Bisbee daily review., 1912-04-25
CAN'T KEEP PHILIPPINES AND FIGHT
tWinfield Jones.)

tWlnreiQ Jones
 WASHINGTON, April 24.-Much discussion has been aroused in off cial and army and navy circles over the admission of Gen. Clarence R. Ed wards. chief Of the bureau of insular affairs, before the senate committee on finance, that the United States would have to surrender the Philip pines at once, in case of a war with a first class foreign power, taking the chance of recapturing them afterward, if it defeated It's opponent
 A number Of eminent authorities disagree with Gen Edwards. They declare that it would be possible for the United States to hold the strategic joints on the islands, which would be equivalent to holding all Of the IS. lands since It would do a foreign power En good to capture unfortife1 and unimportant places.
 Gen. Edwards did not advocate giv- ing up the islands but to the contrary declared emphatically that the loss of the islands in case of war would be but temporary. He said that the United States would certainly event ually vanquish it's opponents, and that then the islands could be regained.
 Rear Admiral N. C. Twining, chief of the ordnance bureau in the navy department. declares that in his opiE- ion it would be perfectly possible for the United States to hold the Philip pines against any foreign power, with the defenses now being built and those planned
 T do not see why it would be nee -E E-s Fl f-a islands in case of war" said Admiral Twiuing. By holding the strategic points it would be possible to keep control of the islands. or course, it would be possible for a foreign na- ton to land troops and do anything else they desired in ether parts Of the islands. but by doing this they would gain nothing
 Without capturing Manila the for eign force would be just where i. started. Manila bay is being fortified so that it could withstand attack un- til the United States navy could ge. on the ground Manila, of course. would be the point an enemy would try to capture for without 1t our opponents would be practically vast ing time"
  retired, a member of the naval board, declared that Gen Edwards is ex- tremeiy well posted on Philippine af- fairs, and should know whereof he was speaking when he made the statement to the senate finance con- mittee. He said that few men are bet Ger qualified to speak on Philippine affairs.
 But I know that the general senti- ment among navy men, and. I think, army men as well, Is that the fortifi- cations around Manila bay should be made strong enough to withstand the stand the attack of an opposing force until the United States could get 8 fleet on the scene to dsperse 1t" siad Admiral Wainwright. 'I am strongly in favor O. President Tafts plan to control the Philippines until the people of the islands are in a position to control their own affairs. That time is still flr off. iE my opin- ion. and that means that the United States. must retain the islands for number of years yet"
 Among members Of the foreign ser vice club. an organization made up of the men who have served the United States abroad, both in tho army and navy and in civil service positions, discussion was TGe over Gen. Edwards statement. Some O. the members agreed with him, while others disagreed. Practically all thought everything possible should be done by the United States to holi the islands against foreign attack
 Tn my opinion. the United States can hold the islands against the a. tack Of almost any foreign natioa, said pr. N. l.. Downs, secretary of the club. pr. Downs was in the Phil ippines in the government service following the Spanish-American war. ] Whether we could hold them against Japan Is noted question" he con.'