In addition to the above-enumerated supply of reserve ammunition, there should be provided an ample allowance of ammunition for the annual target practice. This allowance for each company of coast artillery should be not less than 18 rounds per year for practice with the 8-inch, 10-inch, or 12-inch rifles, or 30 rounds for 12-inch mortars, and not less than 24 rounds per company for the 4-inch, 4.7-inch, 5-inch, or 6-inch rapid-fire guns, and not less than 30 rounds for the 6-pounder or 15-pounder rapid-fire guns. The present allowance for subcaliber and machine-gun practice should be continued. It is also recommended that all target practice, except subcaliber, should be with full service charges of smokeless powder, as in no other way can the guns be satisfactorily operated or the personnel adequately instructed in their manipulation. The present allowance of ammunition has not been sufficient to thoroughly test the guns after their installation. The Board renews the recommendation contained in its last three annual reports that steps be taken at an early date to provide the coast artillery personnel with suitable ranges and other facilities for carrying out each year a system of practical drill and target practice with heavy guns under conditions approximating those of actual service. As the primary object of the defenses is to protect the harbors and waterways along our coasts, the guns are, as a rule, so placed that target firing, with full service charges and at longer and more important ranges, can seldom take place without endangering the lives and damaging the property of private citizens. This is particularly true in the case of fortifications defending the larger harbors where there is shipping constantly within range and where private houses are in such close proximity to the guns as to be seriously affected by shock. At least three such ranges should be provided-one for the North Atlantic, one for the South Atlantic and Gulf, and one for the Pacific coast. Another of the most important features of the coast defense has not been adequately provided for, and this is the installation of a proper fire-control system at each coast artillery fort. Ample provision should be made for the purchase of range finders and other instruments for fire control, the installation of additional searchlights, and the necessary cable for conducting the electric power to the various parts of 'the fortifications and furnishing the essential lines of communication. Not less than $2,000,000 should annually be appropriated for these purposes for the next several years, and the Board is aware of no object for which such sum can more effectively be expended or from which greater benefit will be derived. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. In compliance with the act of February 24, 1891, which requires "a detailed statement of all contracts, allotments, and expenditures made by the Board," an exhibit, marked "Appendix A," accompanies this report giving a detailed statement of the allotments and expenditures from July 1, 1902, to June 30, 1903, the period covered by this report. No contracts have been made by the Board during the fiscal year. On July 1, 1902, the Board had on hand $229,715.48, and by act of March 3, 1903, $100,000 was appropriated; to this is added the sum of $30,840 revoked from prior allotments, making the total available $360,555.48. In the year past the Board has made allotments aggregating $157,280.94 and turned into the Treasury $15,000, leaving a balance June 30, 1903, of $188,274.54 for continuing the work of the Board, of which amount $10,000 is available only for purchase and test of movable submarine torpedoes. In addition to the above there remains an unexpended balance of about $27,000 from prior allotments which will be made available for continuing the experimental work of the Board. G. L. GILLESPIE, Brigadier-General, Chief of Engineers, President of the Board. WALLACE F. RANDOLPH, Brigadier-General, Chief of Artillery. Lieutenant-Colonel, Ordnance Department. Lieutenant-Colonel, Artillery Corps. Major, Artillery Corps. THOS. J. HENDERSON, Civilian Member of the Board. T. C. DICKSON, Captain, Ordnance Department, Recorder of the Board. APPENDIX A. TABLE SHOWING ALLOTMENTS AND EXPENDITURES MADE BY THE BOARD OF ORDNANCE AND FORTIFICATION FROM JULY 1, 1902, TO JUNE 30, 1903, INCLUDING STATEMENT OF UNEXPENDED BALANCES. Mar. 6. Revocation of allotment of July 1, 1896, for construction of Halpine torpedo. June 20. Turned into Treasury to credit of war surplus fund from appropriation for torpedo howitzers. $15,000.00 10,000.00 $25,000.00 15,000.00 10, 000. 00 Balance on hand a. Acts of 1892 to 1903, inclusive. Balance on hand July 1, 1902 Act of March 3, 1903 $214, 715. 48 $314, 715. 48 Revocations of allotments under these acts: 1902. July 29. To offset two overcharges on account of experi Aug. 7. 7. ments with aerodrome, Auditor's settlement From allotments of August 1, 1901, for construction From allotments of March 16, 1898, for experi- Oct. 1. From allotment of February 8, 1902, for experi- 1903. Mar. 6. From allotment of January 8, 1903, for armorplate target for test of Isham shell. 6. From allotment of October 3, 1901, for purchase of experimental fuses from H. V. C. Keeson... May 27. From allotment of March 6, 1903, for purchase of one Grubb sight..... Aug. 7. Improvement of bore sight designed by Ordnance .58 .22 604. 20 15.00 20,000.00 120.00 100.00 20, 840.00 335, 555. 48 102.00 1902. Allotments during the year—Continued. Aug. 26. Ammunition for test of fire-control system in Pen sacola Harbor.. 26. To reimburse Ordnance Department for cost of Oct. 16. Recoil spade for field-gun carriage, design of W. S. Isham 16. Target for fire-control experiments in Pensacola 22. Test of Isham shell, including firing, recovery, 22. Expenses of shipment of Isham shell Dec. 4. Thirty-seven millimeter Vickers-Maxim auto 1903. Jan. matic gun, with mountain equipment.. 4. Six-inch Brown wire-wound gun, additional 4. Modification of automatic pistol by G. H. Powell. 8. Armor-plate target for test of Isham shell... 8. Cost of prior experiments with Isham shell, addi- Feb. 5. Two pack saddles for ammunition for Vickers- 5. Experiments with automatic pistol by G. H. Mar. 6. Test of deck armor to determine perforating $15,000.00 309.00 250.00 1,000.00 1, 632.78 4,311.39 16,000.00 183.60 100.00 30.00 20,000.00 89.08 350.00 25.00 20,000.00 6. Experimental development of an automobile gaso- 6. Purchase on one Grubb sight.. 20,000.00 tive tests... 1,700.00 1,000.00 1,500.00 626.90 6. Nickel-steel armor plate for additional compara 6. Cost of work by Ordnance Department in connec- 6. Cost of inspecting 6-inch Brown wire-wound gun. Apr. 3. To reimburse Ordnance Department for cost of material destroyed in test of Isham shell... 3. To reimburse Ordnance Department for ammuni- 3. To cover cost of two aparejos and their alteration 18. Four subtarget gun machines.... 18. Four timing devices, design of G. H. Powell. caliber .39. May 27. To reimburse Major Whistler for expenditures for stenographic services. 28. Manufacture of new spade for Isham recoil device. June 20. Galloping carriage for Vickers-Maxim 1-pounder 399.65 50.00 1,000.00 800.00 3,500.00 37.35 50.00 1,400.00 200.00 13, 094. 19 $157, 280.94 178, 274. 54 |