Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-19

results for the years 1907 and 1908 show
marked Improvement over 1906. The
Secretary submits an estimate of $780,
900 to enable the Signal Corps to take
up military aeronautics in a more eff
fective way than it has done in the
past. He reviews the progress of
aerial navigation during the past year
and gives it great Importance as a
military auxiliary.
Congress is asked FOR a considerable
increase in the appropriations for in
vestment in permanent military plants,
such as gun and mortar batteries, fire
control at fortihcations, electrical in
stallations at seacoast fortificatons,
searchlights for harbor defences. and
other accessories of coast defence.
preservation and repair of fortitica-
tions, repair and protection of dcfences
at Pensacola, Fla, and New Orleans,
La, defences of Galveston. Tex. arrna-
ment for Notifications, Notifications in
insular possessions, and additional land
for military posts. These various
items in connection with permanent
military plants call for increased ap-
preparations of $1S,S6S,9"7, of which
amount about so per cent. is asked for
coast defence works, for which about
$9,500.000 is required for the United
States and $5,400,0 900 for the msular
possessions.
The Secretary refers to the good re-
suits accomplished by legislation en-
acted at the last session of Congress to
promote the efficiency of the militia
The principal effect of the new law. he
says, is to make the body of the or
ganized militia of the several States,
Territories and the District of Column
bia more Immediately and generally
serviceable to the Federal Government
in time of war. Having in mind the
desirability of being prepared for any
attack that might be made on one or
both of the coast lines. he recommends
that the general scheme of national
defence shall provide a force of or
ganized militia of approximately $780,
900 men. 100000 of these in combination
with the infantry. cavalry and field
artillery of the regular army to con-
stitute a field army of 100000. He es-
Inmates that about Is per cent. of the
III 900 officers and men in the orzanized
militia would respond to a call to arms,
and Of the number responding i small
percentage Noulu De IIOD-
ably by physical disqualification. II is
estimated that a little more than CD per
cent-that is about G7,O0G-would be
available at present in case of an
The Secretary states the the result of
careful study in the War Department
shows that in the event of war with
any firSt-class power we would need at
least $4,000 men for a first line of dc
fence, and that as the regular army is
limited to 100000 men, it would De ne
cessary to draw 100000 men from the
organized militia. He suggests that il
might be well for the General Gov
ernment to stimulate this result by in
creasing the annual appropriations for
the equipment of the militia and for
general manoeuvreS Of the militia with
the regular army. In his report OH
tn" Philippines Secretary Wright says
that the postal savings bank shows
continued and increasing success III
its operations. At the end of the tisca!
year 1908 there had been 1916 deposi
tors as against 2676 at the "nd Of 1907.
Gratifying progress. it is stated. has
been made in the construction of rail
roads i'll the islands. In Panay SO
miles. and in Cebu nearly 60 miles, al
ready have a regular passenger and
freight service under operation.
items of a refundable charac-
ter it is stated that Philippine reve-
nues Tor all sources for the fiscal year
1908 show an Increase over the preced-
ing year Of $253.O7O.42, and d total Of
ST.. SOS, ,559.91 The total value of inn
ports into the Philippine Islands for
the year. the report states, shows an
increase of a little more than $2,G00000
over 1907. and reaches a total of $@o.-
91S357. The exports fall snort Of the
total reached in 1907.