Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-10
Law Built Up Piecemeal.


The present law was built up piecemeal
during and since the Spanish-American
war and is at best only a temporary
mea sure. The Secretary says that a
comprehensive act providing for the or
ganization of a volunteer army only after
Congress has made declaration of war
would be of ineStimable value if the
country is ever again confronted with a
foreign war.
The Secretary calls attention to the fact
that the entrance to Chesapeake bay, one
of the most important points strategically
on our Atlantic seacoaSt, is wholly unfor-
titled. not a single gun being mounted to
defend the channel between Cape Charles
and Cape Henry. At another important
point-the eastern entrance to Long Is
land sound-additional guns are needed.
Except for these instances. SO far as guns
alone are concerned. our seacoast de-
lenses at all home ports are in a very
satisfactory state. but much remains to
be done in providing such auxiliaries as
search lights and in developing the fire
control system which will require about
81 .O00. 600 of expenditure.
Fertilization of Canal.
Congress is asked to authorize an ex-
penditure of 9,546 $40 for the fortifica-
ton of the terminal OF the Panama canal,
Including the construction of posts for the
permanent garrison, and $7,O0OO00 of this
sum should be made available imme-
diately in order to complete the project
within three years. The additional sum
Of 81. 100000 is also wanted Immediately
to be applied toward the creation of naval
establishment in the Canal Zone as a
necessary part of the defenses of the
canal
The total estimates for military pur-
poses for the next year aggregate $780,
which fha
appropriation for the current fiscal year,
the decrease being due to the fact that
the department is asking for less money
for incidental expenses. post exchanges.
transportation and supplies, public works
at posts. clothing and camp equippage,
arms and expenses of the Military Acad-
envy. On the other hand slightly increas-
ed appropriations are asked for fortifca-
lions and other works Of defense.
Touching the progress Of the work Of
uncovering the wreck of the Maine in
Havana harbor, the Secretary states that
the plans for the construction of a cof-
ferdam of interlocking steel piling around
the wreck have been approved and are
now under execution. The appropriation
of 100000 already made will accomplish
all of the preliminary work contemplated
at present. but the actual removal of the
wreck and the restoration Of the harbor
to its original condition will require fur
Their appropriation, the amount of which
will depend upon the disposition to be
made of the structure as a whole. In
this connection the Secretary says that it
is desirable that Congress should indi-
ate the disposition to be made OF the
wreck upon completion of the work of re-
mOval -
Reduced Number of Desertions.
The Secretary notes with qualification
a reduction by 3O.6 per cent i'll the num-
Der of assertions last year compared with
the preceding year. The attitude Of the
department is that its duty is to safe
guard and protect the interests of the
army-to correct the evil rather than to
reform the evildoer-and to impress the
fact that desertion from the army, which
in time Of war may be punishable by
death. is in time Of peace criminal Of
Tense and that the punishment of the de-
serter will be severe.
As might have been expected after his
personal flights in aerOplanes in France.
Secretary Dickinson comes out in his
annual report with a strong Endorsement
of the flying machine and with q recon-
mendation to Congress for an appropria-
ton to provide the Signal Corps with a
reasonable number of the better type of
machines for instruction purposes and
field work. He recalls the fact that the
United States was the first nation omcial-
ly to recognize the aeroplane for military
purposes and conducted at Fort Myer In
than-air machine. Yet 1T has since that
date made no addition to its aeronautical
equipment, which at present consists Of
ono small diricible balloon ono Wright