The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-06

Guantanaplo, Guam. San Juan and Hon. olulu, because of their strategic loca- tions. Defenses are recommended for entrances to the Panama Canel. The text of the message was in part as fol- lows:
 To the Senate and House of Repre-
 sentativeks
 1860 were not surpassed in efficiency by those of any country. but within a few years the introduction Of rified cannon and armor in the navies of the world. against which the smooth-bor guns were practically useless rendered them obsolete.
 For many years no attempt was made to remedy the deficiencies of the sea coast fortificatfons. The act of March 3, 1883. was the first decisive ster taken to secure suitable and adequate ordlltance for military purposes. un- der the provisions of this act. joint board Of officers of the army and navy was appeinted for the purpose of ex- aniining aud reporting to Congress which of the uavy yards or arsenals owned by the Government has the best location and is best adapted for the es- tablishmept of q Government foundry or what other Jnethod. if any. should be adopted for fhe manufacture of heavy OIOildtGE ihudpIEu IQ luOQETH " for Inse of the army and navy of the United States.
 Gsun Foundry Hoard.
 This board. known as the gun foun- dry board.v made it's report In 1884 and directed public attention not only to the defenseless condition of our coasts. but to the importance and neees- sity of formulating a comprehensive scheme for the protection of our har- sbors and coast cities
 As result, the act of Congress, ap- proved March 3, 1885. provided that "tht President of the United States shal appoint a board which will examine and report at what port forti- fications or other defenses are most urgently required. the character and kind of defenses best adapted to each with reference to armament, the utili' zation of toFpedoes. mines and othel defensive appliances.
 The board organized under the fore going provision Jaw popularly known as the "Endicott board" in its report 'of January 23rd, 1886, cited the prin- ciple on which any system of coast de- fense should be based and clearly stat ed the necessity of having our impor- tant strategic and commercial centres made secure against navnl attack. In determining the ports that were in urgent need of defense since a fleet did not exist for the protection of the naer' chant marine. Qualifications were pro- vided at every harbor. Of importance along the coast and at several of the lake ports
 For any particular harbor or locality the report specifics the armament te be used. the number of submarine mines and, torpedo boats with detailed estimates of cost for these Items. Th' proposed guns. mounts and omplace' mentS were Of types that seemed al that time best suited to accomplish thu desired results based on the only datf available namely. experiments and in formation of similar work from abroad DeflgIte plaD Set FOrth. While the details of the scheme o the defense recommended by the En dicott board have been departed iron lin making provision for later develop lments of war material. the true valu' of it's report lies In the fact that | sets forth a definite and intelligibl plan or policy upon which the very i'm | portant work Of coast defense shoul' Iproceed and which. is as applicable to day as when formulated.
 The greater effective ranges possibl with the later rifled cannon, the ne Icessity of thoroughly covering wit | gun fire all available waters of ap proach and the growth of sea eoas towns beyond the limits of some of th military reservations have combined t lmoye defensive works more 10 the Iron and many of their gun positions nov occupied have been obtained from prl
 vate ownership. The cost of such site has been a large item in the presen lcost of fortiftcations and this purehas Iof land was not Included in its esti lmates by the Endicott board
 An examination of the report sls