The Washington herald., 1906-12-12
TAFT URGES ACTION
He Points Out Weak Coast
DefenSeS.
CHESAPEAKE IS UNPROTECTED
Recommends Passage of Pending
Bill Providing for Enough Soldiers
cations-EstImates Cost of Guard
ing Panama Canal at s5,O0O,0OO.

A considerable portion Of the annual
report of the Secretary of War is de
voted to the matter Of coast defense,
both domestic and nsular, and Mr. Taft
outlines in a general way. the work that
remains to be done, and urges that the
plan be carried OUT. The total cost OF
completing the plan Of the Taft board.
which revised the coast and harbor de
fense scheme Of the Endlcott board Of
1885. including ammunition and sites. is
estimated at 80 SIS, 339. 1t will take Sl9.-
1885 to carry out the plans for fortify-
ing the insulaT possessions, and $4,S27, ,6S2
to protect the entrance Of the Panama
Canal
In connection with his discussion Of the
coast defenses, Secretary Taft says that
it Is all important that "A sufficient per
sonnel be provided for manning the guns.
and 10 care for the costly plant already
Installed
| 1T should be remembered, he says,
4 that the fighting elements Of this de-
/ fense depend absolutely on their hitting
/ capacity. and this. in turn. depends upon
/ the skill and training Of the personnel
using those elements" Accordingly, Mr..
| Taft renews his recommendation Of last
year for an increase in the artillery per
sonnei. There is a bill pending before the
/ House which provides an increase I'm the
| coast artillery personnel Of lS6 officers
and sob enlisted men. This increase
would give the coast artillery 200 officers
and ls lo6 men, but even this s less than
/ 80 per cent Of the personnel required for
/ one manning detail Of the defenses al
/ ready completed
Need Submarine Mine Equipment.
/ The next most important matter, Mr.
/ Taft declares. is 10 perfect and complete
/ the submarine mine equipment. 10 com
plete the installation of the range
and position finding, and 10 pro-
/ vide for the necessary searchlights
| for harbor defense at night. The esti
mates Of the Taft board for this work
place the cost at Sl4,5l3OSt, and 10 thi:
should be added $3,062. .654 for power
plants and electrical installations for us'
In connection with both guns and mines
Secretary Taft says that the Chesa
pcake is the most important place e
protect As conditions are now hostile
fleet. once It gained control ot the sea
/ could sail unmolested into the bay, es
tablish base. have access 10 supplies o
all kinds. and paralyze great railroads
| ali without coming under the fire OF ;
! single gun. The Secretary also points on
the Importance Of perfectlng the FORTH
cations at the entrance 20 Long Island
Sound. due TO the fact that they con
stitute the first and chief line Of tefens
Of New York City. against naval itaCl
from that direction. They VIII pTeven
the occupation. Mr.. Taft further says
of GARDENERS Bay OF other interio
waters as a naval base, and will ais
provide protection for various manu-
featuring towns. including New London
Bridgeport. and New Haven.
Wants More Army Officers.
In another portion OF his report Secre
tary Taft renews his recommendation o
last year that additional officers be pro
vided for the army. In a table he show
that 627 officers served on detached dut
during the year. and pointed out the ev
effects OF this system. He Tenews also tn
recommendation that when an officer be
low the rank Of major is detailed 10 tn
general staff. a vacancy in the line shoUl
be created. He asks for legislation whic
would provide TINS
The relative number Of deseTtiOns Of en-
, listed men continued 10 Increase duriu
the fiscal year. the number being "a pe
, cent Of the whole enlisted personnel, a
against 6S per cent for the prcCedin
year.
In the near future Secretary Taft eX
poets to issue an order abolishing IN
present division Of the army in the Unite
States. thus bringing the brigadier gen
erals commanding departments ~ direc
touch with the War Department.
Would Make More Available Men.
! Under this arrangement major general
will be assigned TO the more importan
departments and a number Of general OF
GERS will then be available 20 comman
brigade posts. which are soon to b
established and 10 take charge Of tn
schools at Fort Riley. Fort Leavenwortt
and Fort Monroe. Secretary Taft recon
mends the establishment of brigade post
at Fort D. a. Russell, Wyo-, at For
, Leavenworth, kans., at Fort Riley. Kans
. and at Fort Sam Houston, Tex
The Secretary reports his recommends
. tiOns of last year for an increase in tn
/ medical corps ana urges that legislatiO
be enacted giving relief TO the presen
, conditions in the artillery corps. Tn
health Of the army during the year ha
continued to become better.