Evening star., 1911-01-12
GUARD PANAMA CANAL,
IS PRESIDENTS ADVICE
Urges Congress to Grant Five
Millions to Initiate Work
of sFortificatiOn.

President Taft today transmitted to
both houses of Congress the report Of a
board of army and navy officers appoint
ed by him to consider the subject Of the
defense of the Panama canal.
The chief executive in letter accom-
panying the document urges an appro-
priation of s5.OOO.OoO for the initiation OF
work on the proposed defenses. He en-
phasizes the necessity of obtaining the
appropriation at. this session.
His letter follows:
Il forward herewith a letter from the
Secretary OF War inclosing the report
of the board OF officers Of the army and
navy appointed by him. to consider the
subject of the defense of the Panama
canal. 4 preliminary report of this
board, together with a letter of the Sec
retary of War, a resolution Of the joint
board and estimates of cost. were for
dated April 49, 1910 No appropriation.
however. has yet been made for the -ini-
tiation of work on the proposed defens is.
The canal when completed will afford
the only convenient route for water COM
munication between our Atlantic and Pa
citic coasts, and virtually will be a part
of the coast line of the United States.
Its assured possession and control will
greatly contribute TO our peace. safety
and prosperity as nation.
Fortifcations Duty.
"In my Judgment it is the right and
duty of the United States to fortify and
make capable of defense the work that
will bear so vital a relation to its well
fare. and that, is being created solely by
it and at an expenditure of enormous
sums.
II have authorized the submission
through the Secretary of the Treasury of
the revised estimate for appropriations
referred to in the accompanying letter OF
rhe Secretary of War. which estimate is
less than the original estimate by appro Ni-
mately one-third, and ] urgently recon-
mend that an appropriation OF $o,OOO,OOO
for the initiation Of work on the pro-
posed defenses be made at the present
session of Congress. in order that these
defenses may be completed by the date
of the completion Of the canal
The report of the board of ordnance
and fortification which accompanied the
Presidents message pointed out that the
original estimate of August II. for the
defense of the canal, was SO, ,546, S43,
which the board has reduced to 2,475,-
32S
This large cut was made possible by
a Is per cent reduction Of armament
The defensive at"Batele Point have been
practically eliminated. There has been
a redistribution and greater concentra-
ton of the proposed garrison, and the
substitution Of simpler and more econom-
ical types of quarters and emplacements
for the guns.
The armament recommended by the
board consists OF eight fourteen-inch
guns, twelve six-inch guns and twenty
four twelve-inch mortars. This Is less
than the original estimate Of armament
by two fourteen-inch guns and four
tWelve-inch mOrtaFs.
The permanent garrison in time Of peace.
as proposed by the board. consists Of
twelve companies of coast artillery. four
regiments of infantry. battery of field
artillery and a squadron of cavalry.
The boards recommendations do not
take in the naval establishment. 1t is
suggested that the $2OOO.OOO recon-
mended for a dry dock and other pur-
poses be appropriated.