The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-12-08
THE DEFENSE OF MANILA.
Could Manila be Easily Captured by
The Japanese?

1t is invariably assumed by all rep
utable and orthodox manufacturers
of war scares that in case of war be-
tween Japan and the United States
the Philippines would fall into the
hands of the enemy supinely and at
once as the result of a naval attack
on Manila.
But the facts, unluckily, do not al
ways square with fine assumptions
an axiom proved a million times in
human history, and here once again.
Would the Japanese, If they proceed
ed against Manila tomorrow, find the
city the easy prey that Dewey found
1t in 1898? They would, say the
makers of war scares. They would
not, say the seekers of facts. Manila,
in 1898, was an exposed port with
antiquated defenses and a stupid and
inefficient garrison, but Manila in
1909 is city girt about by great
fortresses of earth and concrete, with
a plentiful armament Of big guns,
and an excellent lot of gunners be-
hind them.
The defenses of the Philippine cap
ital, in fact, are now almost as effec-
tive as those of Baltimore. On Cor
regidor Island, which Dewey faced
xxy{f1 Inn nj ho< h 10
May day, there are now frowning
ramparts at the very top Of the hog
back, 600 feet above the water-level,
and mounted back of them are no
less than six 12-inch disappearing
guns of the most modern type, and a
round dozen Of 12-inch mortars.
These great pieces of ordnance, with
their attendant 10-inch, 6-inch and
3-inch guns, command both Of the
channels leading up to Manila, and
both channels are also mined. What
Chance would a fleet have in those
waterways before plunging fire
from 12-inch guns and mortars 600
feet above 1t, and with mines con-
trolled from the forts exploding all
about It?
But Corregidor is not the only Ma
nila fort. On Carabao there are two
14-inch guns and eight 12-inch NOR
tars, and on Cabello Island there are
two 15-inch guns, two 6-inch guns
and a second complete mine plant. In
addition to all this. sort of artificial
of concrete, 1900 feet
long, has just been built upon Ell
Fraile. one of the four islands which
form a chain across the entrance to
Manila Bay. 1t has two enormous
steel turrets. operated exactly like
those Of Dreadnought, and in each
are two 14-inch guns.
How could hostile fleet, however
large and formidable, pass these de-
lenses? The thing. indeed. would
seem to be practically impossible. The
fire Of battleships against land forts
OF earth or concrete Is 80 ineffective
that 1t scarcely counts in actual war
fare. This was proved abundantly,
not only at Santiago. but also during
the Russo-Japanese War. When
Port Arthur fell the Japs expected to
ind that their long and ass:duous
bombardment had demolished the
forts on the seaward side, but what
they actually did fnd was that these
forts were practically unharmed. The
thousands Of big shells that had been
hurled In from the sea had scarcely
left mark.
But, assuming that Manila could
repel q naval attack. would 1t not be
essential for the United States to
command the Pacific Ocean in order
to retain the Philippines in case of
war with Japan? Otherwise the
small army which is maintained in
the archipelago could no. be rein
forced. japan could land troops at
various places in the Philippines. and
II the Japanese had the support of
the natives, as they probably would
have. the islands would be untenable
by an army Of 10000 Americans, and
the chances are their defense would
not be attempted. If the United
States had superior navy in the Pa
ciflc it could make it impossible for
the enemy to attack the islands. The
result in the Philippines would, after
all. depend largely upon the relative
strength of the contending navies,
unless the American army in the is