Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-28

he says: First we have more properly
on shore assailable from the water than
any other nation; second we have more
property afioat and assailable by nav
les than any other nation; and third
excepting Great Britain we have more
merchant ships afloat on the ocean
Great Lakes included) than the five
greatest naval powers Of the world
combined.
BY previous comparisons with for.
eign navies Mr. Herbert had demon
strated that ournavy must be increased
and we have already mentioned his
conclusion as to how much that in
crease should be and have mentioned
some of the reasons he advanced in
support of that view. Moreover he
finds that the likelihood that we shall
annex Hawaii and construct the Mic
aragua canal is sufficiently strong to
require preparation on our part for
such results. 1t is evident we should
need ships and shore Notifications for
the purpose of holding what we should
thus acquire.
His reply to those who assume that
we shall never again have occasion to
use our navy in warlike operations is
q remarkably effective one. Admitting
that it would not be wise or prudent
for foreign country to wage war upon
are not wise or prudent, and especially
that public sentiment which sometimes
overrules kings is not always wise and
prudent. In evidence of this he cites
the people of Portugal demanding a
war against England only short time
ago; public sentiment in France that
brought on the Franco-Prussian war
when France was not prepared for it:
public sentiment forcing the King of
Greece into a war destructive to Greece
from its inception. Can we always in
this country reckon on public sentiment
as judicious and conservative? Few
can have forgotten that some Of the
western congressman We're for war
with Spain, but not for dollar of APP
preparation to increase the navy. Mr.
Herbert believes we are a sensitive,
makes it as a plain statement of fact
that the people, North and South. now
that they are thoroughly united under
homogeneous institutions, feel COM
mon pride in the courage displayed on
both sides in the Civil War, and that
an opportunity to make common cause
against public enemy would meet
widespread welcome"
Naval power is not an abstract, but
a relative quantity" I'VE cannot shut
our eyes to what other nations are do
ing"
Mr.. Reed treats the subject in less
exhaustive and in a more general way,
but he arrives at practically the same
SCHCIdI SOLSluoioIS. LIE AOCo Aiot
specify just what class of vessels
should be increased in number nor to
what extent, but he sees clearly that we
must continue with the splendid work
begun and do so in the same spirit and
purpose as we place insurance on our
homes. Over-insurance as well as UNI
der-insurance he would avoid for it
makes a moral hazard" We must
have besides men skilled to handle
these complex engines of warfare. The
day when a cavalry commander could
become a naval commander is past.
We must also have adequate coast for
tifcations and dry docks in which our
war ships may be cleaned or over
hauled. We need armor plate, we need
guns for our auxiliary cruisers. we
need continuous operations on a rea-
sonable scale so that we may keep
plants up and our workmen skilled.
These views are so reasonable that it
certainly seems as if they would Of
themselves convince the public, great
part Of Which unfortunately will never
learn of them. But all must have
learned of the Cuban war, of the atti-
tude of Japan toward Hawaii. All
must have seen that Spain is in no
mood to lose Cuba by our Intervention
and that the comparatively unprotect-
ed condition of several of our large sea-
port cities impress her with the idea
that she could infiict considerable dam
age upon us and at the same time sat
lisfy the Spanish pride that rather suf-
fer defeat than consent to a compro-
mise. Is it unreasonable to assume that
if we had had a stronger navy and bet
ter coast Notifications the Cuban ques-
ton would have been settled before
this?
Supt. S. H. Harding of the United
States life saving service has been
making a tour of inspection of the
Maine stations and observing the drill