Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-16
Mr.. HOLMAN ON THE NAVY.
he Thinks There Will Be No Appropria-
tions for New Ships.

Representative Holman of Indiana does
not believe that Congress will make an ap-
preparation this year for new naval vessels,
nor does he believe that any appropriations
ought to be made except to continue exist
ing contracts
Secretary Herbert has recommended that
at least one battle ship should be appropri-
ated for at this session. but it is significant
that the President does not indorse the Sec
retary's views. 1 have not talked with the
President regarding the matter, but un-
derstand from other sources that Mr.. Cleve-
land thinks We ought to wait until the ves-
sells now building are completed"
'Wtll the House indorSe the Presidents
position? Mr.. Holman was asked.
IF that is understood to be the Presi-
dents position. yes. / don't think that in
further contracts should be awarded When
the ships now building are completed, We
shall have large navy, larger than ever
before. We can't have great navy" con-
tinued Mr.. Holman, without an aggressive
foreign policy and complications with for
eign governments-a complete departure
from the traditional policy of our govern
nent, which is to avoid any entangling al
nances.
"A navy encourages a; vigorous foreign
policy if it becomes strong and aggressive.
Great stress is laid by naval officers upon
the necessity of having ample time in which
vation is that four months is sufficiently
long period IN which to improvise a navy.
There is no possibility of war between ma
tions in less than four months. for diplo-
macy can always be depended upon to post
pCne 1T that long. 1 was down on the
Mississippi river during the war part of
the time. The confederates had their bat
teries strung along the river from near
Nicksburg for distance of mile. Yet our
improviSed wooden vessels successfully ran
the gauntlet of their fire. and only one of
the number, if L remember rightly, was
crippled"
And what do you argue from that?'
Il argue this: If the wooden ships are
armed with high power guns, they will be
as useful for offensive purposes as steel
vessels, although, of course, they will not
have the same defensive qualities. How
ever" Mr.. Holman went on. Brazil is
likely to afford us an interesting object les
sen. which will go far toward settling this
question. 1t is not improbable that within
the next ten days the contending forces in
Brazil will have naval engagement which
will demonstrate the superiority of heavy
vessels over weaker Ones If there be any
superiority on that side
From what you have said, Mr.. Holman,
you are evidently not favorable to a large
navy"
ing with his usual delberation, would be
great misfortune to our country in the
early future. We need a navy sufficiently
strong to protect ou- interests at home anu
abroad, but We have gone beyond that point
and, in my opinion, ought to stop. i don't
favor large army in time of peace, but an
army cannot, under any circumstances, gee
us into trouble. The army cannot inaugu-
rate a foreign policy. The navy can, as
witness the Valparaiso incident. The for
eign relations of country are more or
less in the hands of the commander of any
American naval vessel, and we must sus-
tain MIN. as a rule. in whatever course he
takes. For that reason, it is not advisa BILE
to have too much of 4 navy The smaller
the navy, the better, provided 1t is sufficient
for our purposes"