New-York tribune., 1907-01-27
OUR COAST DEFENCES.
Would They Be Sufficient in Time
of TVar?


To the Editor of The Tribune
er: Since 1898 We have spent approximately,
s4OOGoOO0 the Philippines but most OF this
money has gone into roads, harbor works. SANTA
uon' etc. and hardly any into fortifcations.
In other words, the constructive expenditure
mas been all out of proportion to the de-
1ensive We have built splendid machine shops at
NsWte but l understand we have not mounted
the guns necessary to protect them. Manila is
new city under our mana cement. but the batteries
defcnding Il now but little. If any. more ade-
quate than when we took 1t from the Spaniards
we nave towed the drydoCk Dewey half around
the world and in the first week of hostilities would
hxely have to destroy It to prevent it falling
into the enemys hands. Since the Japanese navy
IN the Pacific Outnumbers about four to one,
can see no other cOurse-in case of a war between
America and japan, OF which speak so
oauntily-but for such of Philippine squadron
as could escape to return to this for refuge
What show would the ten thousand troops
We have in the islands have against the trained
veterans whom the Japanese could throw against
Ihetil. with LuZon only short sail from their
nome base Of supplies? Hawaii with its sixty
thousand japanese population (mostly male), almost
II not quite outnumberng the whites there. would
oe taken within a short time of the dropping OF
the hat and Pearl Harbor % (our naval base) is
as well equipped and as poorly fortified, so l am
told' as our similar establishments elsewhere The
waters all trade with Alaska would be cut off. for
most OF the tonnage carried is by to Sitka.
Valdez. Nome and other ports.
or late years 1t has always been held
axiom that no foreign power could ever invade our
sores and this is doubtless true with regard to the
Atlantic seabOard. / fear me, however, that such
IS not the case out there where the population Is
less, and WHARF It might prove possible for some
japanese so to cripple the railroads by dynamiting
important tunnels, Wallets and bridges (thlngS
which 1t would take long time replace with
even temporary structures) that the forwarding of
the necessary men and supplies from the East
would be seriously delayed. The Japanese have
sufficient transports bring here and they
have warships enough TO convoy them and afford
them adequate protection in the face of any fleet
We now have In these waters. But let say, for
purposes of argument. that they merely send feet
against US. since the average will not even
their attempting to land an army corps What
In endeavoring 10 forecast what trend events
would take. one must first Try 70 understand what
the Philippines have been taken. for in gaining
possession OF them she would accomplish two ends,
first, that OF securing outlet for the surplus
population at home. and second. that OF removing
uatIon in the Far East-a sort Of Japanese Monroe
Doctrine of Asia for the Asiatics Hawaii. II
captured and fortified, could be used in future a
point from which to threaten coast. Next, with
ton OF our cities and towns would not deal blow
TO the production Of those manufactured products
commercial competitor. since most of factories
is. perhaps our coast cities would be made TO pay
a ransom for not being burned which would cover
Now. DO not pretend to know much about tho
ehafaSter b OF the detences OF Puget sound except
ppT@tsGt p It's entrances 6 mines would be rendered
Of the tidal currents Then. mines OF themselves
are no good unless there are guns TO prevent the
i suits him to do So That P means we must fai
tunty of visiting any Of them but viii III tell You
little experience once had at Fort Rodman,
and doubtless there Is much Of muchness %A be-
wSeh soa nm, 1he tw9 SO tnat that incident may cast
/ said TO a New Bedford man; How are your
Impregnsbie DO you see the woods down there
the point1 Well, they contain batteries OF which
h9stilo feet out Of the iai water -''' - ''
IT The next morning having biz Of spare time s at
wonderful works A nttis blur gained for me
side found myself perfectly free 10 wander around
pace drswns sa a the baE e h GI s o
yeloPe. Tho batteries OF which no man knew the
responding notes. I'm line with sach-and such
70 ,s ~ ii IN ty me c.y beyoho
and the = mill oompany's stack" AS steamed
deck OF the boat with my little envelope before me-
and and When certain Shimneys or Landmarks came
woods a. that point would likely deal out death and
! then and there tore up the envelope and watched
the pieces safely drop into the sea but IKE mass
soon. be filed IN the war ONCE of his govern
Guilty in getting it than / had Another fact that
struck mo as curious was that. though the en-
stand gunnre from ships in front Of them. pro
lection a. that time other than wire fence had
been built 20 discourage any attempt that might
be made 10 rush the place from the land by
force landed several miles down the beach for the
purpose Probably they plan to have militia there
10 prevent such an occurrence hut why not give
them the assistance OF defensive works and
why not build shelters 10 protect them from the
bombRrdment likely 70 pTecede a land assault?
The defence is always Handicapped by having 20
distribute his forces among the many forts 10 he
manned. while the enemy concentrate upon
work
am doing no harm IN speaking thus for these
facts not secrets, eXCeut To people
EIIHT CT'NY NCiHAM CHURCH.
Tacoma, Wash. Dec. %. 1906