The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-03-08
ROOSEVELT URGES
COAST DEFENSES
President Sends a Special
a Message to Congress for
s Consideration.
NEED A BIG
ie Says Toso's Victory in Recent War
Was Due Largely to the Effective
Coast Defenses of the Jap
Z, anese Government.

ssAs Washington, D.. c., March T.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt sent Il message to con-
gress yesterday accompanying plans
for coast defense prepared by a joint
S board of army and navy officers in
n which he emphasized the necessity
for further defenses, and reviews the
history of the defensive works in
this country. The president cans es-
pecial attention to the recommendation
OF the board that the entrance to
chesapeake bay be added to the list of
places in the United States to be de-
Tended. He say the insular possessions
cannot be longer neglected If the United
Estates desires to hold them.
Defenses are recommended for Manila
p bay, Pearl harbor, Guatanamo, Guam,
San Juan and Honolulu because of their
strategic locations. Defenses are rec
ommended for entrances to the Panama
canal. The message says:
Our coast defenses, as they existed in
1860, were not surpassed in efficiency by
those of any country, but within a rev
years the Introduction Of rifed cannon and
arnor in the navies of the world, against
which the smooth bore guns were prac-
ideally useless. rendered them obsolete.
For many years no attempt was made to
remedy the deficiencies of the sea coast
fortifcations. There was no establish
ment In the country equipped for the man
ufacture of high power ritled guns. There
was no definite adopted policy Of coast de-
license, and congress was reluctant to I'M
dertake a work the cost of which could
not be stated ever approximately. and the
deails Of which had not ndvanced-so far
as could be observation-disclosures the ex-
perimental stages.
Lauds Recent inventions.
TIL president then tells Of the organ
izatiou and report Of the 'gun foundry
board" under the act Of March, 1888. and
later of tho reports of the Endicott board,
organized under an act approved March
8, 1885, and shows where later improve
ments in gunmaking and in explosives
rendered necessary many changes In these
Recommendations.
The president calls attention to many
Of the changed conditions under which the
work Of fertilization must now be carried
on, and adds:
These considerations have led NE to ap-
point a joint board of officers of the army
and navy, Ito recommend the armament
fixed and floating, mobile torpedoes, sub
marine mines and all other defensive ap-
planes that may be necessary to COM
plete the harbor defense with the most
economical and advantageous expendi-
lures of money The board was further
instructed ito extend its examinations so
rs to include estimates and recommended
lions relative to the defenses OF the insu-
lar possessions" and to recommend the
order In which the proposed defenses shall
be completed SO that all the elements Of
harbor defense may be properly and ef-
fectively Co-Ord.nated."
The board has completed its labors. and
Its report. together with a letter of trans
initial by the secretary of war, is here
with transmitted for the information OF
the congress.
Need of Fertilization.
The president mentions the new points
considered in need of fortifcation. and
says:
1.-The necessity for a complete and adc-
Quate system of coast defense Is greater
today than twenty years ago. for the in
creased wealth of the country offers more
tempting inducements to attack. and a
hostlle fleet can reach out coast in a much
shorter period OF time. The fact that We
now have Il navy does not in any wise
diminish the Importance of coast defenses:
put: on the contrary. that fact emphasizes
their value and necessity for their con-
structton. 1t is an accepted naval maxim
that a navy can be used IN stragetic ad-
vantage only when acting on the offensive,
and 1t can be free to so operate only when
our coast defense Is reasonably secure, and
so, recognized by the country.
1t was due to the securely defended con-
Gtt1on OF the Japanese ports that the
Japanese fleet was free to seek out and
watch it's proper objective-the Russian
t~ieet-without fear of interruption or recall
to guard its home ports against raids by
the Faldivostok squadron. This, one OF
the most valuable lessons Of the late war
In the east. is worthy of serious considera-
ton by our country. with Its extensive coast
line, its many important harbors and its
many wealthy misunderstanding n aSt citias
M The security and nrotartion NJ onr iutsr
~ ests require the completion of the defenses
on our coast. and the accompanying plan
merits and should receive the generous
support OF the congress:
The Cost as Estimated.
In his letter transmitting the report
Of the board to the president Score
tary Taft says the board estimates the
cost of completing he d%efenses at
s5 $50,s79, 1893. or s22 1896. COS less than the
SUN proposed oy the fnolcott board.
III sesietais says the grown OIL
A. Ins couliliS, tlis improvements IN tne
oruiHdhce ana the increase IN the Ea'y