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Show TWENTY-FOUR-INCH RIFLE PRACTICABLF WASHINGTON, Dec. 0. Ordnanc development de-velopment during the war has brought cannonmake.ru to the point where the 24-inch rifle is easily practicable, Jllajor General F. W. Coe, chief of coast artillery, artil-lery, said, today In his annual report. The nominal range of a gun of this sire would be forty miles, the report says, but "longer ranges for special types are possible pos-sible If desired." The limit has not yet been approached in the size of tractor-drawn artillery, declared de-clared General Coo, intimating that a successor to the German "Big Bertha" is to be expected. "In the case of harbor defenses," the report declares, "the existing armament lacks In power when judged by latest standards. In order to provide for the unhampered movements of our own fleets in leaving Important harbors It will undoubtedly un-doubtedly be necesnary in many cases to supplement the existing defenses with the highest power, largest caliber guns, placed as fur to the front aa possible. Recourse will consequently be had to fixed emplacements." |