Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-03-24

suViHS OF money generally, amos
certainly will result In the scrap
ping of some of the island defense
OF the United States In the Fur East
J SO 1t would seem that so fur rs til,
/ great defense works are concerned
] they are to 80 the way of things war
like, but war-llke only in so much II:
they represent defense preparations
Of the United States.
Corregidor island on which the
United States has constructed for
tilications AT the gateway Of Manila
Is said to be second only to Gibraltar
In Its defensive possibilities. 1t Is one
OF the places which has been called
impregnable. The United States, after
the work Of years concerning which
little news had been given to the
world, placed Corregldor in Il con-
dllion to defend the City of Manila
against the fleet of any one enemy
and perhaps against the fleets Of tho
world.
iHS lHttHliuA VI lllt w III Ntllhl v
ment goes to show that the ad
minlstratlon has faith in the strength
of the four-powcr treaty to maintain
peace in the Orient without regard TO
armies and navies. OF course If war
shall come Unexpectedly. the United
States will be in Il bad way SO far
/ itS nnSGnSsinnA n.
cerned. bur probably no secret is dis
closed when it is said that the belief
! always has been that II war with Il
certain country should come it would
be impossible for the American gov
eminent TO hold the Philippines
against an attack which should come
from coast points removed from
Manila bay.
The United States could hold the
Philippines against and attack II 1t
had sufficiently strong fleet In the
Orient 10 overcome in enemy's fleet
but under ordinary circumstances
with the ships scattered rs they have
been, the fleet OF one possible enemy
could cover the landing of enough
troops TO overrun the islands. This has
been recognized by the military
authorities for some years.
Subig Bay Plan Discarded
There was much of controversy
twelve or fourteen years ago in Amer
lean military and naval circles over
the matter Of strengthening the de-
lenses Of the Philippine islands. Suhig
bay which is seventy miles from
Manila, has many natural features
which would make ii IN ideal naval
base. The proposition was to make
It such and to command the entrance
by great batteries emplaced upon the
surrounding hills. II was held. how
ever by some Of the experts that the
bay could not be fortified properly
without the expenditure Of millions
upon millions of dollars, and that
oven then the Notifications would be
defenseleSS from the land side
The result Of the controversy was
that Suhig bay was not made a great
naval base and Corregidor island took
first place in the affections OF the
majority Authorities. Army officers.
and navy officers too, said that Cor
regidor which Is huge rock with |
precipitous sides rising to a grent |
height from the water, could be made T
a second Gibraltar, and so In way
it has been made
II was many years ago that the
work began to prepare Corredigor for
the empIacementS of the great guns.
The plans called for a strong garrison
with sufficient supplies TO stand
siege of years The original plan
for Corregidor u the main was car.
ried out On4 Of the fruits Of the
recent conference will be- virtual
Of the great fortifca-
ion
Few Troops 10 Be Left There.
II Is expect. that the American
roops in the :sIlpplnes largely will
,e decreased IT. numbers in Il short
ime one student of present con
litlOns has SAIL that the possibility
# aggression against the islands by
my nonsignatory power is regarded
is so remote as not to deserve con-
ideration.' This means also that the
aith in the powers which did sign
he treaties Is so greA. that the main
enance Of defense gainst any pos.
,ible breach OF fa.,h no longer Is
considered necessary
There will be some troops left In
he Philippines, JUS enough. however,
o aid the local forces In preserving
rider and to form anall expeditlonary
orces in case tro4ble should break
ut anywhere In rte islands.
The United STATES, Great Britain,
apan and France as parties to the
Pacific treaty. have agreed
n general way 10 respect the rights
4 the different nationals In the Orient
nd to engage It no acts Of agrees
ion. If these promises are kept Cor
egldor island might just as well be
mined and its rocks shattered and
umbled in fragments into the sea bur
these promises are not kept 1t Is
robable the United States will be
orry that faith In pledges spiked the
uns which once commanded the ap-
reaches to the Bay Of Manila.
Steel That Will Not Rust.