The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-06
PLAN OF SEACOAST DEFENCE.
REPORT OF NATIONAL BOARD
SENT TO CONGRESS.
The President Urges Prompt Action and
Says the Departure From the EndicOtt
Boards Plans Is Made Necessary BE.

cause or the Increased Power or Gums.
WASHINGTON, March 5.-The President
transmitted to Congress to-day the report
Of the National Coast Defence Board, oom-
posed of officers of the army and navy,
and designated to prepare a plan Of coast
and harbor offences. The necessity Of a
revision Of the general plan Of coast and
harbor defence was caused by the intro
duction Of improved guns and armor,
wireless telegraph, the submarine torpedo
vessels and the improved system OF fire
control worked out by the army experts.
In transmitting the report, which Is
accompanied by a letter from Secretary
Taft, the President says
@Our coast defences, as they existed in
1850, we're not surpassed in efficiency by
those of any other country, but within a
few years the introduction of rified cannon
and armor in the navies of the world, against
whit n the smoothbore gun was practically
useless, rendered them obsolete. Fol many
wears no attempt was made to remedy
the deficiencies of these s~eacoast fortifica-
lions, There was no establishment in the
country equipped for the manufacture OF
high power rifed guns. There was no
definite adopted policy OF coast defenoes,
and Congress was reluctant to undertake
n work the cost of which could not be
stated even approximately and the de-
tails of which had not been advanced, so
far as could be ascertained, beyond the
experimental stage"
The President then recites the acts Of
Congress and the steps taken to secure suit
able and adequate ordnance for military
PURPOSES UP to the organization of what is
popularly known as the Endicott board.
Reviewing the work Of this board, he says
that in determining the ports that were in
urgent need of defence, since a feet did not
exist for the protection Of the merchant
marine, Notifications. were provided at
every harbor of Importance along the coast
and at several of the lake ports. After de-
scribing the work based on the report, the
President continues:
While the details Of the scheme Of de-
fence recommended by the Endicott board
have been departed from in making pro-
vision for later developments of war ma
terial, the great value Of its report lies in
the fact that it sets forth a definite and
Ineligible plan or policy upon which the
very important work OF coast defence
should proceed, and which is as applicable
to-day as when formulated. The greater
effective ranges possible with the later
rfed cannon, the necessity of thoroughly
covering with gunfire all available waters
of approach and the growth of seacoast
towns beyond the limits Of some of the
military reservations have combined to
move defensive works more to the front,
and many Of the gun positions now oocu-
pied AVE been obtained from private
ownership. The expense Of such sites has
been a large item in the present cost OF
Notifications, and this purchase Of land
was not included in its estimates by the
Endicott board"
The President then discusses the new
plan advocated, and in conclusion says:
The insular possessions, the great naval
bases at Guantanamo, Subig Bay and Pearl
Harbor, the coaling stations at Guam and
San Juan require protection, and in ad-
dition defences are recommended for Manila
Bay and Honolulu because of the strategic
importance OF these localities. Defences
are recommended for the entrances to the
Panama Canal as con templated by the
spooner act, and under the terms Of this
act the cost Of such Notifications would
probably be paid from appropria tons for
the construction and defence Of the Canal.
THE necessity for a complete and ade-
quate system Of coast de fence is greater
to-day than twenty years ago, for the
increased wealth of the country offers more
tempting inducements to attack n a
hostile fleet can reach our coast In a much
shorter period Of time. The fact that we
have now a navy does not in any wise dimin-
ish the Importance of coast defences; on the
contrary, that fact emphasizes their value
and necessity for construction. 1t is an
accepted naval maxim hat a nav can be
used to strategic advantage only when
acting on the offensive, and it can be free to
30 operate only after our coast defence is
reasonably secured and so recognized by
the country.
1T wa 8 due to the securely defended
condition of the Japanese ports that the
Japanese fleet was free to seek out and
watch lis proper o~bjective-the Russian
feet-without fear Of interruption or recall
to guard its home ports against raids by
the y~ladivostok squadron. This is one
Of the most valuable lessons of the late
war in the East, and is worthy Of serious
consideration by our country, with It's ex-
tensive coast line, its many important
harbors and its many wealthy manufacture
ing cities.
The security and protection Of our inter-
ests require the completion Of the d~efences
Of our coast, and the accompanying plan
merits and should receive the generous
support Of the Congress-
The letter of Secretary Taft transmitting
the report Of the National Coast Defence
Board says that notifications of the former
scheme Of defence we're necessary because |
Of the increased power of guns, steel and
powder. The additional expenditure neces-
sary to complete the d~efences of the coast
in accordance with the recommendations
Of the board is estimated at $50, s79, 800.
For the insular possessions $19, 1913, sos ia
needed, and for the defence OF the Panama
Canal 1887, 6S2.
The board places Chesapeake Bay COM
mercially and strategically of the first i'm
portance and recommends SO, 1o2 ,s71 for
fortifcations there. Next in importance !
are the Notifications at the eastern end Of
Long Island, because they constitute the
outer line Of defence for New York city.
10 complete these an appropriation Of S.
US ,708 is recommended in addition to
G'ai5,557 already expended. For Puget
Sound $3.50, 347 and at Tampa, Fla,