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President Roosevelt tells Representative Hobson that he disagrees with many of Congress’s recent actions, including the decision to favor Subic Bay over Manila as the main point of defense in the event of war. Hobson was mistaken to believe that Roosevelt had not endorsed Admiral George Dewey’s report favoring Manila.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-16
President Roosevelt directs Secretary of War Taft to have the Joint Board to provide him with a plan elaborating what the United States should do regarding its defenses of Hawaii, particularly looking at fortifying Pearl Harbor or Honolulu. Roosevelt feels that conversations on a similar topic relating to the defense of the Philippines were one-sided, and have caused harm to the United States by recommending the construction of fortifications at Subic Bay, when such fortifications are not defensible by land, but only by sea. In addition to the plan he has requested, Roosevelt also directs that Taft and Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf investigate the actions of the previous board in recommending Subic Bay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-11
President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of the Navy Metcalf that he would like the Joint Board to provide him with a plan elaborating what the United States should do regarding its defenses of Hawaii, particularly looking at fortifying Pearl Harbor or Honolulu. Roosevelt feels that conversations on a similar topic relating to the defense of the Philippines were one-sided, and have caused harm to the United States by recommending the construction of fortifications at Subic Bay, when such fortifications are not defensible by land, but only by sea. In addition to the plan he has requested, Roosevelt also directs that Metcalf and Secretary of War William H. Taft investigate the actions of the previous board in recommending Subic Bay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-11
President Roosevelt directs Secretary of War Taft to alert Congress to the need to fortify Subic Bay. He feels the United States must decide whether to keep holding the Philippines and Hawaii. If the country cannot prepare a proper navy, it is best to give up the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-31
President Roosevelt congratulates Admiral Dewey on the conclusive report about the Subig Bay question.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-05
President Roosevelt feels that the land reserved for the Navy at Subig Bay is too large.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-29
President Roosevelt approves of Admiral George Collier Remey’s memorandum and desires that steps be taken for the procurement of Subic Bay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-09
Secretary of War Wright submits to President Roosevelt a report from Chief of Staff General James Franklin Bell regarding the advisability of constructing and staffing defenses in Subig Bay. Bell cites maps and reports from the Japanese siege of Port Arthur. He suggests that it would be too costly and not feasible to put the main defenses there, in the event of a similar siege by Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-30
General Wotherspoon attaches a memorandum by Captain Sherwood Alfred Cheney to General Bell in connection to the memorandum from Bell’s office dated March 5, 1908. Wotherspoon agrees with Cheney’s conclusions. The line of occupation and defense in Subic Bay is longer than estimated. A copy of the memorandum and duplicates of maps are filed with other papers connected with Subic Bay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-19
Brigadier General Wotherspoon reports to Army Chief of Staff Bell concerning the proposition of constructing a naval base at Subic Bay in the Philippines. While Wotherspoon concedes the point that this location is very easily defended from the sea, there are many problems related to its defense from the land, which he outlines. Wotherspoon believes a base at this position would not be able to be defended long enough for reinforcements from the United States to arrive, and so recommends the construction of a base at Manila Bay or Corregidor instead.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-02
In a memorandum requested by President Roosevelt, Secretary of War Taft outlines the reasons for the reversal of the Joint Board of the Army and Navy’s 1903 unanimous decision to construct a defensive naval base at Subic Bay in the Philippines. The decision was reversed in 1907 due in part to the emerging strength of Japan and the cooling of relations with Japan, and to the indefensibility of the area by land.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-14
Pursuant to a previous direction given by President Roosevelt to evaluate Subic Bay as a site for a naval base, Secretary of the Navy Metcalf forwards Roosevelt a letter sent to the Naval Department by a member of the Joint Board discussing this question.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-06
Admiral Dewey, reporting as senior member of the Joint Board, sends Secretary of the Navy Metcalf a report detailing the development of thinking regarding a proposed naval base at Subig bay in the Philippines. While this site was initially considered ideal from a purely naval perspective, this conclusion was later revised, due to increased input from army officers regarding the possibility of defending the site from landward invasions, as well as events during the Russo-Japanese War highlighting new factors that had to be taken into consideration. These developments resulted in the recent recommendation of Manila Bay as the more suitable site for a naval base.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-05
Army Chief of Staff James Bell Franklin requests a report regarding the construction of a naval base in the Philippines. Bell highlights several issues that should be given consideration and explained when examining the differences between Subig Bay and Manila Bay, especially highlighting several statements made in a report by the Board of Officers that should be replied to directly. This prior report, Franklin says, considered the sites for naval defense only, did not give proper consideration to inland defenses, and suggested that the entrance to Manila Bay could not be held.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-05
Admiral Dewey, President of the General Board of the Department of the Navy, provides a response for Secretary of the Navy Metcalf regarding President Roosevelt’s questions about the choice of Subig Bay as a naval base in the Philippines. Subig Bay had previously been evaluated by the General Board and selected as a better site for the construction of a naval base than Manila Bay. The General Board acknowledges the Army’s point that Subig Bay would be difficult to defend from the land side, and asks that the Army study the issue further with regard to plans for permanent fortifications.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-18
General Wood tells President Roosevelt he has received his instructions regarding how to handle trouble with a foreign enemy near the Philippine Islands. He tells the president, however, there is not clear understanding between the Army and Navy as to what they need to do. Wood indicates he has recommended an increase in the Philippine garrison to make sure it is large enough to protect the important places from raids and updates Roosevelt on the topographical work in the Philippines. Wood spends the majority of the letter discussing the relative strength of the military on the island and what he believes is necessary to be able to defend Subic Bay. He urges the development of a local board of fortification. Wood concludes by encouraging the development of a large Pacific fleet and informs Roosevelt he sent a similar letter to the War Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-13
Because of doubts regarding the Army’s capabilities in the Philippines, President Roosevelt has ordered that all construction on the proposed naval base at Subic Bay be halted until proper study is made into whether the Bay can be properly defended by land. If Subic Bay is not sufficiently defensible, the Joint Board is to give further consideration towards using Manila Bay as the location for the base.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-28
Admiral Dewey responds to General Wood’s thoughts on naval strategies, including Wood’s argument that Manila Bay should be the site for the principle naval base in the Philippines. It is the opinion of Dewey and the General Board of the Navy Department that the best place for this base is Subig Bay and that Manila Bay would be one of the worst areas to choose. He notes that “the fundamental and conclusive reason in favor of Subig Bay and against Manila Bay is the fallacy of concentrating the means of the mobile naval defense at the centre of attack, — as if a boxer should try to defend himself by holding his fists against his own breast.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-04
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
Major General James Franklin Bell sends William Loeb an extract from the proceedings of the Joint Board in answer to a question about his opinion regarding the choice of Subic Bay as the site for a naval station. While Subic Bay is an attractive site from a purely naval perspective, it cannot be defended on land. Bell does not, however, object to making a thorough study of the question.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-24