Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-30

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puild ships because many of them that
we nave built have gone out of date
he alleges that as fatal difficulty in
such construction. But, Mr.. Chair
man, 1t Is an argument that refutes it
sell. IL there are to be changes in the
iashlons my friend may as well say
we should not wear clothes because
those we buy to-day may be old-fash-
Toned next year. So long as we build
ships equal to the most formidable and
the best class built by our rivals We
shall do all that is needful for our pro-
, lection.
Mr.. Davis-But the gentleman made
the point himself that these Chinese
ships were old or wornout ships.
Mr.. Pendleton, of West Virginia
Yes; but | made it from an entirely
different standpoint The gentleman
argues against the construction of
ships on that ground. l say that these
ships were not as good ships as some
of more modern build Shipbuilding
has improved somewhat in ten or TWEEN
ty years. But the world may have in
the next ten or twenty years stronger
ships, more powerful for battle and
grander for defense than any we have
to-day. In fact, all things may i'm
prove in shipbuilding This is GER
tainly no argument why we should al
low ourselves to be absolutely defense
less in the meantime should such
things happen in the distant future. |
say it is our duty to be prepared at all
times for any emergencies which may
arise and we will certainly be false in
our duty to the American people if we
leave them defenseless.
Mr.. Talbert, of South Carolna-Can
the Treasury stand the drain right
now, thought
Mr.. Pendleton, of West Virginia.
have not any doubt in the world that
it can.
What have we to defend? Not only
the Western and Southern agricultural
products on the sea; we have not only
the commerce upon the high seas to
protect under the American flag, but
the navy has other duties besides.
Here is, for instance, the great city of
New York with nearly five thousand
millions of property on the sea coast
exposed to attack; here is the great
city of Boston with another thousand
millions of property exposed to at
tack; here are the cities of Philadel-
phia Baltimore, Norfolk, Richmond,
Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, New
Orleans, Galveston, as we'll as all of
the cities on the Pacific coast, depend
ing for their protection upon the
American navy; and in our present
condition if we were to be involved in
a foreign war with any of the second
class nations of the world, much less
with any of the first-class, we are help
less; we have no navy to-day that
could defend these harbors and ports
and prevent these great cities being
held up for ransom or plundered, by
any power which chooses to take adj
vantage of the opportunity
Mr.. Sayers-In this connection. can
any one tell the number of vessels in
the navy now?
Mr.. Pendleton, of West Virginia
Some five or six battle ships, and a few
others.
Mr.. Simpson-There are four battle
ships in all completed, and some not
yet completed.
Mr.. Davis-And they will be out Of
date before they are done.
Mr.. Sayers-What is the total num-
Der?
Mr.. Pendleton, of West Virginia
Forty-nine ships in all.
Mr. Sayers-Do you not think that
with forty-nine ships we could be able
to protect ourselves pretty well if these
ships were scattered along the coast
from New York to Galveston?
Mr.. Pendleton, of West Virginia
No; l do not. Forty vessels scat
tered along the American coast be-
tween New York and Galveston, as
suggested by my friends, reminds me
of General Lees line before Petersburg
during the last year of the war, when
forty miles of front were defended by
40, 600 men. And when General Lee
gave that opinion to Mr.. Davis and
said that in a few days somebody
would break through somewhere. That
is the present condition of the country
with reference TO it's naval defenses.
The line is too long and the fleet would
be too much scattered. Breaking
through would be holiday excursion
for a hostile fleet.
Mr.. Sayers-What becomes of our
Notifications?
Mr.. Pendleton, of West Virginia
Well, they will, to certain extent, en-
able us to make some defense. But
they are not sufficient. Things have
changed and methods also. In old
times a wealthy nation could build a
great navy in few months. But this
cannot be done to-day. New methods
of construction and recent inventions
have made the building of navy the
labor of years. We can not now wait
until were attacked and then in few
weeks or months be ready for what
ever may happen. All nations are
building and equipping their navies
long years in advance in the hope that
when the crisis shall come they shall
not be found wanting or taken I'M
awares. We behold the result of pre-
paration in the war now going on be-
tween China and Japan. Japan in
peace has prepared for war. She is
armed at all points. She has availed
herself of the resources of civilization.
She wins at all points and we find the
weaker power everywhere triumphant.
China, with her vast population, her
incalculable resources, has made no
preparation and finds herself with her
hands tied, her navy driven from the
seas, and her whole vast bulk exposed
and bleeding at every pore. Shall We,
relying upon our native strength and
our vast nndeveloped capacities, adopt
a Chinese policy? Never
1t is historically true that sea power
gives empire and victory, and it is also
true that every nation that has gone