The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1895-03-29
Our Navy.
Are We Ready for War with
England

<AtheIACstn relatlous 70 England
particularly, suggest very natur.
ally the question What would
be the relative strength Of the
English and American nayics
should such a contest arise ~
England ranks tirst and the
United States fifth among the
naval powers OF the world. But
that difference in strength does
not represent the difference be-
tween thetwo countries in actual.
conflict. The United States
could surround her own border
with nearly all her men.of-war,
leaving comparatively few ships
on foreign stations to protect
American interests. There are,
unfortunately, very few interests
to protect On the other hand,
the immense possessions of Eng
land in every part of the world
would demand that she keep a
great armed fleet scattered over
the globe.
Astatistical comparison of the
navies of the two countries shows
how greatly the feet Of England
outnumbers that of the United
States. In 1892 England had
sixty six IRON clads, against
thirteen of the United States.
Since that time Congress has
added a number of gunboats to
the navy. and at the last session
provided for three battleships of
the most powerful class, besides
a NUMBER of gunboats and tor
pedo boats. England's ships are
manned by $1,000 men, while
those of America arehandled by
10000, with one thousand add.
tional seamen provided for by
the last Congress
American naval officers were
sent abroad, and it was their
duty to examine the nayies of the
world, and select such models for
American ships as appeared to
be the best. 1t was in this way
that the American navy. so far
as it has been built, came to be
one of the very best in existence.
In one respect the American
ships have surprised foreigners.
They have been shown to be inn
provements on the foreign ships
inspected.
In case of any war between the
United States and Great Britain
the latter could put into Ameri.
can waters fleet as strong as
the entire navy OF the United
States without materially iniur
ing her interests in other parts
of the world. OF course, any
war waged between these two
countries would place England
in position of weakness in the
event of any trouble with anoth-
er country, to a degree that the
United States could hardly suffer.
France and Russia have old scores
that they would not be long In
paying of to England could that
country be placed in a position
allowing them to do it with
safety.
There is little likelihood Of a
war with England. England has
too much to lose. Disastrous as
such a war would be to both coun-
tries, it would be intellectually
more damaging to England thar
to the United States. The Unit
ed States has less tolose by clos.
ing communication with the outer
world. 1t has very little com.
merce carried in ships of its own.
The interest of English subjects
on the American continent is
enormous. French and German
merchants are close competitors
with the English in all the Cen.
trail and South American coun.
tries. With a war waging be.
tween the United States and Eng
land the British merchants would
be at a tremendous disadvantage.
It is true thatthe English navy
is absolutely tremendously pow.
erful. while it is relatively of but
ordinary strength. Ii has the
world to cover, and great losses
10 the British would occur were