In this crisis of the nation's history, I have thought that some consideration of problems or methods of defense would not be out of place. Knowing little of military matters, I shall leave it to military experts to decide upon the means and methods of military defense. I wish merely to pose some general problems and discuss means and methods from a diplomatic rather than a military standpoint. First let us consider the main objects, or perhaps we had better say, subjects of defense. These may

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... e said to consist of the nation's frontier, the strategic points commanding the entrances to the Gulf of Mexico and the Panama Canal, and other vital interests, such as the Monroe Doctrine and the freedom of the seas, more particularly of the great trade routes on the Atlantic, Pacific, and the Mediterranean. With respect to the nation's territory, it may be observed that, if we except the possibility of war with Canada or England, it includes only one exposed frontier-that of the Philippine Islands. It is useless now to indulge in vain regrets over our great mistake in taking over this hostage to fortune, but a frank recognition of our blunder may help us in the solution of the difficult problem of making a wise disposition of these Islands and in avoiding similar pitfalls in the future. It will, I think, be generally agreed that our northern and southern frontiers are relatively safe from attack or invasion. I think the same can be said of our eastern and western coasts. I believe the invention and improvement of the submarine will practically insure us against invasion on either the Atlantic or Pacific seaboards. It is inconceivable that a fieet of transports even if covered by the great guns of modern calibre on board dreadnoughts and battleships should be able to effect a landing of troops in the face of a goodly number of up-to-date submarines. Whether these sea wasps will be able to prevent the bombardment of our coast towns and the infliction of serious damage remains to be seen.