Defense

Following the successful attack of the Black fleet, Admiral Jones delivered a lecture in the ward room of the transport Henderson. His audience consisted of Secretary of the Navy Denby and the Congressional party which witnessed the maneuvers.

With the maps of the campaign spread before him, the Admiral pointed out how the defenses of the Canal should be strengthened: the coast defense batteries should be more scattered so that ships may not approach to bombard the Canal from angles out of reach of the land guns. There should be several new batteries of 16-inch guns with a range equal to those mounted by any navy. Toboga Island, nine miles from the western entrance of the Canal, should be equipped with batteries to prevent an enemy fleet from approaching the Canal closely enough to bombard the Miraflores locks. There should be an adequate aeroplane force (100 or 150 planes) to drive off enemy bombers. The Navy should have light cruisers (of which it has none, although Great Britain has 60 and Japan approximately 30) to scout for the approach of enemy fleets. Ten of these craft are now being built by our Government, but it is thought that more will be necessary. Finally, we should have more and faster submarines to prevent bombarding fleets from approaching the coast.