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President Roosevelt instructs Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry to ensure there is enough coal for the Great White Fleet’s trip, and says the Bureau of Equipment is “on trial in this matter.” He likes the idea of “having one first-class man. . .represent all the newspapers.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-17
Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry’s letter helped President Roosevelt better understand the situation. Roosevelt believes the best itinerary for the Great White Fleet to follow is through the Straits of Magellan and returning through the Suez Canal, but he seeks advice from the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, Admiral Willard H. Brownson. Roosevelt also believes several reporters should accompany the fleet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-10
Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry submits a report to President Roosevelt about the coal situation. The Navy Department wants to approve what Admiral Wm. S. Cowles has written about this subject. Newberry concludes by listing three propositions the Navy Department could adopt if the transcontinental railroads offer a lower rate than the New England Coal and Coke Company has already proposed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-06
Corps of Engineers Lieutenant Colonel Leach summarizes James F. J. Archibald’s letter to President Roosevelt regarding the weak defense of the Hawaiian Islands. In general, the Pacific Ocean is very poorly defended and should be considered a vulnerability. Leach discuses the logistics of introducing submarine weapons into naval defenses and previous attempts to acquire such weapons. While Leach concedes that Hawaii is lacking in defense, he strongly disagrees with the position that the Pacific Ocean is vulnerable and proves this by listing the local forts and their weaponized capacity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-21
James F. J. Archibald reports to President Roosevelt on the submarine defense of the Pacific Coast and the Hawaiian Islands. Archibald believes America to be “so far behind” other nations in this area of marine warfare—particularly Great Britain, France, and Japan. Upon visiting principal cities and harbors, he finds the Pacific Coast and Hawaiian Islands in a “deplorably defenseless position” and notes that the people living in these areas feel vulnerable because of the large extent of “oriental labor and immigration.” Whereas guns and mines are not ideal defense weapons because of the foggy weather, Archibald feels the Pacific Coast is prime territory for the use of submarines due to the large harbors, climates, and topography of the region. Archibald details the number of submarines and personnel he believes to be needed at each of four geographic locations–the Puget Sound, the mouth of the Columbia River, the San Francisco Bay, and the San Diego Bay–as well as the costs of these fortifications, and he emphasizes that his opinions are shared by military officers and civilian experts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-02
President Roosevelt sends Washington Representative Humphrey several memoranda. The dock can be completed within three years, especially if Humphrey inserts a clause allowing the government to construct the dry dock by contract or other means as necessary. Roosevelt reiterates that it is very important to approve the constructions of the dry docks in Puget Sound and Hawaii, and to approve the construction of four battleships.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-13
President Roosevelt has heard from the Washington delegation that the Navy Department has said that it will take six to eight years to finish the Puget Sound Navy Yard drydock. He believes this is “nonsense” and it should be done within two to three years. The drydock should be ready before the battleships for the yard arrive. He asks for a full report on drydocks for the Pacific slope.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-10
President Roosevelt thanks German Emperor William II for his work in fostering friendship between Germany and the United States. He regrets that the situation regarding his nomination of David Jayne Hill as the new Ambassador to Germany was made public, and explains that if he had been told privately that the Emperor wanted a different man, he would have nominated someone else. Roosevelt also provides an update on the progress of the American fleet’s tour of South America, and says that its target practice off the Mexican coast went well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-04
President Roosevelt tells United States Representative Lilley that James F. J. Archibald was not appointed or employed by the administration, but rather contacted Roosevelt and said that he was going to conduct an independent investigation of submarine defense on the Pacific Coast of the United States, looking particularly at Puget Sound. Roosevelt told him that he would be glad to receive such a report from anyone who investigated the subject. When Roosevelt received Archibald’s letter on the topic, he forwarded it to Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf, as he does with other similar letters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-18
President Roosevelt provides Speaker of the House Cannon with details explaining why it is urgent that Congress act quickly to appropriate funding for coastal defenses of several areas in and around the Pacific. Roosevelt explains both the current situation of defenses in Manila Bay, Pearl Harbor, and the Pacific Coast of the United States, as well as the plans that are currently in place to improve these defenses. He asks Cannon to try to expedite the process of providing funding for these purposes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-21
President Roosevelt provides Vice President Fairbanks with details explaining why it is urgent that Congress act quickly to appropriate funding for coastal defenses of several areas in and around the Pacific. Roosevelt explains both the current situation of defenses in Manila Bay, Pearl Harbor, and the Pacific Coast of the United States, as well as the plans that are currently in place to improve these defenses. He asks Fairbanks to try to expedite the process of providing funding for these purposes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-21
Albert Gleaves writes President Roosevelt to say goodbye, as he is leaving Newport for Puget Sound. He has orders to report to the St. Louis, but Admiral John Elliott Pillsbury has transferred him to the Charleston after July 1.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-09
Secretary of War Taft returns a letter and enclosure William Loeb had sent to him regarding the defenses of Puget Sound, Washington, as well as a copy of a report by the Joint Army and Navy Board.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-05
Admiral George Dewey writes to Secretary of War Taft to report on a meeting of the Joint Board discussing the defenses of Puget Sound. The meeting discussed several alleged deficiencies in the defense that had been raised by United States Representative William E. Humphrey of Washington State. Dewey reviews these charges, as well as general information about Puget Sound and the measures already taken for its defense. The Board concludes that once presently-planned changes to the defenses of Puget Sound are completed, they will be sufficient with assistance from the Navy, but at present they are not sufficient. Dewey outlines several steps that the board recommends.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-20
The memorandum to Secretary of War Taft raises the question of how long the battle fleet will stay in the Pacific. The memorandum advocates a permanent naval presence in the region. First, because coastal defenses on the Pacific Coast are not adequate to defend against an attack. Second, because of the location of Hawaii and the Philippines, far from home ports and close to enemy ports. Third, because Hawaii can serve as a strategic naval base and needs battle fleet protection to be effective. Fourth, because the United States lacks adequate land forces to guard the coast. A page of addenda shows Taft acknowledging the memo and wishing to confer with President Roosevelt, and Roosevelt’s subsequent assessment that he will consider the Joint Army and Navy Board’s opinion on the matter, but does not wish to divide the battle fleet between two oceans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-07
Representative Humphrey reports on the defenses at Puget Sound, including the conditions of fortifications and arms and the number of men. He offers recommendations on how to improve the conditions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-03
Rear Admiral Brownson, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, gives President Roosevelt his opinions and recommendations on Admiral Robley D. Evans’ proposed route plans for the Atlantic Fleet. Brownson feels a single newspaper correspondent for the trip is ideal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-17
William S. Cowles sends Secretary of the Navy Newberry comments on two letters from the Merchant Marine League. The League maintains that by chartering foreign vessels to transport coal to ports on the Pacific Coast, the United States has damaged merchant shipping without appreciating the true effect such an action has. Cowles relays the details and allegations the League submits for consideration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-15
A report for Secretary of War Taft outlines the amount of additional money that should be added to appropriations in the fortification bill. The money will account for various fortifications, ordnance, and ammunition to defend locations along the Pacific Coast, as well as in the Philippine and Hawaiian Islands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-27
The Department of the Navy provides a list of commissioned vessels and their current stations. An additional section details ships under construction and projected completion dates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-08