New-York tribune., 1900-05-12
PRICE THREE CENTS.
A GREAT NAVY ADVOCATED
SENATOR LODGE SAYS THE COUNTRY
MUST BE PREPARED FOR WAR.
WITH GERMANY OVER THE MONROE
DoCTRINE-voTE ON ARMoR
PLATE TO-DAY
PLATE TO-DAY.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rnrBuSE.l


day In the Senate on the arnor plate amendment
to the Naval Appropriation BILL though settle
ment Of the whole question is expected to-mor-
row. The feature of the debate this after
noon an earnest appeal from Senator Lodge
to let minor differences the price Of
armor plate the method of obtaining il inter-
fere with the steady development of this
try's naval strength. Following line struck re-
Gently by Secretary Root. the Massachusetts
Senator warned his colleagues that the validity
of the Monroe Doctrine might soon be chal-
lenged by European Power which has been
making marked increases in it's own navy. To
maintain American control in this hemisphere
an efficient and growing navy will long be essen
tial and. in Mr.. Lodges view. check now
through disputes over arnor would prove fatal
error in public policy The pending question was
the amendment of Mr.. Tiilman providing for a
! price of $500 a ton for and an armor plate
factory to be built by the Government at a cost
not to exceed S4O0OOOO.
MIR. LODGES SPEECH OF WARNING.
Mr.. Lodge said that for the last three year,
| the Senators from South Carolina and New
| Hampshire (Messrs. Timan and Chandler) had
| been endeavoring to get armor at a low price
| The net result of their work had been to put q
stop to the construction of navy. The amend
| ment of MIR. Tillman would absolutely stop the
| building of ships. He had prejudice against
1
at all assured that it would not have been bet
| ter in the beginning of the construction of the
| new Navy to erect plant. To stop
| the building of all ships until the armor plant
| could be erected would he thought be a fatal
| mistake.
| MY reason for desiring more ships" he said
| land desiring them quickly. is my belief that
| the safety of the United States depends upon
| the strength of our Navy. We do not need the
| for tha Of
sions. The danger lies in our own great coast
| line and in the defence of the Monroe Doctrine
| IN this hemisphere. Our Atlantic coast Is stud
| ded with cities from the Gulf to Northern
| Maine. For the defence of this great coast
| line and these cities we have adequate fleet
| We about TO enter upon the construction of
| an isthmian canal. Whether it will be better to
fortify that canal not is yet an open question.
| But to control that canal. to defend it, to hold
| ii open for cur commerce and for the commerce
of the world. even though it be against an en-
emy's fleet. we must be the naval masters of
| the Caribbean Sea. We must have a far more
| powerful fleet than we have to-day. The safety
| OF the canal depends upon our fleet All admit
| that the canal ought to be built. and the time
| is when the work VIII be begun. II We
| TO protect the canal. well our own
coast. must have navy proportionately
| strong.
| POSSIBILITIES TO BE FACED.
| II hope and believe" he continued that We
shall have no war, but great fleet is the great
est insurance of peace. However. would be
/ foolish indeed If we should close eyes to the
| possibilities OF the situation. We could never
| allow the Danish islands to pass into any other
| hands than ANY European nation which
| should undertake to take possession of those
| islands, right the road 10 the canal. and to
make of them great naval stations. would by
| that very act become an enemy of ours. We
\ could submit 10 such thing that. The
| Monroe Doctrine is great protection to the
| United States. Men of all parties. Republicans
| and Populists. without distinction. adhere to
! that.
| Il am by means sure that some European
nation (perhaps one whose navy is now receiv
! ing such rapid increase) may not test the Mon
roe Doctrine. We may be called upon to protect
| that doctrine in Brazil in other South
| American country. I am not conjuring up fan
| ces but 1 believe the way to preserve peace Is
to have such a Navy as Power In the world
| would care to encounter"
! NEED OF BEING PREPARED.
Mr.. Lodge did not think there was anybody
| who did not believe in the construction OF a
| Navy powerful enough 10 defend the coastline
| and the Monroe Doctrine. That one ques-
! ton on which the American people were agreed
: He wanted the Navy department 10 De able 10
proceed with the building of authorized ships.
| Already too much time had been lost II the
| Monroe Doctrine should be endangered, IL
| the coast should be menaced. should be
prepared. If we were not prepared. he said. it
would be weak excuse that We had been en-
gagged in throttling an egregious monopoly He
urged that no further obstacle should be placed
in the way of building up the Navy
| In a colloquy with Mr.. Lodge Mr. Tillman
said it was well known that the Navy of the
| United States superior 10 that of Germany.
/ Mr. Lodge. agreeing in part with Mr. Till
| mans statement pointed to the great increase
that now was being made in the German navy.
| IF the Senator thinks he said. there is no
| danger to be apprehended. I fear he undertakes
/ the Importance of the subject-a subject to
which have given much thought and consid-
Grafton"
FOR GOVERNMENT ARMOR PLANT
Mr. Bacon, of Georgia, advocated the coma
structon of a Government factory because he
believed it would be a protection OF the inter-
ests of the United States He strongly advo-
Gated the proposed increase in the Navy in order
that the country might be prepared to defend
the Monroe Doctrine and it's coast. At the same
time he deprecated the fact that the Govern
was, as he said. at the mercy or the arrnor
trust.
| In support OF the proposition TO build Cow
! eminent plant at once, Mr.. Daniel. or
Virginia. declared that longer IN
the ascendant as a means OF defence. The Navy
had guns that shoot through the best armor
made 1T is evident, in this condition OF AFFAIRS"
regarded longer as the king of the ocean Tha
gun has superseded the armOr. Il Is QueS-
| tion whether, in view of the wonderful work OF
these soft -nosed shells. which only penetrate
shs rrrnn- hut 90 rph Sh nrr