The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-04-02
DEFENSES
OF HAWAII
CONTINUED from Page II


an adequate defense at each locality
| Going on to the matter OF defending
! the Panama canal, the message has
these remarks:
. 1t is an accepted naval maxim that
a navy can be used to strategic advant-
age only when acting on the offensive
and it can be free to so operate only
after our coast defense is reasonably
secure and so recognized by the country.
1t was due to the securely defended,
conditions of the japanese ports. that
the japanese feet was free TO seek out
and watch its proper objective-the
Russian f1eet-without fear OF Interrupt
ton or recall TO guard its home ports
against raids by the Vladivostok squad
ron This, one of the most valuable
lessons of the late war in the East, Is
worthy of serious consideration by our
country. with its extensive coast line,
its many important harbors, and its
many wealthy manufacturing coast
cities.
"The security and protection of our
interests require the completion of the
defenses of our coast, and the accom-
panying plan merits and should receive
the generous support of the Congress. -
MILLIONS FOR ISLANDS.
Secretary Taft, in his transmittal
letter, contains estimates as follows for
the ports added since the Endicott
board made its report;
Eastern entrance to Long Island
sound, including So, 94S, 557 already ex-
pended, $S,021 ,263; Port Royal, al
ready expended, 132, 101; Tampa, in
ending $704,4S7 already expended, ST.
210,377; Puget sound, including $4,-
2S0,915 already expended, $9,S00,264;
Chesapeake bay, $6,102,871.
The amount so far appropriated ana
allotted is $72,750,584. He estimates
the cost for the defense of the insular
possessions, including the naval bases
and coaling stations, at $19,S73,S95 in
addition to the $2,254 900 already APP
propriated. The estimated cost for
the defense of the isthmian canal
ports, exclusive of the cost of land, is
1885,, $50.
Secretary Taft IS letter summarizes
the report of the board named after
him. considerable part of the report
is devoted to the necessity for defenses
in the insular possessions and isthmian
ports. The places mentioned III this
connection are Guantanamo, San Juan,
Guam, Subig bay, Manila bay, Pearl
Harbor, Honolulu, Colon and Panama,
the latter two the canal ports.
THE ARMAMENTs.
A large part of the report is devoted
to the questions of guns and projectiles
to be used for defenses. The board de-
duces the following opinion on this
subject: Ports of the first Importance
should be defended with 12-inch guns
and mortars; channels liable to cruiser
attack, 10-inch guns; places subject to
naval raids, 6-inch guns; for the pro-
section of mine fields, 3-inch guns.
The naval opinion is that the first
class Notifications will not be seriously
attacked by anything less powerful
than battleships.
Constituted by a presidential order,
the Taft board consisted of Secretary
Taft, Lieut.. Gen Chaffee, Maj Gen.
Bates, Rear Admiral Charles M
Thomas, Maj. Gen. Story, retired; Gen.
Greedy, chief signal officer; Gen. Gro
zier, chief of ordnance; Gen. Macken-
zie, chief of engineers; Samuel NJ.
Mills, chief of artillery; Capt. c. l..
Sperry, United States navy, with Maj.
Geo. w. Goethals, general staff, secre-
tary.
Gen. Mackenzie spent some time in
these islands making observations. and
Gen. Chaffee, in passing through a few
months ago, made flying visit to the
fortification sites about Honolulu.