The Washington times., 1913-01-27
HOUSE AND SENATE
COMMITTEES WILL
VISIT GUANTANAMO
Joint Board Will Inspect Site
of Marine Barracks in
Southern Waters.

The Naval Affairs committees Ct the
House and Senate will leave Washing
ton March on the army transport
Sumner for Panama, Guantanamo Bay
and Charleston. S. c. The trip will re-
quire twenty-five days, the party re-
turning to Washington March q.
The committees are making the trip
for the purpose of ,nquiring into the
necessity for, and the proposed site of,
the marine barracks where it is ex-
pected the permanent marine expedi-
,tionary force will be quartered. The
ground will also be gone over to famil-
4arize the committees with what docks,
shops and other facilities can be used
for naval ships.
After embarking from Panama, the
Sumner will carry the Congressional
party to Guantanamo, where the new
repair shops will be Inspected. As~it
Is expected that a very strong naval
base will be built up at that point,
the ground will ne gone over care
fully, SO that the committees will be
well informed on the situation when
the plans for defensHs are worked out
later. None OF the members have visit
ed Guantanamo, and the visit Is re-
garded as more desirable on this ac-
count.
Will Bring Back Seamen.
When the Sumner comes to WASH
ington she will bring eight companies
of seamen and marines, comprising
about twenty-four officers and $50 men.
together with a regimental band to take
part in the inaugural parade.
These men will embark on the Sum-
ner when she leaves Washington.
March 5, am will be left at Norfolk
The men assigned to participation in
the parade who will come to Washing
ton on the Sumner include two COM
panies of sailors from the New Hamp-
two companies Of apprentice seamen
from the Naval Training Station at
Norfolk, three companies of marines,
and a regimental band. Each company
will comprise three officers and about
seventy men,
Will Inspect Navy Yard.
When the Sumner picks up the Con-
gressional party at Guantanamo bay to
bring them back to the United States
a visit will be made to Charleston for
the purpose of inspecting the navy
yard there. Some of the members have
not seen it.
Before the Congressional committee
starts on its long trip, the board of
Brig. Gen. w. w. Wotherspoon and
Rear Admiral Hugo Osterhaus will
have returned from Guantanamo and
will probably have their minds well
made up regarding the kind of de-
fenses that should be erected on the
hills back Of the bay.
II these ideas are in shape to be
communicated to the members of the
Congressional committees. they will
have the advantage of being able to
go over the Guantanamo base know
ing what kind OF defenses the army
and navy believes should be erected
and for which appropriations will be
asked.
Cost Will Reach Sz,soo,ooo.
The War Department has proceeded
with its preparations for the de-
fense of Guantanamo bay precisely as
if there were to be no change of Ad-
The visit of the Con-
gressional committees will tend to
give continuity to the plans OF the
War Department, carrying into the
new Administration their immediate
ideas OF what should be done. -
At least s2,500,000 will be required
for the immediate plans at Guanta-
namo bay. Eventually much larger
sums may be required, as IL is desired |
that this base be as strong as that |
at Pearl harbor, the two to be the |
equal of Gibraltar or its superior. |