St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-09-03

war party compelled him, just as it COM
PEELED Napoleon III in 1870, King George
of Greece in 1897, and as it might com.
pei Spain in the near future, to a declara-
ton Of war
And here it may be as well to answer
the argument that larger navy would
only be a greater inducement to war.
'Jingoism" is not matter of calcula-
ton, but of sentiment. Warike congress
men, as the Congressional Record"
shows, are not necessarily friends Of an
increased navy. And so of our people.
Prudence with them is undoubtedly "a
rascally virtue" Adverting again to our
Civil war, it was only woeul minority
on either side that stopped to count the
cost when that great struggle was
approaching. So it certainly would be if
foreign nation should give us cause for
war. Preparedness on our part will
simply suggest to other nations that
they must not give us cause of offence.
This article would not be complete
without glancing at what is possible,
though it is hoped not probable,-a con-
fict with Japan, arising out of condi-
tons in Hawaii. We have in Pacific
waters our Asiatic fleet, with six cruisers
and gun-boats, and our Pacific fleet, with
one battle-ship, two monitors and four
cruisers and gun boats forming together
a fleet not equal to that which Japan
could concentrate.
Japan has recently bought and has
12,000-ton battleships rated at 10
knots, the "Fuji" and "Yashima," also,
two 8 500-ton armored cruisers now
being constructed by Armstrong at Els
wick, England. The Full" and
"Yashima" could coal sooner at inter
vening ports and steam more rapidly
than our larger fleet, which could only
go at the speed of the slowest vessel.
Suppose we should not wish to risk the
un, quail fight. II we decided we could
afford, in view of possible trouble with
Spain, to strip our Atlantic coast we
should probably not send reinforcements
|
canal would be difficult for our deepest
draught vessels, and it might not be open
to us after declaration of war; and,
second, we might not be permitted to
coal at the English ports, which alone
are available. If we should leave the
defence OF the Atlantic to the monitors
and smaller cruisers, and start around
South America with the New York, "
Indiana" Iowa." Chicago, ""Minne-
apolis," Maine" Massachusetts, "
Texas" columbia" and Newark" y
we should coal at Santa Lucia, Pernam-
buco, Punta Arenas, Callao and Acapulco
And if the feet sailed from the latter port
straight to Honolulu, it would reach
there with almost empty coa-bunkers
having sailed 1904 miles in 81 days
after leaving New York.
Japan could move her home feet, con
ssting of armored ships say cruising
gun-boats, 6 torpedo gun boats, and s
protected cruisers, 1889 miles to Homo
lulu in 16 or II days; and her two new
first-class 19-knot 12,000.ton battle
ships, the Full" and "Yashima," nov
in English waters. could reach Honolulu
long before our reinforcements coult
arrive. II we sent our ships by the Sue
canal, the distance would be PRACTICAL,
the same-15, $50 miles, by the shortes
route. We could not, by either route
!, concentrate so soon as Japan. and woul'
, therefore be compelled to decline battl
and give up the islands, until our re
enforcement should arrive; or else tn
, conflict for the possession of Honolulu,
, would be over before our Atlantic flee
could get there.
If we annex Hawaii, we must adj
, largely to our Pacific fleet. We canno
) otherwise defend this outpost, ZOO
miles from our present boundaries.
J Regardless, however, OF any question
! of territorial extension, it seems to nj
that we should add to the number OF ou
r battle-ships and build many more tor
J pedo-boats.
Certainly it would not be too much t.
, add, say. six more battle-ships to GU
! Atlantic feet and half as many to tn
Pacific And rs torpedo-boats woul
, not be an undue addition to this class G
our vessels. These, it is believed, shout
be built during programme of som
five years-two battle-ships and abou
, Is torpedo.boats to be laid down eac
: year. Hon. Hilary A. Herbert, in tn
| September Forum.
After rneaIc Won chou1d have sinDlv