Evening star., 1914-11-28

statement of strength or weakness
which is made in the present stage of
| the seeming interminable controversy
on the subject of the offensive and de-
fensive strength of the United states,
Representative Sherley can be looked
upon as Il lay expert in fortihcations,
as he has given close attention to the
questions arising under estimates and
appropriations for the big project of
| terrifying the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts of the country, both ends OF the
Panama canal. Porto Rico. Hawaii and
the Philippine Islands.
Views of Experts.
If the proposed congressional hear
ing. urged by Representative Gardner
of Massachusetts. into the offensive
and defensive strength of the country
should be held. experts believe that a
clean bill can be given as to the effi-
cheney of the countrys coast defenses,
but that criticism could easily be made
of the coast defense ammunition supply
and the strength of the coast artillery
personnel.
The strength of the country's defense
was being agitated as a public ques-
tion at the time the present fort1h-
cations appropriations act was being
discussed in the committees OF
Congress, and the hearings on
the bill and the debate on its
enactment were filed with enlighten-
of the forts, the supply of powder and
she'll and the number of men behind
the guns The statements herein are
for the main part taken from the con-
gressional hearings and record
Millions Already Expended.
Millions upon millions of dollars have
been expended in the last decade upon
the fortresseS which guard the chan
nels through which hostile fleet could
steam in an effort to cripple commerce,
to land troops or to cut off great lines
of communica ton, and all of this
money has been spent in consequence
of general plan of coast defense
which started in the middle eighties
under a War Department organization
known as the Endicott board. Owing to
the swift advance in the science Of
coast artillery, electrical communlca-
tions the increased strength of armor
and projectiles it was necessary to
supplement the work of this board by
a survey by the Taft board, ordered by
President Roosevelt in 1905, William H.
Taft then being the Secretary of War.
Forts That Are Ready.
The Taft board made specific recon-
mendations covering the ports and har-
bors of the United States and insular
possessions. and presented list in
geographical order representing the To-
cations for strong forts.
These We're Kennebec river, Portland,
Portsmouth, Boston, New Bedford, Mar
ragansett bay. the eastern entrance to
Long Island sound. eastern entrance to
New York. southern entrance to New
York, Delaware bay, Baltimore, en-
trance to Chesapeake bay. Hampton
roads, Potomac river, Cape Fear river.
Charleston, Savannah, Key West, Tam
pa, Pensacola, Mobile bay, Mississippi
river. Galveston. San Diego. San Fran
cisco, Columbia river, Puget sound.
lake ports, Kiska Island, Alaska.
For the lnSular ports they recon-
mended forts Guantanamo. San Juan,
Guam, Subic bay, Manila bay, Pearl
harbor and Honolulu
The board also, of course, recommend
ed forts at Colon and Panama to guard
the Panama canal. 1t also stated that
while the ultimate defense of the canal
must rest with the navy. the fleet
should not be tied SO closely to it as to
lose its offensive power. Moreover. the
board declared that it was possible to
lose control of the sea temporarily
either on the Atlantic or Pacific coast,
making land defensives necessary and
advisable
IT mas Deen stated tnat the SeacoaSI
defenses of the canal are 50 strong
that the canal cannot be taken by sea.
If it is to be taken by land operations
the problem is one for the army.
The big project outlined by the Taft
board is now well nigh completed. ex-
cept certain work on the defense of Los
Angeles, certain batteries in Manila
bay and certain Canal Zone batteries.
the lower Chesapeake bay and the
addition of armament at one or two
fenses are of prime Importance. and the
War Department has recommended the
use at the proposed Cape Henry fort of
the largest known guns. The state
ment was made in Congress by Repre-
sentative Sherley that some places are
actually overfortified, due partly to the
greater efficiency of the guns over the
seacoast cannon which was thought
of when the Taft board made its
report.
Hawaii Completely Fortified.
1t is claimed by the expert that
Hawaii is now completely fortified with
the exception of placing u small num-
ber of siX-inch guns. Army plans, now
being completed in Hawaii, have
strengthened the naval base at Pearl
harbor so as to protect that important
mid-Pacitic stragetic point against the
land operation of any hostile force that
might gain access to the shores
When these experts speak of COM
! plete fortifica tions. however, they do
not mean that the Philippine Islands
are entirely fringed with disappearing &
| guns, but that the defenses at Corre-
| gidor are so strong that when they are
| in operation they will prove to be the
| "Gibraltar of the East; that the de-
| lenses at Subic bay are strong and at
| FL t'raile work is going on without
stint of money and AS fast as men can
work The forts in the Philippines do
| not contemplate holding the islands in
| the case of possible destruction of the
| fleet and the landing of say 100000
| hostileS as these defenseS do not cover
| the entire archipelago. but they do
| contemplate the defense of Manila. and
/ if that should be captured 1t is believed
l o., .ri4I1., he fla. H1ci1, no