The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-11-17
SUBMARINE WARFARE
Captain Low Urges the Need Of
Modern War Implements.
FIFTY NEEDED IMMEDIATELY.
They Should Be stationed in Long ISL
and Sound "to Preserve Ike Peace
and Give Potencyto Our Diplomacy"

They Should Be Stationed In Long ISL
and Sound "to Preserve Ike Peace
and Give Potencyto Our Diplomacy"
France More Alive Than We Are.
Washington, Nov 1.-THE report Of
the board of inspection and survey on
the recent official test of the SUBJ
marine boat Holland In Peconic bay
has been given out by the secretary OF
the navy. The board reports that az
ter thorough inspection Of the plans
and of the vessel 1t was impressed with
the excellent condition of the boat and
all of it's appliances. The tests were
made to ascertain whether the boat
was able to come up to the require
ments for q submarine boat for the
navy. The board reports that all Of
the requirements Of the department
were fulfilled by the performance Of
the Holland on this trial.
In his individual report Captain
John Low. who was on the submarine
boat at the time of the official trial,
says:
1--WE need right of and right now 80
submarine torpedo vessels in Long ISL
and sound to preserve the peace and
to give potency to our diplomacy.
"1he French In this matter are much
more alive to their needs than are we.
What we have left to a private COM
pany the French have taken up as a
national affair"
In urging reasons why a submarine
service should be organized Captain
Low says:
"In the first place we must concede
that. notwithstanding the Hague con-
ference. the time has not yet arrived
for nations to disarm. GIN the con-
trary, that nation which is not ready
to fight, that ceases to study war, that
ceases to use the most frightful ap-
planes when war is made, has al
ready placed itself in q position Of
inferiority and has ceased to possess
those valuable attributes which are
well described In the term manhood.
Such nation is already in the posi-
tion Of China. prey to the weakest
and the most rapacious and a dis
turbance to all the rest of mankind.
"1f, then. we propose to fight, we |
must fight with every fighting appli- |
ance. and. therefore, If there is any
thing valuable in submarine torpedo |
warfare, we must not permit our hands |
to be tied behind our backs by any |
conference or any pusillanimous hui
forbidding such appliance.
Let US not. ostrich like, hide our eyes
in the sand. but If we see danger, let
us look upon 1t.
1--WE have distant dependencies, the
Philippines, Hawaii and the like. VIII
an enemy seek to bring us to terms by
attacking these? Perhaps so. But
If so. the move would be weak one.
exceedingly weak. In fact we could
afford to offer these as gamit upon
which the enemy could waste its
strength, while we were developing
counter moves.
"Let us not deceive ourselves. Anv
powerful enemy would not play at
war after that fashion. They would
strike us in the vitals. An eight day
dash across the Atlantic would bring
their ships to Montuk Point, where
they would encounter the American
feet, which, being destroyed by force
Of numbers. the remainder OF the
enemy's ships could pass on and anchor
In Long Island Sound in perfect Sc
curity. and very shortly Long Island
would become foreign possession.
do not consider this scheme fan
ciful one; 1t is not original to my
mind. So many have spoken Of 1t that
am satisfied 1t has been considered
and digested In foreign councils and
Is part of their program"