The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-02-16
(Mail Special to the Advertiser.)

(Mail Special to the Advertiser-)
WASHINGTON. D. c.. January 81
There has been a great to do here in
recent days about appropriations for
fortifying Honolulu. A scare~has been
abroad about probable war with
Japan and letter by Secretary Taft
to the Senate Committee on appropria-
tions, asking for additional appropria-
tions for fortifying Pearl Harbor, has
been much quoted as an indication of
the feeling that Japan is waiting for
a favorable moment to open fire. The
situation is set forth in the following
article which appeared this morning in
the Washington Post:
'fIs there war cloud in the far East
Has any Oriental power been conduct
ing itself in such a way as to arouse
the suspicious of the War Department.
If not. members of Congress were ask
ing each other yesterday, why should
Secretary Taft, in letter to Chair
man Allison, of the Senate Commit
tee on Appropriations, urging more
funds for the protection of the Hawai-
ian Islands, make this statement:
90 There is every reason why the
Notifications at Hawaii should be made
ready
"At the present moment there are
no Notifications on these islands that
could be relied ON in case of war with
any power. Late Tuesday the Senate
passed an appropriation bill for
Notifications which contained an al
lowance of but 100000, which is $780,
600 less than the Secretary asked for.
There is now s26O,O00 available under
last years appropriations, and it is
the Seeretary's desire to expend at
least 100000 for Notifications in Ha-
waii. But the Secretary refrains from
stating in his letter any reason why
he deems it necessary to Immediately
fortify the Hawaiian Islands.
stThe text of his letter is as fol-
lows:
"sI write to urge upon you that
the appropriation for Pearl Harbor be
made $3.50, 900, instead of 100000. We
can certainly expend this in the next
year and there is every reason why
the Notifications of Hawaii should be
made ready Will you not bring this
to the attention of your committee and
the Senatef The enclosed statement
from the national coast defense board,
recently appointed, shows the fact. 1
send it to you at the suggestion or
Senator Perkins
ssThe report of the national coast de-
tense board, referred to by the Seere-
tary. was made to the President and
by him transmitted to Congress year
ago. In sending it the President him.
self strongly indorsed the boards rec
concentrations. which included sweep
ing revision of the plans of the old
Endicott board designed to completely
modernize the coast defense plans.
"The board makes a strong argument
for the construction of 14-inch guns,
a type now unknown in the service,
instead of the present 12-ineh guns, for
the fortifeation of these points, IN
view of the wide channels to be pro-
tected.
However, the defense scheme for
Pearl Harbor and Honolulu as finally
submitted is on the basis of the ex-
listing types of ordnance, and the board
has asked for these items: Six 12-inch
guns, four 6-inch guns, sixteen 12-1nch
mortars, costing, with their carriages
and emplaeements, altogether S2,544,-
$50 submarine mines, 1925, ,260; powder
plants, S34. 1863 for the central, and
$34,469 for the reserve; searchlights,
ss5, 900: fire control, by which is meant
an elaborate system of electrical COM
1nunieation, enabling the commanding
officer to control the fire of all the bat
teries with entire precision from one
point, $320,656, making the total OF
the estimate submitted $3,254, ,244. -
As a matter of fact the scare has
been encouraged good deal to pro-
mote the chances of generous approprl-
ations for the navy. The navy officers
have strong organization here and
are doing An they possibly can to
secure legislation that viii increase