Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-06
DEFENSE OF COAST
Subject Treated in Message Sub
mitted by President to
Congress.
PLANS MADE BY JOINT BOARD
Points Out Necessity of ExpendIne
Considerable Sums to Strength
en- Our Position.

Washington. March c. President
Roosevelt sent a message to congress
yesterday afternoon accompanying
plans for the coast defense prepared
by the joint board of army and navy
officers, in which he emphasized the
necessity for further defenses and re-
views the history of defensive works
in this country.
The president calls especial atten-
ton to the resolution of the board that
the entrance to Chesapeake bay be
added to the list of places in the Uni
ted States to be defended.
Cannot BE Neglected.
He says insular possessions cannot
be longer neglected if the United
States desires to hold them. Defenses
are recommended for Manila bay
Pearl Harbor, Guantanamo, Guam, San
Juan, and Honolulu, because of their
strategic locations. Defenses are rec
commended for the entrances to the
Panama canal.
Speaking with special reference TO
insular possessions, the president
says: "Insular possession cannot be
held unless the principal ports, naval
bases and coaling stations are fortified
before the outbreak of war. These
considerations have led me to appoint
joint board of officers of the army
and navy to recommend an armament,
fixed and floating, mobile torpedoes,
submarine mines and all other defen-
sive appliances that may be necessary
to complete the harbor defense with
the most economical and advantageous
expenditures of money
To Extend Examinations.
The board was further instructed to
extend its examinations so as to in
clude estimates and recommendations
relative to the defenses of insular pos
sessions, and to recommend the order
in which the proposed defense shall
be completed so that all elements of
the harbor defense may be properly
and effectively coordinated.
A copy of this report, together with
letter from the secretary of war
are then submitted with the message.
Protection Required.
The president continues:
"The insular possessions, the great
naval bases at Guantanamo, Subig
bay and Pearl Harbor, the coaling sta
tions at Guam and San Juan, require
protection. and in addition defenses
are recommended for Manila bay and.
Honolulu, because of the strategic inn
Of these locations
'Defenses are recommended for en-
frances to Panama canal as contem-
plated by an act of June 2S, 1902,
Spooner act, and under terms of this
act the cost of such Notifications would
probably be paid from appropriations
for the construction 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
and hostile fleet 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 i'm
trary. that fact emphasizes their value
and the necessity for their construc-
ton
Must Act on Offensive.
at is an accepted naval maxim that
a navy can be used to strategic advan- |
tage 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 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 it's proper objec-
tive-the Russian fleet-without fear
of interruption or recall to it's home |
ports against raids by the Vladivostok !
squadron.
Valuable Lesson.
"Ths. one of the most valuable |
lessons of the late war in the cast, is |
worthy of serious consideration by our
with its extensive coast line, |
its many important harbors. and its
many wealthy manufacturing coast cit |
les
Security and protection of our in |
terests require a completion of the
defenses of our coast, and the accom-
panying plan merits and should re-
ceive the generous support of con-
gress."
Secretary Taft, in his letter accom-
panying the report of the board of Off
GERS on fortffications, says the amount
so far appropriated and allotted for
fortification is s72,750,5S3.
Estimates Cost.
He estimates the cost for the de-
fense of insular possessions, including
naval bases and coaling stations, at
$19.S73,S S95. in addition to $2,254, ,920 al
ready appropriated The estimated cost
for defense of the isthmian canal ports,
exclusive of cost of land, at $4,sS7, ,6s2.