Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-06
DEFENSE OF COASTS
President Roosevelt Sends a
Message to Congress.
PLAN OF ENDlcOTT BOARD
Changes Wrought by the Develop
ment of Ordnance.
DEFINITE POLICY MARKED OUT
Necessity for Affording Protection to
Our Insular Possessions and the
Entrance to the Panama Canal

bay, Pearl harbor. Guantanamo. Guam, San
Juan and Honolulu. because of their STRAIT
egic locations. Defenses are recommended
for entrances to the Panama canal. The
President SAYS:
THE necessity for adequate coast de-
Tense is greater today than twenty years
ago" and concludes: 1T was due to the Sc
curely defended condition of japanese ports
that the japanese feet was free to seek out
and watch it's proper objectve-the Russian
ffeet-without fear of interruption or recall
to guard its home ports against raids by
the Vladivostok squadron. 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.
it's many important harbors and its wealthy
manufacturing coast cities.
THE security and protection of our coast
and the accompanying plan merits and
should receive the generous support of the
Congress"
The Presidents Message.
The text of the message follows:
''ro the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
"Our coast defenses, as they existed in
| 1860. were not surpassed in efficiency by
those of any country. but within a few
years the Introduction of rifed cannon and
armor in the navies of the world. against
which the smooth-bore guns were pracu-
cally useless, rendered them obsolete. For
edy the deficiencies of these seacoast fort
| iications. There was no establishment in
the country equipped for the manufacture
| of high-power rifed guns there was no
definite adopted policy of coast defense, and
Congress reluctant to undertake q
| work the cost Of which could not be stated
even approximately and the details of
which had not advanced-so far as could
| be northumberland the experimental
stages.
'The act of March 8. 1888. was the first
| decisive step taken 10 secure suitable and
| adequate ordnance far military purposes.
| Under the provisions of this act a joint
board of officers of the army and navy was
appointed for the purpose of examining
and reporting to Congress which of the
navy yards or arsenais owned by the gov
eminent has the best location and Is best
adapted for the establishment of a govern
ment foundry, or what other method, II
any, should be adopted for the manufacture
of heavy ordnance adapted to modern war
fare for the use of the army and navy OF
the United States This board, known as
the gun foundry board made its report In
1884 and directed public attention not only
to the defenseiess condition OF our coasts,
but to the Importance and necessity of
formulating a comp rehensive scheme for
the protection of our harbors and coast cit
les.
LAS result the act of Congress APPROX
ed March s. 1885, provided that the Pres
ident of the United States shall appoint
board which board shall examine
and report at what ports Notifications or
other defenses are most urgently required,
the character and kind of defenses best
adapted to each with reference to arma-
ments, the utilization of torpedoes, mines
and other defensive appliances.
Plans Of the Endicott Board
1.-THE board organized under the forego-
ing provision of law, popularity known as
the Endicott board, in its report of jan
uary %, 1885, cited the principles on which
oct Info oh ha
based, and clearly stated the necessity of
having our important strategic and COM
mercial centers made secure against naval
attack In determining the ports that were
in urgent need of defense since fleet did
not exist for the protection of the mer-
chant marine, Notifications were provided
at every harbor of Importance along the
coast, and at several of the lake ports
For any particular harbor or locality the
report specifies the armament considered
necessary for proper protectlon, the char-
acter of emplacements to De used. the num-
Der of submarine mines and torpedo boats
with detailed estimates of cost for these
various items The proposed guns, mounts
and empiacements were or types that
seemed at that time best suited to accom-
plish the desired results, based on the only
data available, namely, experiments and
information of similar work from abroad
After the report was made part OF the
public records the development and adop-
ton of suitable disappearing gun car
riage caused the substitution or open en-
placements for the expensive turrets ana
armored classmates, materially reducing the
cost of installing the ornaments: the great
advances In ordnance, increasing the power
and range of the later guns, caused dim
inution In the number and caliber of the
pieces to be mounted. ana this fact, COM
bined with advances in the science OF en-
cheering, rendered unnecessary the con-
struction of the expensive floating bat
teries designed by the Endicott board for
mounting guns to give sufficient hre Tor
the defense or vide ehanneis. or LOT nar.
be secured on land. Furthermore, keeping
pace with the gradual development ana I'M
proyement In the engines ana implements
OF war fortified harbors are equipped with
rapid-fre guns, and, to certain extent,
with power plants, searchlights and sys-
tenn of fire control and direction. now es-
sential adjuncts of a complete system or
defense. though not so considered by that
board
while the details of the scheme OF de-
Tense recommended by the Endicott board
have been departed from In making provi-
sion for later developments Of war ma
terial. the great value OF its report lies
In the fact that II sets forth definite ana
Ineligible plan or policy upon which the
very important work OF coast defense
should proceed. and which Is as applicable
TODAY as when formulated.
..The greater effective ranges possible
with the later rifled cannon. the necessity
of thoroughly covering with gun ire all
available water OF approach. al. ana , Inc
OF some OF the military reservations have
combined to move defensive works more
to the front. and many of the gun positions
now occupied have been obtained from pri-
waite ownership. The cost Of ouch sites has
been large item in the present cost OF
Notifications, and this purchase OF land
was not included in It's estimates by the
Endicott board.
IAN examination OF the report also dis
closes the fact that no estimates were sub
mitted covering supply OF ammunition to
be kept In reserve for the services OF the
guns that were recommended. due perhaps
to the fact that a satisfactory powder to
give the energy desired and suitable pro-
jectile to accomplish the desired destruc-
ton OF armor were still In experimental
stages These questions. however, are no
longer In doubt. and Congress already has
made provisions for some OF the ammunf-
tion needed.
THE omissions In the estimates of the
Endicott board and the changes in the de-
tails OF Its plans have caused doubts In the
minds of many as TO the money that win