Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-25

The war OF 1872 in my view. would
have been avoided had we been adequately
furnished with navy. 1t was this weak
ness that England counted upon. Today
England is largely in a similar position.
He strong point is her navy and the means
she possesses of building with great dis
patch powerful battleships, and keeping
them in service. We have no such facli-
ties, for our ships are as rule, let out to
contract and our navy yards are not
nearly as well fitted with mechanical
methods rs the English yards. The Ameri-
can public are mitch misled as to our naval
conditions because they do not understand
naval warfare. The actual work must be
done with batticships, and of them we
have but three, two of which are hardly fin
iShed England possesses IS or 20, so it
can be seen at what Disadvantage we are
placed at the outset.
Then the torpedo service makes no the
complement all centcring on the efficiency
of the battleship. England, recognizing
the proper methods, commenced with the
ships, and today is completing the cruisers
as auxiliaries. We, unfortunately, have
built the cruisers and have but three ships
for them to rally about. In serious con-
flct they will be placed at great disad-
vantage. In such an event we cannot re
cuperatc, for battleships are the work of
long tlmc-a year or mOre-and during
this interval we are at the mercy of the
powerful batteships of the English navy
or course, any comparison with England
in this particular is out of the question.
Mach is said about the efficiency of our
cruisers. Many of these are fine ships,
but they can no more take the place of the
battleship in action or in serious work
with Notifications than could the picket
lire of an army that of the regiment.
Coast Defenses Need Strengthening.
While we are deficient in this respect
we invite constant disrespect from every
foreign power which considers itself
stronger in ships and material. We must
provide ourselves rs well as others are
provided We need then fear no pancs
such rs we now are encountering, be-
cause there will be no cause for them.
Oar defcnses also are wholly inadequate
Money spent in these directions is excel
lent investment. If the losses in the last
few days in Wall street were to be applied
to the defense of New York city, nothing
woald be needed there.
In the event of possible hostlities, it is
natural to ask how war of this kind
would be conducted? We should remain
on the sea for a long time, strictly on the
defensive, because we have nothing to cope
with the magnificent navy of England,
taken as whole. England has always
claimed to be not only equal to any single
adversary on the sea, but no two other
nations combined equal her. This has al
WAYS been her boast, and her practice
proves her right to the assumption. You
have no adequate idea of the magnitude
and grandness of the English navy, unless
YOU have had opportunities such rs | have
had TO view it in detail.
But. in fact, as II nation, England is not
military power. do not think she has
ever had $4,000 men, strictly of English
blood, on the field at any one time. She
would doubtless succeed in throwing
something of u force into Canada, aud
quite possibly the latter might raise lO0,-
900 or 50. On land we should easily bc
the victors. On the sea we would have
very arduouS work ahead, even to pro-
tect ourselves much less take the often
Sive.
But the British empire is so widespread
that many vulnerable points would be
found, and the methods of the war of 1912
would he followed to u certain extent,
kind of desuitory warfare, scattered over
the world, with widespread disaster to the
merchant marine of both contending ma
lions. All | have said, however, is of
what might occur in the improbable
event of war.
Affairs at n Standstill.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2f.-Now that con-
gress has acted upon the presidents sug-
gestion in authorizing the appointment of
the Venezuelan commission to locate the
boundary line between British Guiana and
Venezuela, and the subject is again one
for executive treatment, it is believed
that Secretary Oiney will formally ac-
knowledge the receipt Of Lord Salisbury's
two notes, and perhaps take occasion, as
a matter OF courtesy, to formally advise
the British government of the course
which this country intends 10 pursue. sup
plementing it perhaps by request to be
put in possession of evidence within the
control of the British foreign office respect
ing the boundary line
Representative Beach (O) today intro
duced the following bill, authorizing the
President of the United States to call an
international conferences:
Be it enacted that the President of the
United States be, and he hereby is, authorized
10 invite the governments of the other Ameri-