Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-03-08
PRESIDENT SUBMITS EXTENSIVE
DEFENSE PROGRAM.
SENDS SPECIAL MESSAGE
Lays Before Congress Plans for Elk
pendture of $1ooG1o ooo-Would
Fortify Coast of United States, as
We'll as Naval Stations in Islands
and Entrances to Canal.

Washington, March 6.-President
Roosevelt yesterday sent message
to congress accompanying plans for
coast defense prepared by the joint
board of army and navy officers, in
which he emphasized the necessity for
further defenses and reviews the
history of defensive work in this
country. The president calls espe
cial 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
defended He says the insular pos
sessions cannot be longer neglected
if the United States desires to hold
them. DefenseS are recommended
for Manila bay, Pearl harbor, Guanta-
nimo, Guam, San Juan and Honolulu,
because of their strategic locations.
Defenses are recommended for the
entrances to the Panama canal.
Speaking with special reference to the
insular possessions, the president
says
The insular possessions cannot be
held unless the principal ports, naval
bases and coaling stations are forti.
fed before the outbreak of war,
These considerations have led me to
appoint joint board of officers OF
the army and navy Ito recommend
armament fixed and foatinw, mobile
torpedoes, submarine mines and all
other defensive appliances that may
be necessary to complete the harbor
defense with the most economical and
advantageous expenditure of money
The board was further instructed ito
extend its examinations so as to in
Clude estimates and recommendations
relative to defenses of insular pos
sessions" and to recommend the or.
der in which the proposed defenses
shall be completed SO that all ele-
ments of harbor defense may be prop,
erly 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
Guam and San Juan, require protec-
ton. and in addition. defenses are
recommended for Manila bay and
Honolulu, because of the strategic
Importance of these localities.
Would Fcrtify Canal.
"Defenses are recommended for the
entrances to the Panama canal, as
contemplated by the act of June %
1902 (the Spooner acD and under the
terms of This act the cost of such
Notifications would probably be paid
from the appropriations for the con.
struction and defense of the canal.
The necessity for a complete and
adequate system of coast defense is
greater today than 20 years ago, for
the increased wealth of the country
offers more tempting inducements TO
attack, and a hostile feet can reach
our coast in a much shorter period OF
time. The fact that we now have
a navy does not in any wise diminish
the Importance of coast defensas; on
the contrary, that fact emphasizes
their value and the necessity for
ed naval maxim that a navy could 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 Sc
cure and so recognized by the coun-
try. 1t was due To the securely de
Tended condition OF the Japanese
ports that the Japanese fleet was free
TO seek out and watch its proper OBJ,
iective-the Russian feet-without
fear of interruption or recall TO guard
its home ports against raids by the
Vladivostok squadron THE, one OF
the most valuable lessons of the late
war, is worthy Of serious consider
alton by our country with its exten
siye coast line, its many important
harbors and its many wealthy manu-
featuring coast cities
The security and protection Of our
interests require the completion OF
the defenses of our coast and the ac-
companying plan merits and should
receive the generous support OF con.
gress.
Vast Sums Proposed.
Secretary Taft in his letter accom-.
ranging the report OF the board Of
officers on Notifications says the
amount so appropriated and allotted
for Notifications is s72.750.5S3 He
estimates the cost for defense Of the
insular possessions including naval
bases and coaling stations at SIS.
S73.s95, in addition to s2,254.e20 al
ready appropriated The estimated
cost for tine defense OF the is lman