Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-10
CALLS ATTENTION TO LACK
OF PROJECTION AT CAPtS
Calls TO Notice OF Congress the IN
fortified Condition Of the Entrance
to Chesapeake Bay-oesth Rate In
Army Lower - Artillery Material
short--Need Of Eniciert officers.
ipy Aasos.a.cd Tres.,

ultbut udNt ucthr eNptSt'u ateNi "'S
personal flights in aeroplanes IN
France, Secretary Dickinson comes
out in his annual report with strong
indorsemeri. a. the dying machnse
ana vita recommendation 20 ccn-
press Tor an appropriaricn 10 proriae
the signal corps with reasonable
number of the bettss type CT machine
Tor instruction pun poses and field
work
He recalls the fact that, the United
States was the first n.-on ohiciaiiy
to recognize the aercpl. : fer mill
tary purposes, and conduS- 4 at Fort
Myer In 1908 the frs, publ i hight Of
a heavier-than-a.r machine, y.t II has
since that date made no addi..on TO
its aeronanticai equipment. wh., at
present consists OF one small diris.
BALBOA. one Wright aeroplane aisa
three small captive balloons. Nor has
IL added 10 its trained personnel.
which at present consists of enc sig
mai corps lieutenant and nine enlisted
men. on duty In connection with aero
nautics. There IL only enc officer who
is licensed pilot for free balloons.
Fertilization Of Virginia capes.
The secretary calls attention 10 the
fact that the entrance TO Chesapeake
bay. one OF the most important points
strategetically on The Atlantic sea
coast. is wholly unfortifled. not q sim
gle gun being mounted 10 defend the
channel between Cape Charles and
Cape Henry. At src;her important
pcint-the essteln entrance to Lcng
island sound-additional guns are
needed. Except Tor these instances.
so far as guns alone are concerned,
the seq coast defenses AT all home
ports are in a very satisfsctorv state.
but much remains TO be doae In pro-
viding such a1xiliaries as searchlights
and in developing the FIRE control sys-
TEN. which will require about $1,000
900 of expenditure.
Asks Sum For Panama cansL
Congress is asked to authorize an
expenditure OF sis,54s.s42 for the for
LITIGATION CT the termiHi of the Pan
anna canal. including the construction
Of pests for The permanent garrison.
and s7.000.c00 81 this sum should be
made available Immediately Ia order
10 complete the project within three
years The additional sum OF $1,000
U0e Is also wanted Immediately to be
spilled towards the creation OF
naval establishment in the canal zone
as a necessary part Of the defense of
the canal
The secretary notes vith-gra:iEca-
ton reduction by 300 pee7cent sn
the number of assertions las. year
compared with the preceding year Al
tceeiher there were 3,4Gf deseriious
CT percentage of 3.66 OF the strength
OF the army. which wzs less than any
fiscal year since 1893. The decrease
was most marked in the engineers.
field artillery and cavalry.
This Is believed to be the result Of
the extraordinary esfcrt made by the
department In the direction OF prompt
and vigorous pursuit OF a deserter by
means practically certain 10 result Ia
his apprehension and subsequent pnn-
ishment as military convict under
the .nard and rigorous conditions OF
prison discipline
The attitude OF the department Il
that its deity Is 20 safeguard and pro-
tect tie interests OF the army, 20 cor
rect The Ell; rather than to reform
the evil doer. and TO impress the fact
that oesertion from Tire army. which
IN time Of war may be punishable by
death. Is In time OF peace a crininai
offeuse and that the punishment %
the deserter VIII be severe.
Death Rate Lower.
The death rate IN the army isst year
was the lowest that has ever oc-
CURED. the total number being 60
q which rs we're from disease end
if2 from injuries. six % the latter be
ing killed By hostile Mcrc< II acfinn
or while 90 sentry duty. Tubercnio-
sis claimed The greatest number OF
victims. numbering 80. and there were
81 deaths from fsnsbsf wounds.
There we're 20 suicides ans Is honi-
cides.
4 remarkable fact Is that no deaths
occarred rom san stroke o. snake
bite among the troops IN toe tropics.
nor from cold amsuk the troops In
Alaska add eionx the northern froD-
Ter. Alaska. ~ the way. ~ m fcr-
mcT years. hal the bert health ~.
ord. decidedly exceIlinK the United
states. when cane srcord. fo1cxcf
b. Porto Rico. Hawaii and ne Pfisp-