Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-12
Lieutenant Shearman Says Current
Events Point to Duty the Gov
ernment Owes Itself.
AMERICANS ARE FULLY AROUSED.
Butchers Take Advantage Of Rise in
Beef Cattle to Elevate Prices of
All Kinds of Meat
AWAY OUT OF ALL PROPER PROPORTION
Colonel Bsyrs WAKES wrOth at the Attitude Of Italy
Toward Uuc,e Sam.

Lieutenant Shearman, the United States
Navy, is inspecting steel for the Govern
ment at Homestead. He is stopping at the
Duauesne. The Lieutenant made brilliant
record for himself during the storm at Sa-
moa, when several American warships were
wrecked two years ago. He was on board
the Nipsic at the time The naval officer is a
modes; man and declined to talk about some
of his experiences on the island, remarking
that they had been fully written up at the
time Of their occurrence. He states that
none of the Pacific islands are of
great value, and 1t is contrary
70 the policy of the Government to
own colonies. Even if Uncle Sam
purchased some of these islands they
would not be of much benefit TO the country
at large. The people along the Pacific
coast don't like TO lose their trade with the
mld-ocean natives, and they have no desire
to see foreign nations supplant them in
what belongs TO them by right of proximity.
There is more feeling on this subject in the
coast towns than in the interior. Samoa is
a fairly rich island. Great quantities of
cocoanuts are raised there, and little cot
ton and sugar. The kernel of the nut which
is called cafra, yields valuable oil that is
used in making soap, and much of it is
shipped to the United States.
Necessity of Strong Navy.
The conversation dritted to the navy and
the Italian imbroglio. As the sunny tribe
is still rampant and more threatening than
ever, the New Orleans affair is the all
absorbing topic. Lieutenant Shearman
said: Several episodes have occurred in
recent years to convince the American peo-
pie that a strong navy is an absolute neces-
sity. Interest has been greatly excited bv
the recent trouble with Italy. There is no
reason why the Government should not
have tlrst-class navy inside of three years.
The trouble is there are not sufficient iron
mills IN the country to turn out the
srmored plate fast enough. The ships
could quickly be built if we had the ma
terials prepared, We should not only have
good navy, but coast defense. The large
seaport towns ought to be protected with
forts. A navy alone is not sufficient The
opinions of naval officers differ on the value
of different kinds of war ships. Some favor
the heavy battle ships that must be neces-
sarily slow and unwielding in movement,
for in gaining strength you must sacrifice
speed. Others prefer swift and light
cruisers, and few tie their faith to the
dynamite boats and torpedoes.
All of Them Good In Their Way.
For myself believe in them all, and
think that every variety is necessary. As
in the army you have the infantry and cav
airy, each having its own function in the
work OF destruction to perform, so the various
vessels in the navy are not out of place.
don't believe In q standing army, for in this
country We have plenty of patriotic people
who could be quickly trained to fight; but a
full marine should be maintained A sailor
can't be made in day. A man must be
accustomed to the sea and taught to climb
roue ladders and to perform the difficult
duties Of marines.
Il suppose Italian warShips could do con-
siderable damage in our present defenseless
condition. In the New York harbor it
wouldn't be necessary for them to enter the
bay. They could locate off Long Island
and shell Brooklyn and the lower end of
New York. The strongest guns in the
world Will only carry II miles. All the
talk about guns firing shells 80 miles is not
true. L think the American people are
aroused now, and in time we will once
more have good navy"