New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-13
THE NEED OF COAST DIFF hNSr"

, CORRESPONDENT INSTANCES GREAT BRITAlNS
INCREASED NAVY AZ \ CAUSE FOR 1T.
r, the Editor Of the Tribune
SIR. While the last echoes of the Queens jubilee
are dying away it may. porhaps ne we" 10 po'ier
upon one of the most striking ooJe't lessons PR
sen,ed +, the whole world. and especially to TINS
country by England's magniicent naval display
rrhoro was no other pageant to which the English
neopla pointed with 50 much pride enthusiasm anu
exultation II is not surprising that these leel'ts
were excited by the fact that the British navy -
today larger and more powerful tnan those o. any
other two nations combined. mus glNNg "''''
Britain the naval supremacy Of the world
COMPARED with our own naval resources. 40
British have five vessels to our one. II We Neie
10 build eighty vessels per annum for t'n Et'.S
and England should not add 10 her pr se"' mum.
Der durir 2 that time ours would then oiN e'iu'l
hers Consequently. far rs W. are concerned IL
is simply out of the question for rs to attempt u"
compete with Englind's ma n power.
In my opinion, # ", were able, within
reasonable time. to construct navy equal 70 tna'
of England, il would be unwlse for US 10 40 3d.
This country will probably never wage an on'iSiNs
war vet we may be obliged TO act upon the c.
fenslve in the Very distant future consequently
We should make preparations for sucn defence "t-
out delay: not by building warsnips or hsA'"s
vessels but swift commerce destroyers. also Tor
bobcats of every description
These with modern coast defcnces. would mako
more for peace than any arbitration treaty "h'h
could be devised. suggest. therefore, a. a sup
plemcnt to any arbitration treaty with England, or
any other country appropriation OF SH"r"V
for such coast defenccs as will make our har0oIs
mpregnable against attack. the work ID De De4 III
AT once and continued till finished. 800.
The supineness OF conEresSmen IN regdrI 10 ms
lron1rtant subject is untccountaole 10 the" aver
400 lavruan At the last regular session of Con-
gTess. while the members were Debating me ~
iect OF appropriating SNVo0n year Tor ten years.
| the British Parliament voted N'l"'"J 10 d.. ~
| pended at once I'm making additions 10 their ~
! ready supendous navy. No man outslle 81 ="
| insane ASYLUM desires a with England. th"re-
fnre i'm the interests of peace our coasts should ne
placed in such perfect state Tor deltlte ui ~
! England or more properly. IN" English governing
| class would think twice before attacking rs q,
Tho talk of ties OF blood ana kinlr'i SOUNDS VII
a. matter OF sentiment, but as between NE Brlt-
isb Government and ourselves no Su'n i'elinsS tN-
Isl as witness its treatment during orr struggle ior
| the preservation Of the mon.
Since the day when this country achl"Ned ~ ~
leprn,ence the British Government mas me- WIN 10
! greater disappointment than When our mon
which il hoped ana confidently exp 0ctcd Wouit ne
! destroyed was triumphantly preserved ana made
/ stronger than ever. ,.,..,..
! II is my opinion and belief tnat but for England
interests in Africa and poss blr complications VII !
r:ermanv and Russia the Venezuela affair would
! not have been amicably settled with us.
We should not deceive ourselves lhe ltS OF XII
drcd'' never nave restrained and never VIII deer
I,nylanI from trying conclusions with H. IN nattie
whenever she feels secure from attacks ny her oid-
! time enemies. , .-...,...,. 80,
| let us be prepared for any such emergency py
! adequate means of defending our coasts Ley us
! maintain peace by showing ourselves prepared ior
| war IL W ''''''O'
| brooklyn. Aug. 10. 1884,