Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-03-12

Roosevelt yesterday sent a message
- congress accompanying plans for
.,ast defense prepared by the joint
hoard of army and navy officers, in
which he emphasized the necessity for
s,rtber defenses and reviews the
bistorv of defensive work in this
country. The president calls espe-
oia1 attention to the recommendation
If the board that the entrance to
Chesapeake bay be added to the list
,f nlaces in the United States to be
defended. He says the insular pos
sessions cannot be longer neglected
ST the United States desires to hold
-ra,n Defenses are recommended
for Manila bay. Pearl harbOr, Guanta-
~imo. Guam, San Juan and Honolulu,
because Of their strategic locations.
0afanses are recommended for the
5rfrancas TO the Panama canal
Spaaking with special reference to the
snsuIar possessions, the president
says
The insular possessions cannot be
held unless the principal ports, naval
bases and coaIing stations are foi'ti-
fed before the outbreak of war.
These considerations have led me to
appoint Joint board of officers OF
fne army and navy ito recommend
armament fixed and foatinw, mobile
-orpedoes. submarine mines and all
other defensive appliances that may
ne necessary 70 complete the harbOT
defense with the most economical and
advantageous expenditure of money
The board was further instructed TO
extend its examinations so as to in
cIude estimates and commentators
relative to defenses of insular pos
sessions" and to recommend the or
der in which the proposed defenses
shall be completed so that all Gle
ments of harbOr defense may be prop
arIy and effectively cOOrdinated."
A copy Of this report, together with
a letter from the secretary of war,
are transmitted with the message.
The president continues:
In the insular possessions the
great naval bases at Guantanamo and
Pearl narbor, the cOaling stations at
Guam and San Juan, require pr0tec-
lion, and in addition, defenses are
commended for Manila bay and
Honolulu, because of the strategic
Importance of these localities.
Would Fortify Canal,
"Defenses are recommended for the
entrances to the Panama canal, as
contemplated by the act of June 2S,
1902 ttho Spooner acD and under the
terms of this act the cost OF sucn
rorifcations would probably he pain
from the appropriations for the con
Srrucjiun and defense of the canal.
The necessity for a complete and
adequate system of coast defense is
greater today than 20 years ago, fGi
The Increased wealth OF the country
offers more tempting inducements 30
attack, and a hostile fleet can reach
our coast in a much shorter period OF
time. The fact that We now have
q navy Goes not in any wise dinlinis6 d.
he Importance of coast defenses; on
the contrary, that fact emphasizes
heir value and the necessity fo.
-hci~ construction. It is an accept
ed naval maxim that navy could be
used to strategic advantage only
when acting on the offensive. and it
can he free to so operate only after
or coast defense is reasonably Sc
cure and so recognized by the conn
ny. 1t was due to the securely de-
Tended condition of the Japanese
ports that the Japanese feet was free
To seek out and watch it's proper oh
}2Caye-the Russian f1eet-without
lear Of interruption or recall to guard
lis tome ports AGAINST raids by the
N.adWostol1 squadron. THE, one of
he most valuable lessons of the late
war is worthy Of serious consider
alton ny our country with its extern
S}re coast line, its many important
Aarbors and its many wealthy manu-
I2ctUrinG coast cities
The security and protection OF our
interests require the completion OF
Inc defenses of our coast and the ac-
eomDanying plan merits and should
receive the generous support of con
-ress."
Vast Sums Proposed.
Secretary Taft in his letter accom-
1anyiog the report of the board Of
officers on Notifications says the
amount so appropriated and allotted
Tor Notifications is $72, 75O,5S3. He
estimates the cost for defense OF the
lnsular possessions including naval
bases and coaling stations, at $751;
H'3.895, in addition to s2,254,92o al
ready appropriated The estimated
cost for the defense of the isthmian
canal ports, exclusive OF the cost OF
lands, is S4.SS76S2