
EXTREMITY doubtful II these troops
would be Of much value.
Quarters
Quarters-In most Of these posts
any additional personnel or equip
inent would have to be quartered In
tents, as there Is a dearth Of quar-
tiers for existing personnel and
equipment.
WPA-We were much graft.
fed to learn that q great deal Of
assistance had been rendered these
posts by the WPA program. Many
buildings had been and were being
constructed and many old buildings
had been repaired by WPA labor.
Those in command reported that IN
general the local authorities had
been cooperating splendidly in this
respect.
It is recommended that the pres
ent program be supplemented and
speeded up to provide the following,
most Of which has been many times
recommended, by those in charge
Of the various posts In reports. now
on file.
I. Immediate additions to the per-
sonnet SUFFICIENT to provide q full
complement Of enlisted men and
officers to man the existing harbor
defenses, the anti-aircraft batteries,
both for protection Of the gun bat
teries and vital harbor installations,
less the National Guard personnel
assigned for war time duty.
2. Immediate rehabilitation Of all
serviceable guns, regardless of cali
Der or character and construction OF
such protection as is possible for
all batteries and other installations
against bombs or bomb splinters. 1t
seems to us that the mechanism for
eleyating and traversing the guns
are particularly vulnerable to bomb
splinters.
improvements Needed
3. Improvement Of existing and
construction Of new air fields for
use Of larger air force. We believe
these fields should be sod through
out, with the buildings Of the type
Of ordinary farm buildings. The
field at New London, Conn, is q
landing field. More airplanes and
good example Of an inconspicuous
airplane personnel should be as
signed to these units to operate with
and be. trained with them.
4. Speed up acquisition OF mobile
anti aircraft material, aircraft, mo-
tor torpedo boats Of the navy.
mines, fire control equipment and
heavy modern, long range sea coast
batteries.
5. Procurement of equipment and
organization and training Of per-
sonnet for fixing anti-aircraft bat
test Of large caliber around cities
containing vital installations. This
personnel can come from additional
National Guard or State Militia
units, but the equipment should be
constructed at once by the Federal
government.
6. Organization and equipment as
rapidly as possible, Of additional
mechanical divisions Of the regular
army. At least one corps, consisting
Of two armored divisions with medi-
UNI and mobile artillery, should be
maintained at all times in the New
England area, in addition to the
present National Guard force, which
only partly trained an dpartly inn
mobilized and immobile, Is New
England's only present protection.
Z. The training In mine planting
Of the crews Of former army mine
planters. now In the service OF the
coast guard in this area for use IN
servicing the lighthouses.
8. An immediate study OF the
matter Of comoufiage with the Idea
Of adapting the same to whatever
NAV be the natural surroundings
and Q constant system Of inspection
Of same from the air, both BY OBJ
servation and photography.
Q. The acquisition and fortifica.
ton Of bases for our feet and an
bases IN Nova Scotia and Bermuda
Requirements
70. Program Of progressive re.
placement OF obsoIescent guns and
equipment to begin as soon Is pos
sIble.
Conclusion. Although we have NOT
visited the other coastal areas o.
tho Atlantic. Gulf and Paciif
coasts from what we have seen and
from what We know Of the general
subjeok we have no doubt, but thai
the same general conditions prevail
m other areas. We therefore. make
the above recommendation for oui
entire system Of coast deienees h
continnzai uniied States.