The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-02-14
BY EDWARD 3. A

BY EDWARD 3. CLARK
Washington.-Such constructive work
as congress will allow the army and
navy authorities to do concerns itself
largely with the Pacific ocean and the
Panama canal. In the face of all
sorts of disappointments the navy men
have been doing what they could with
inadequate funds and are going to do
what they can next year with the pres
ent comparatively small appropria-
ton.
Something Is to be done In the way
OF concentration of effort so that
points which would be strategic in case
OF war will possess what little can be
given them to make them effective.
Under he four-poweI treaty the
United States cannot increase it's forti-
hcations on its islands In the Pacific
ocean, barring only the specifically ex-
Guided Hawaiian possessions. Pearl
harbor, not far from Honolulu, is be-
ing developed as a naval base and
money will be spent there during the
coming year for purposes of develop
ment. The army also will go ahead
with the half million dollars which has
been allotted 1t for the purpose, in
an endeavor to make the naval base
dangerous of approach for an enemy
coming from the sea.
From the point of view of some of
the service men, halfway preparedness
Is as bad as no preparedness, and in
truth the experts have not been afraid
to say that halfway preparedness is
only preparedness for defeat. Con-
gressmen, irrespective Of party, seem to
have gone on the theory, however. that
1t must do something for appearances
sake.
There IS nothing in the four-power
treaty to prevent the United States do
ing what it chooses on the coast lines
of this country, but nothing much is TO
be attempted save possibly at one or
two places on the Pacific Coast. 1t is
Hawaii and the defenses of the Pan
m canal which under existing APP
chief attention of the army and navy.
Plan for Pearl Harbor.
Pearl Harbor already is q naval
base. Such a naval base necessarily
must be supplied from a distance with
munitions and other material. The
Islands Themselves cannot furnish them
in sufficient quantities. So it may be
somewhat interesting to know the In
fnpfjnn fG nrnn with tho ,o sf.,1
ly small sums at hand, to make the
Pearl harbor base defense s~elf-sustain-
ing for a period of five months.
Now, on paper this seems to be a
considerable period of time, but there
are instances in history where garri-
SOM have been compelled to hold out
longer than the time fixed in this case.
About 100000 will be available for
the purposes of the naval base at Pearl
harbor during the next fiscal year.
This Is exclusive of the army appropri-
alton for defense work.
In 1913, the year in which the water
was turned into the Panama canal and
the channel was opened for the pas
sage of ships, it was believed the prep
arations which had been made for the
defense of the canal were adequate.
Now the feeling is that at least on the
Pacific side additional d~efenses are
necessary. The placing of these guns
of defense has been recommended by
the military authorities.
The maintenance of an open route
through the canal in the time of wal is
vital to The success of American arms.
Granting that there may be no trouble
for a decade, the service men say that
it takes a long time to prepare ade-
quately for what may come, and that
If the what may come" comes, the
money spent will be well spent.
Can Do Nothing at Manila.
Under the present agreements with
certain nations nothing can be lone to
add to the defenses Of the Philippine
Islands or Guam. Corregidor island. at
the water doorway of Manila, is In its
natural qualifications a second Glib
raltar. 1t has some big guns but no
matter what the advance in armament
may be during the next ten years
these big guns must answer the pur-
pose of defense in the day Of possible
trouble after the ten years have ex-
pired.
Army and navy men say that the
money which has been asked of con-
gress is the minimum mount con-
with anything like safety, giving
full consideration to the binding power
of the treaties which exist. 1t is un-
derstood that the amount which was
asked for Pearl harbor for army and
navy purposes was about three and a
half times the amount which congress
finally allotted. In other words. the
United States in this strategic place. 1t
is held, will be just one-third prepared.
which the army and navy men say Is
worse than no preparedness because
no defense would be possible and the
monsy that has been spent would be
wasted.
What the ordinary layman in Wash