The National tribune., 1907-02-14
THE NATIONAL DEFENSES
Continued from pas. IL

tCont1nued from peSe Ii
ern warfare has made on the warfare
of a generation ago.
1t is the opinion of Secretary Taft
that there is no need for large appro-
priations for gun and mortar batteries
in this country, and so he has not
asked for money for that purpose. He
says that it seems unnecessary to in
vest money in gun and mortar batteries
when there is as yet no place to put
them. He does ask, however. for the
modernizing of the old emplacements
-emplacements not constructed after
the present methods. Congress has
granted his request in this particular.
1t has also given him money for fire
control in Puget Sound and at San
Francisco. This fire control has al
ready been completed in eastern and
southern New Yor, Boston and Port
land
''One of the things which impresses
every man who looks over estimates for
defense. whether in this country or
abroad" says Secretary Taft, "is that
the modern system of fortificatiOn is
conducted with absolutely no regard
for expense. We simply follow other
nations in trying to make them as ef-
fective as possible, and we find that
they are exceedingly expensive"
FortifyIng Our Dependencies.
Secretary Taft is probably the one
man in the country who appreciates
with more intelligence than any other
the utmost need for proper fOrtifica-
tions in the Far East and in Hawaii.
He feels that Congress will in time take
proper care of the United States MAIN
land, although the work is distressingly
slow. He regards it as a great mistake
a tt,tt Nn1,- T1,~
the defense of the mouth of Chesapeake
Bay-this being. in his opinion, of more
Importance than any other proposed
project in this country-but after the
American mainland, he turns an eye
to the Pacific. He wants fortifications
for Honolulu, Manila and Subig Bay,
places which now are practically de-
fenseless. There is an appropriation
for Manila, and the work of erecting
defenses there is now under way, but
nothing has been done for the other
places named. The bill now in confer
ence continues the Manila appropria-
tion and makes start at Honolulu, but
1t does nothing for Subig Bay, Or for
Guantanamo, Cuba, for which the Sec
retary asked $250,000. In overlooking
Subig Bay, Congress no doubt intends
TO say that it is to make Manila its
stronghold in the Philippines. With
fault. There has been a good deal of
doubt as to whether Subig Bay or Ma
Mia should be the great naval station
in the Philippines, and the Administra
ton itself has been unable to come to
a decision. Similarly. Naval and Army
officers are divided in opinion. In the
opinion of the most conservative of
these officers. it doesn't matter which is
selected. At present the Navy Depart
ment is spending considerable money
at Subig Bay. where the immense dry
dock Dewey has been located there not
being enough water at Cavite to float
II.
Subis bay.
The War Department thinks that
there should be Notifications for Subig
Bay. even if no naval station is erected
there. The bay might always be use
full as a harbOr of refuge, and 1t can
be easily fortified The islands are so
at its mouth that 1t would take
comparatively small amount to put it
in proper condition for defensive pur-
poses. This the War Department thinks
should be done without respect to the
value of the naval investment that may
be made in the harbOr
Subig Bay has been bone of conten-
ton in the Army and Navy for a long
time, and much bitterness has crept
into the discussion. Certain officers in
each Of the services think it ought to
be fortified. and certain others think it
ought not to be fortified. Admiral Fol-
ger became so excited on the subject
that he resigned. or retired, as Com
of the Fleet in the Far
East, after serving one day, because
his views on the subject had not been
accepted.
The Appropriation Committee of
Congress this session have not cared TO
take sides in the controversy, and so,
when Secretary Taft was finally ap-
pealed to by members of the Commit
tee. he signified his willingness to have
both Subig Pay and Guantanamo left
out of the bill, but he said expressly
that If the bill were 20 carry a lump
sum for seacoast batteries, as it does,
he would use the entire sum for the
fortification of Manila.
Men VIII Not Re-enIist.
Gen. Arthur Murray points out that
there is considerable shortage Of men
in the coast artillery service. The to-
tai authorized strength of the artillery,
field and coast. is 1876 men, and the
actual strength is 1920.
"Why are you 1000 men short for
years in succession in enlistment in the
Gen. Murray was asked
For the simple reason that the men
will not re-enlist in the coast artillery
'or the pay that is given. 1t is thought
hat all of the coast artillery could be
easily maintained at nearly the author