The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-13
WE COULD LICK EN-.
That Is What Admiral Porter
Says Of the Germans.
A PIN Is WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
An Opinion Upon the Resources of the UNIFIED
States in Case of a war over the
Samoan Affair.


Porter, who has made very careful study
of the Samoan situation from a naval stand
point ever since the existing complications
arose is quoted by the Eueniag Star as hay
ing said recently:
"a pin is worth fighting for, if principle
is involved, The first war with Great
Britain was for principle and it gave US
our independence and national existence.
1.-The war of 1912 was for principle, and it
gave US our maritime independence.
PRINCIPLE, PRISCIPLB.
1.-THE war with Mexico was for principle
and gave us subiugated possession on our
whole Pacific coast.
THE war for the union was for prin-
ciple and resulted in the restoration of the
authority of the constitution, and gave us
people north and south animated by military
spirit which viii be equal to every possible
requirement.
Il have carefully investigated the stories
about the Nipsic. 1t looks as if they were
put out at the inStigatiOn of Bismarck to
test the sentiment of his own and our
people. He never has been friend of the
United States. He win lind out very
promptly the temper of the American
people.
''Of course we are weak at present on
the ocean, he continued, ''but there is a
plan which will meet the emergency and
will badly cripple Germany while we are
getting ready. No one supposes the Amer
lean people would give up the contest until
Germany has received a sound drubbing.
WE ARE RICH ENOUGH.
We have a surplus and revenues, with
tavaS NOW u =. minimum mint To carry On
deSultOry action until we are in fighting
| trim. While we are getting ready we can
prohibit the entry of German manufactUr-
ers in the United States.
THAT is an important item IN the none
tary activity of Germany. We send many
millions there to pay for goods If for the
! time being Germany should try and block
ade our ports, in less than sixty days we
would find an English fleet on our coasts in
volyed in protecting her own trade with
the United States. 4 hundred millions or
more of British goods finding market in
the United States could not be cut off with
out running British industries.
COUNT FRANCE N.
France would also have interest. Mean
while we could get along without their
goods if necessary. So England and France
would be found as a measure of industrial
self defense to protect their vessels and the
United States.
las the country knows, l. have been
urging letters and reports OF the import
ance of building Of a powerful navy. We
have wealth and resources to lead the
world in a navy, but taking matters as
they are, the government should go to Eng
land and France. both countries being
ahead of Germany in modern naval vessels
and guns, and bug all rihed guns we can
find and bring them here, we will very
soon make use for them.
GERMANY's STRENGTH.
''Here is a list of the entire strength of
the German navy. 1t is more than we have,
but we have money and could easily spend
$3.50, 100000 in ships and appliances of war.
There is League island at Philadelphia, the
grandest place on the continent for great
navy yard. If we can build one we can
build fifty ships right there.
1t is inaccessible to foreign fleets. The
channel of the river could be lined with tor
pedoes if necessary, or they might be Oper-
ated from the shore.
.:Ships could be built there with all
materials near at hand. Of course, this
would take time. In the meantime we
would be compelled to resort to other
modes of offensive war With S50,000,0 600
in sixty days l could put an improvised
| feet in motion which would make short
work with German commerce.
THE ADMIRAL KNOWS THEM.
"There are 600 German steamers afoat.
/ know where they are. We have feet
of ships, 1 could pick them out now; we
could buy more. They would answer for
privateers About the time we would
have this part of the work disposed of
German industries affected by foreign
trade would be paralyzed, while we would
be at the heighth of prosperity. We are
always prosperous in time of war We
would then be getting ready to begin fight
| ing.
| 1t might be possible that Germany would
seize Samoa for the time being. The Euro
pean aspect-of the question would present
another complication.