Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-06
President Sends Important
Message to Congress
with Plans for Coast Defence
Prepared BY Joint Board


Washington. March 5.-President
Roosevelt sent message to Congress
today accompanying plans for coast
defence prepared by a joint board OF
army and naval officers in which ne
emphasizes the necessity for furtncr
defences and reviews the history OF
defensive works In this country.
The President calls special attention
70 the recommendations OF the GARD
that the entrance to Chesapeake bay
be ADDED to the list of places In the
limited States To be defended. He says
the iasular possessions cannot De lon
ger neglected IL the United States de-
sires to hold them.
Defenccs are recommended for Ma
mia bay. Pearl Harbor. Guantanamo
Guam. San Juan and Honolulu because
of their strategic locations. Defences
are recommended for entrances to the
Panama canal.
.rhe text Of the message in part fol-
lows: ..t4fl.-, -
. "Our coast defences as they existed
in lssO, were not surpassed in efficiency
6y those Of any other country. but
within few years the Introduction OF
r,fi.d cannon and armor in the navies
of the world, against which the smooth
bore runs were practically useless. rem
dered them obsolete.
1.-The act Of March 3, 1888. was the
first decisive step taken to secure suit
able and adequate ordnance for mill
tary purposes. Under the provisions OF
this act. a Joint board of officers OF the
army and navy was appointed for the
inc n
Congress which of the navy yards or
arsennls owned by the government has
the best location and Is best adapted
for the establishment of government
foundry or what other method. If any.
should be adopted for the manufacture
OF heavy ordnance adapted to modern
warfare for the use of the army and
navy Of the United States This board
known as the gun foundry board,
made It's report in 1884 and directed
public attention . to the inn
portance and necessity of formulating
a comprehensive scheme for the pro-
lection OF our harbors and coast cities.
AS a result the act OF Congress APP
proved March 3. 1885. provided that
the President Of the United States shall
appoint a board, which board
shall examine and report at what ports
Notifications or other defences are
most urgently required. the character
and kind OF defences best adapted to
each. with reference to armament. the
utilization Of torpedoes. mines and 9TH
er defensive appliances.
1.-THE board organized under the FORE
going provision of law. popularity
ha EnIicnft haq ri In its O.
port Of January %, 1886. cited the prin-
ciples Oh which any system of coast
defence should he based and clearly
stated the necessity Of having our inn
portant strategic and commercial CEN
tiers made secure against naval attack.
IT. determining the ports that were In
urgent need of defence. since a fleet
did not exist for the protection Of the
merchant marine Notifications were
provided at every harbor Of import
ance along the coast and at several OF
the lake ports. For any particular har-
Dor or locality the report specifics the
ornaments to be used. the number of
submarine mines and torpedo boats.
with detailed estimates of cost for
these various items.
AFTER the report was made part OF
the public records the development and
adoption OF a suitable disappearing gun
carriage caused the substitution of OPP
en- emplacements for the expensive tur-
retS and armored classmates. materially
reducing the cost of installing the ar
maments; the great advances In ord
nance. increasing the power and range
Of the latter guns caused diminutiOn
In the number and caliber of the
pieces to be mounted. and this fact
combined with advances in the science
Of engineering rendered unnecessary
the construction Of the expensive fight
ing floating batteries designed by the
Endicott board for mounting guns. to
give sufficient fire for the defence of
wide channels or for harbOrs where
suitable foundations could not be Sc
cured on land. Furthermore. keeping
pace with the general development and
improvement in the engines and imple-
ments Of war. fortified harbors are
equipped with rapid-fring guns and
to certain extent with power plants
scarchlights and Il system of fire-con-
troll and direction now essential ad-
juncts Of = complete system of defense.
though not so considered by that board.
While the details of the scheme of
defense recommended by the Endicott
board have been departed from. in
making provision for later develop
ments Of war material, the great value
OF Its report lies in the fact that it sets
forth definite and Ineligible plan of
policy upon which the very important
work Of coast defense should proceed
and which sis as applicable today as
when formulated.
"The greater effective ranges posi-
bic With Me later rified cannon. the
necessity 81 thoroughly covering with
gun IRE all available waters Of ap-
proach ana the growth of seacoast
towns beyond the limits OF some Of the
military reservations have combined
to move defensive works more to the
front ana many of the gun positions
now occurfed have been obtained from
private ownership. The cost of such
sites has been large item in the pres
ent cost OF Notifications and this pur-
chase Of land was not included in its
estimates by the Endicott board.
An examination Of the report also
uiscioses the fact that no estimates