Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-31

empt of court in failing to obey an or
Ter to produce the books OF the Ameri-
,an Ice Company before Referee Nuss-
baum on Tuesday.
Service Of the order has to be made
before midnight.
ToRULE TIE PACIFIC.
United states to Fortify Coaling sta.s
tions and New Possessions.
Washington. May 3l.-steps toward
Dry Tortugas, Pearl Harbor,
Pango Pango, and Guam are being
taken by the navy department. For
some time this question has been dis
cussed. and the sentiment in favor of
fortifying coaling stations with a
view to the defense OF the United.
States, has crystalized rapidly. Owing
to the shortage Of engineers in the
navy request has been made upon the
engineer bureau Of the army to assign
an officer of that corps to the navy for
the purpose of visiting these places,
with view to making report upon
what is necessary to be done to forth
fy them SO as to get an appropriation
from congress to complete the work.
The fact that the navy is short of
engineers and that 1t is compelled to
go to the army for an officer Is likely
to add to the jealousy between the
army and navy. The work Of fortify-
ing coaling stations is identical with
that OF building fortifcations at the
seaport cities OF this country. AS this
work has been done under the super
vision OF the chief of engineers of the
army the officers of that bureau would
certainly be we'll equipped to conduct
the examination, make a report upon
what is necessary to add to the protec-
ition of the coast of the United States,
and leave the navy free from the duty
of protecting the new possessions In
casesoH war with foreign nation and
to devote its attention exclusively to
the warships of the enemy.
When 1t becomes known that It is the
intention of those having the matter In
charge to go to the army for an engi-
3neer to perform duties which 1t is
claimed belong to the navy the feeling
will be such as to defeat this particular
feature of the plan and congress will bs
appealed to to authorize more civil
engineers for the navy or enact legisla-
ton permitting graduates OF the nava
academy who have studied engineering
but have left the service. to return t.
1t.
Those who have studied the question
of fortlfying coaling stations have con
scluded that In the matter of actua
f,r n hf,v.s
the ratiosis as great as 10 to 1 in favor
of land defenses. That is. $500,000 ex;
pended In fortitications at q place like
Pearl Harbor would, in time of war
leave the vessels costing $5,O0O.000 fire,
to go where they would be of most ser
vice, and at the same time the fortif
cations would be more formidable to al
attacking fleet than battleship OF
cruiser costing ten times as much /
is contended that 100000 worth o.
mortars and disappearing gun car
riages more powerful than the batterie!
of the largest battleships could be EN-
placed at any coaling station ant
would Outright any battleship tina
could be built.
Until the pavy is increased to a con
siderable extent this will be most i'm
portant consideration, especially shoult
the United States become involved viii
u first-class naval power. Not onl,
Will the land defenses for coaling sta
tions be of greater Importance al pres
ent than they will be later5on, when tn
navy will be larger and veesels can b.
spared to defend, but they can be ia
more readily available than any pro
IypcnI oR1 - 4 tbe,5,,
These defenses could be constructe,
more quickly than could battleships
and $1,0O0,O0O divided in land defense
between two well located coaling sta
tions would not only add as mucl
strength tothe navy as two S5,OO0,0O
battleships. but the land defenses woul
probably be ready for use before tn
keel of the battleships could be laid.
With the aid of modern fertilization
places like Dry Tortugas, Pearl Harbol
Pango Pango and Guam would soon be
come to the United States as lmportan
as Bermuda, Gibraltar and Malta ar
to England. These fortifications coul
be garrisoned with battal!ons of mar
lines. who would make the most effectiv
artillerymen in the world after th
|training they get on ehipboard. Eng
land has foreseen the necessity of &C
quiring and fortlfying coaling station.
With fortresses at Halifax, Bermuda
Nassau and Gibraltar, and with til
Azores under its control during wal
by treaty with Portugal, that natio
dominates the Atlantic beyond hope
competition. But With Alaska, the ALEU-
tian Islands, Pearl Harbor. Pango Par
go, Guam and Cavite in the hands of til
United States, this nation could dom
nate the Pacific and do in that ocea
what the English have done in the A
lantic and the Mediterranean
+ There is considerable anxiety on tn
part of the naval officials to begin til
preliminary work of fortifyIng the Goa
ling stations at once. Not only will sue
stations be OF great value to the govern
ment. but naval officers will become ii
milinr with the details and constructic
4 OF defenses similar to those they will
called upon to attack during war. TT
i army engineer corps is az short t-hande
as is that of the navy. and for this re,
son 1t is believed the secretary Of ";
d will not be able to detail an officer (,
the purpose required.
Il ToProsscsse Drsyfnsard Paper. i
Paris. May 81. The first measure
the new minister OF war. Andre, is a
'order for the prosecution OF the Dire,
4 fnsard paper Aurore. for an article /
Il urbain 0dhier. printed yesterday, a
II eeeklng The heA eAdquartera stan ia col
III a6lf4nSS Yuffth Cant ErItsnh; M IL