Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-06

the details of its plans have caused
doubts in the minds Of many as to the
money that will be needed to defend
completely our coasts by guns, mines
and their adjuncts. New localities are
pressing their claims for defense. The
insular possessions cannot be held un-
less the principal ports, naval bases
and coaling stations are fortified be-
fore the outbreak of war. These con-
sidcrations have led me to appoint
Joint board of officers of the army and
navy, TO recommend the armament,
fixed and floating mobile torpedo. sub
marine mines and all other defensive
appliances that may be necessary to
complete the harbor defense with the
most economical and advantageous cX-
penditures of money.
The board has completed its labOrs
and it's report together with a letter
of transmittal to the secretary of war,
is herewith transmitted for the infor-
nation of the Congress. 1t is to be
noted that the entrance to Chesapeake
Bay. not heretofore recommended or
authorized by Congress, is added to
the list of ports in the United States
to be defended. The letter Of the sec
rotary of war contains a comparison of
the estimates OF the Endicott board
with the amounts already appropriated
for the present defense and the esti-
mates of the new board, from which it
appeared that complete defense of
| our coasts, emitting cost of ammuni-
ton and sites, can be accomplished for
less than the amount estimated by the
Endicott board even including the adj
Iditional localities not recommended by
lit.
'Defenses are recommended for the
entrances TO the Panama Canal as con-
| templated by the act of June IS. 1902.
| (Spooner act) and under the terms of
| this act the cost of such Notifications
would probably be paid from apprOp-
| riations for the construction and de-
Tense of the canal.
The necessity for n complete and
| adequate system OF coast defense is
81 eater today than 20 years ago for the
increased wealth OF the country offers
more tempting Inducements to attack
and hostile feet can reach our coast
In much shorter period of time. The
fact that we now have a navy does not
In any wise diminish the Importance
of coast defenses on the contrary that
fact emphasizes their value and neces-
sity for their construction. 1t is an
accepted naval maxim that a navy can
be used TO strategic advantage only
when acting on the offensive and it
| can be free to so operate only after
our coast defense is reasonably secure
| and so recognized by the country 1t
was due to the securely defended con-
L n In hat
Japanese fleet was free to seek out and
watch its proper objective-the Rus
sian fleet-without fear of Interrupt
ton or recall to guard it's home ports
against raids by the Vladivostok
squadron. This. one of the most VAL
| liable lessons of the late war in the
| East, is worthy of serious considera-
ton by our country, with it's extensive
coast line. its many important harbors
and its many wealthy manufacturing
coast cities.
The security and protection of our
| interests require the completion of the
defpnces of our coast and the accom-
panying plan merits and should receive
the generous support of the Congress-"
| III his letter transmitting the report
OF the board to the President, Sec Taft
says that the board estimates the cost
| of completing the defences at s5O.s79-
399 or $22.S96.606 less than the sum pro-
posed by the E,ndicGtt board. The
| amount so far appropriated and allot-
| ted is S12.1 $50. The recommendations
of the EndicOtt board for the defences
| OF home ports has been revised and the
| following ports recommended: Kenne-
bee river, Portland. Portsmouth. Ros-
| ton. New Bedford. Narragansett bay,
| Eastern entrance to Long Island sound.
| eastern and southern entrance to New
| York. Delaware bay. Baltimore. en-
trance to Chesapeake bay. Hampton
Roads. Potomac river Cape Fear river,
Charleston. Savannah. Key West, Pen
sacola. Mobile bay, Mississippi river,
Galveston. San Diego. Columbia river,
Puget sound. Lake ports. kiska island
| The board believes ports of the first
| importance should be defended with
| 12-inch guns and mortars: channels liza
BILE to cruiser attack, 10-inch guns.
places subject to naval raids. 6-inch
guns; for the protection of mine fields.
3-inch guns.
| The naval opinion is that the first
| class Notifications will not he serious
ly attacked by anything less powerful
than battleships.