The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-13
FORTIFY PHILIPPINES,
URGES GEN. CROZIER
Nothing Yet Done in That
Line, Says Ordnance Chief.
AN EFFECTIVE OUTPOST
Coast Defenses Advisable Even if for
No Other Purpose Than Guarding
Against Loss of Sea Power.

Fertilization Of the Philippines as an
outpost guarding the interests Of the
United States is urged by Brig. Gen.
William Crozier. Chief of Ordnance. in
MS annual report which has just been
made public
General Crozier says in discussing the
controversy as TO whether the United
States or the Philippines should
bear the cost of terrifying the islands
that the United states should at least
bear the expense of making the islands
an effective outpost, regardless of what
method Is adopted for paying for the
Qualifications necessary for the main
tenance Of peace ard security and civil
order
General Crozier discussed the neces-
sity for fortifications in the islands as
follows:
Nothing Done IN Five Years.
1T is five years since this nation came
INTO possession OF Porto Rico. Guam,
and the Philippine Islands. and up to
he present time nothing has been done
Tor the establishment OF permanent de-
lenses for their coasts and harbors.
The general subject of the defense Of
these possessions. by all the means
which r~ieht be devoted TO it, is one
which osfer branches Of the Government
besides this department are concerned
with. but is is proper here to make
brief statement of the relation which
ne permanent seacOast works of de-
tense viii bear to the general subject.
1t may be, and probably is. true
that permanent possession OF the islands
could not be maintained continuously
against an enemy commanding the sea
eIrai1s hrr
tuCes OF war the contingency must be
contemplated Of a temporary loss Of sea
power in particular waters and the
necessity recognized for providing
against the occurrence of complete dis
aster during such interval. Political as
Wei as mii tary considerations. or even
Irresistible popular Interference. might
so control the motion OF fleets as to dis
arrange the best laid plans for naval
supremacy in given portions Of the
world; and IN order TO provide against
the disastrous results from such very
1oreseeable accidents. il would seem the
part OF common prudence to provide
works which should perform the we'll
understood Office of fortincations-
namely, 10 enable a smaller force to
hold out against larger one for a time.
Other Considerations.
This time might be short. though In
valuable. for such small island s
Guam. or one situated so near to our
own coast as Porto Rico; but a terri
tory as large as that comprised in the
Philippine Archipelago. with all the re-
sources which are TO be found in those
Islands, might with the assistance OF
proper defenses for its important har
bors be able 10 maintain itself. even.
although cut Of by sea, during the con-
tinuance OF a short war. And if 50
defended it would In any event com
pei FOR the hostile occupation Of It's
principal centers the dispatch OF a sea
and land force Of such MAGNITUDE as "a
consume "A very considerable portion OF
the military energy Of a possible erenv
Without fixed defenses il would be
possible for fleet to occupy a harbor
and hold AZ its mercy a city. as did
the American feet with Manila in l8ss
With them II would be necessary Ia
send for the purpose an army to rne le
landing and operate against whategel
troops there might be on shore and q
superior fleet OF war vessels 20 CONVOY
TIE army 20 its landing point and pro
tect Its continuous stream OF supplies. o.