The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-06
Roosevelt Comes Forward With
Special Message
TAFT TELLS WHAT IT COSTS
Chesapeake Bay and Insular Posses
sions Are at Present the Weakest
Points for Attack
BY Enemy.


welt sent a message to Congress today
accompanying plans for coast defense
prepared by joint board of army and
navy officers in which he emphasizes
the necessity for further defenses and
reviews the history of the defensive works
in this country.
The President calls especial attention
to the recommendations of the board that
the entrance to Chesapeake bay be added
to the list of places In the United States
TO be defended He says the insular pos
sessions cannot be longer neglected II
the United States desires to hold them
Defenses are recommended for Manila
bay. Pearl Harbor, Guantanamo. Guam
San Juan and Honolulu. because of their
strategic locations Defenses are recom-
mended for entrances to the Panama
canal. The text of the message was in
part as follows:
''To the Senate and House of Representa-
tves:
"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 riled cannon
and armor In the navies of the world
practically useless. rendered them obso-
lete For many years no attempt was
made to remedy the deficiencies of the
sea coast fortlfcations.
Board Appointed to investigate.
"The act Of March 3. 1883 was ene first
decisive step taken TO secure suitable
and adequate ordnance for military pur-
poses. Under the provisions of this act
Joint board of officers of the army
and navy was appointed for the purpose
OF examining and reporting to Congress
| which cf the navy Yards or arsenals own
ed By the government has the best loca-
tion, and is best adapted for the estab-
lshment of a government foundry or
what other method, if any. should be
adopted for the manufacture of heavy
ordnance adapted to modern warfare for
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 defenseless condition of our coasts.
but to the Importance and necessity OF
formulating comprehensive scheme for
tho protection Of our harbors and coast
cities.
LAS result the act OF Congress APP
proved March 3, 1885, provided tnat the
President Of the United States shall app
point a board . which shall exam
inc and report at what ports fortlfca-
tons or other defenses are most urgently
required; the character and kind of de-
fenses best adapted to each with refer
ence to armament; the utilization of tor
pedoes mines and other defensive appi-
ances'
"Fhe board organized under the fore
going provision of law was popularity
known as the Endlcott board In its re-
40 a. AfA a..
ciples on which any system of coast
defense should be based, and clearly
stated the necessity of having our I'M
portant strategic and commercial centers
made secure against naval attack. In
determining the ports that We're In ur-
gent need Of defense since a fleet did
not exist for the protection of the mer-
chant marine. fortifcatons We're provld-
ed for every harbor along the coast and
at several of the lake ports. For any
particular harbor or locality the report
specifies the armament to be used. the
number of submarine mines and torpedo
boats. with detailed establishments, and
estimates OF cost for these Items The
proposed guns mounts and emplacements
were officially promulgated at that time,
but to accomplish the desired results on
the only data available, namely. expert
ments and informations Of similar work
from abroad. changes were necessary
Set Forth Der1nite Foilcy.
while the details Of the scheme of de-
fense recommended by the Endlcott board
have been departed from in making pro
vision for later developments of war ma
terial the true value of its report lies In
the fact that 1t set forth In a definite and
intelligibe plan d policy upon which the
very important work OF coast defense
should proceed and which Is applicable to-
day as when formulated.
ha tor eff n0SSiDla
with the later rifed cannon. the necessity
of thoroughly covering with guntire all
available waters OF approach, and tho
growth of sea coast towns beyond the
limits OF some of the military reserva-
tons have combined to move defensive
works more TO the front, and many OF
the gun positions now occupied have been
obtained from private ownership. The
purchase of such sites has been "A large
item I'm the present cost OF fortihcations,
and this purchase Of land was not in
cluded in its estimates by the Endicott
board.
IAN examination of the report also dis
closes the fact that estimates We're
submitted covering supply OF amnuni-
ton to be kept in reserve for the service
Of the guns that are recommended, duo
perhaps to the fact that a satisfactory
powder to give the energy desired and
suitable projectile to accomplish the
desired destruction of armor were still in
experimental stages, These questions are.
however. no longer in doubt, and Congress
already has made provision for some OF
the ammunition needed.
Some Doubt About Cost.
.erhe omissions in the estimates of the
Endicott board. and the changes in de-
tails of it's plans, have caused doubts
in the minds of many as to the money
that will be needed to defend completely
o,,r coast by guns, mines and their ad-
iuncts New localities are pressing their
claims for defense. The insular possess
sons cannot be held unless the principal
ports naval bases and coaling stations
are fortified before the outbreak of war.
These considerations have led me to ap-
point a joint board of officers of tho
army and navy TO recommend the arma-
ment fixed and floating. mobile torpedoes.
submarine mines and all other defensive