United States. Dept. of the Army

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Senator Lodge that the Department of the Army officially notified Colonel M. B. Stewart of the bill’s approval, yet Stewart hypocritically attacks the bill. Captain Johnson Hagood has charge of the bill’s data and is speaking for the Department. Roosevelt encloses a report on Stewart by Chief of Staff, Major General James Franklin Bell, and requests that Lodge return it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-14

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

General Wood informs President Roosevelt about the situation in the Philippines, reporting that besides the areas of Leyte and Samor, the situation is relatively quiet. He recommends that America keep the islands garrisoned to prevent agitators from upsetting order. Wood opines that the Filipinos are far behind Cuba on the path to deserving independence, but praises the Spanish for having evangelized and civilized the Philippines. Wood recommends the recovering Lieutenant Gordon Johnston for the Medal of Honor. Wood plans to send his family home to the United States for the children’s schooling, and after the Filipino elections hopes himself to visit France and Germany to observe military maneuvers and methods there. Wood hopes afterwards to be appointed to New York where he can work on seacoast defense, but is willing to return to the Philippines if requested. Wood also discusses his opinions on the results of the Russo-Japanese War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-18

Creator(s)

Wood, Leonard, 1860-1927

Text of President Roosevelt’s speech entitled “The Philippine Islands and the Army.” He discusses the previous remarks of President McKinley and what has been done in the Philippine Islands since McKinley’s speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919