The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-02-08

wear out and become practically use-
less In from 60 to 20 shots, unless re-
lined. Expert ordnance officers say
these IL inch guns can be fired twice a
minute. which would make the maxi
mum theoretical life of one of those
monster shell throwing machines but
little In excess of half an hour. The
enormous muzzle velocity destroys the
rifling of the gun. The ordnance ex-
perts say that the riiling Is not affected
till after from 800 to 400 shots have been
fired. provided the muzzle velocity is
reduced to 2200 feet per second. But
with the heavier projectile that a IA
inch gun could carry muzzle velocity
OF 22O0 feet would have equal penetrat-
ing power with 12 inch gun, under the
well known principle that momentum
is the product of velocity and weight.
Hence the argument and the economy
OF the IA inch weapons, which the War
Department will now be authorized to
build.
Some interesting statements were
made during the House debate on the
fortifications appropriation bill, espe-
cially regarding the large percentage of
appropriations for the defense OF the
insular possessions. The committee is
proceeding twice as fast with it's pro-
gramme for the defense of those pos
sessions as for the seacoast defense
of the United States proper. Chairman
Walter I. Smith, of the Notifications
subcommittee said that "in continental
United States the seacoast fortifica-
tions are but an outer line of defense.
Behind these Notifications are $4,000, 900
people prepared to resist to the utmost
invasion by any foreign foe. In the
Philippines and in the Hawaiian Is
lands we have no such force of patri-
otto Americans to constitute O second
line of defense; and If Manila or Ho-
nolulu be taken, we have no mighty
force in the rear to drive the intru-
ders out of the land" Therefore the
Appropriations Committee and the
House have decided to hasten twice as
fast with the insular defenses
The figures of cost for fortifying
coasts are also interesting. The Endi-
colt Board, named for the Secretary of
War during the first Cleveland admin
istration, planned systematic scheme
for fortifying the Coasts. Its estimate
of the total cost of the great scheme
was $126,00 900, but it did not include
anything for sites and the War De-
partment has found that owners OF
realty available for seacoast defenses
place as excessive valuations upon
their property as do owners of city lots
that the government wants for public
buildings. The notifications, caused
by new methods of warfare in the last
twenty years, have eliminated some
items from the plans of the Endicott
Board, so that the government can now
do, for 99,O00,000, according to esti-
mates, all that was contemplated by
that board. OF that $99,000,000 the Con-
gress has thus far appropriated ap-
proximately s64,Ooo,00O. and has been
proceeding at the rate of about 3 per
cent annually.
But the Taft Board, named after the
present Secretary of War, but never
authorized by Congress, has within the
last twelve months supplemented the
plans of the Endicott Beard, recon-
mended some new works for the main
land and likewise a total appropriation
of $22 ,000, 900 for the fertilization of the
insular possessions Its estimate for
the protection of Hawaii and the Phil
ippines was a little more than $11 ,000.-
900. OF this Congress has already ap-
prupriated considerable sums so that
with three or four more years. accord
ing to the present advance, the entire
defense work for Hawaii and the Phil
iRpines will have been completed. The
defenses at Manila will cost over &c.
100000 and at Subig Bay more than
$2,O00.O00
The dissatisfaction of Congress over
large appropriations for the Philip
pines was voiced at various stages of
the debate on the Qualifications Bill
I'm making these appropriations OF
millions of dsllars for the Philippines"
asked Representative Aah0n, a Penn
sylvania Republican, when are you
going to get 1T .bark?'
II have never understood that we
have ever got back in amy sense such
as the gentleman apparently nses the
term any money from anywhere" re-
Piled Chair man Smith. This money is
expended for the proteeti0n of 'our
PRIDE"
Yes" replied the Rennsyivanian.
'rbnt you better get rid of the islands
in some way"
In consonance with the war develop
ments of the seven days. 1t might be
nsemtiunrh that following the fsrtifica-
tions debate Rennesentaaive -Mahon
was in open conflict with Representa-
tive John Wesley Gafnes, Democrat OF
Tennassee, and accused the latter of
falsifying. Mr.. Mahol is chairman of
the House Committee on War Claims,
and spends most of his time In his
c0mmitteeroom defving into the
claims, now numepom theme growing
out of the Civil War. Mr., Gaines ac-
cused him of being a great absentee,
and after heated collequy sn the aioor |
the Two were rushing off for a fight, |
when Representative Adamson OF
Georgia, an old and experienced MEM
ber of the House, talked sternly to
each OF them about the folly of such |
and persuaded Mr.. Ma
hon to make a ne4ractkon and Mr.
Gaines to accept it. The outsome was
a brotherly scene bedween the 1sslligar-
ants just as the House was adjourning
'or the day.
The Senate. too, has been occupied
With war measures OF foremost in
crest TO the Civil War veterans being
he enactment OF bail for a service
pension. which gives eFery veteran s12
month at 62. s15 a month at 70 and
20 a month at rs. The statistieians