Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-10-29
FOR A TRANSPACIFIC CABLE
Lieut. lohn Hood, U, S, NJ, Makes an Earnest
Plea for a Government One.
II Necessary ~ We Wish TO secure
Ourselves Against All EVcntuaI-
ties-Other Reasons,

New York, Oct pa special to the
Herald from Washington says.
An earnest plea for a government ca
BILE across the Pacific ocean is made
by Lieut.. John Hood, Of the navy. who
performed notable work In the survey,
which definitely established q sausfac-
tory route, IN an article published in
the current number of the Proceedings
Of the Naval institute.
III We wish TO secure ourselves
against all eyentualitles and be fully
equipped to take our part successfully
In the struggle Of races that the in
eyitable laws Of evolution force US
to enter, let us, says Lieut. Wood, mot
only fortify our ports. build fleets and
equip armies, but let us. by all means
prepare the way 10 render these fleets
ana armies efficient and capable Of their
utmost usefulness by supplying them
with the safe, sure and prompt lnfor-
nation so necessary 10 any successful
Undertaking. The only way 10 attain
this end with certainty and success
Is for the government TO lay and oper-
ate its own cables, and 10 construct.
equip and man It's own cable ships. and
the beginning Of this great work can
not be made too soon"
Lieut.. Hood takes a very pessimlstic
view Of the chances Of cable legislation.
For time, he SAYS, It seemed proba-
BILE that action would be taken but now
II may be safely said an cable legisla-
ton Is dead for the present, and is more
than likely to remain dead for q long
time 10 come while a merry fight goes
on between the opposing ideas Of gov
eminent and private ownership.
For sure defence" continues the
lieutenant, both for our own coast and
our island possessions II is absolutely
necessary for the American fleet TO
have perfect freedom OF movement 10
all parts Of our coasts, To carry out
any design for the protection and ex-
tension Of our influence IN our far dis /
tant possessions. II IS necessary 10 have 1
absolutely sure communication between |
our feets and our seat OF government |
The former OF these objects can only be /
attained by the construction OF a ma |
uonal inter-oceanic canal, and the lat /
ter by a national Pacific cable"
Lieutenant Hood calls attention to the
fact that surety and secrecy can only
be attained by a cable owned. con-
trolled and worked by the government
Itself, by its own agents.
Admiral Cervera's book" he says,
shows how utterly impossible It IS IN
time Of war 20 preserve secreo- with
private cables. In spite Of all the eff
forts OF this government 70 isolate Cuba
and suppress all dispatches regarding
he movements OF our ships. We are
lstonished 10 find how minutely Cen
'ral Blanco and Admiral Cevera We're
informed of the movements Of our ships
md squadrons, even on our own coasts
From a military point OF view the
question Of the nationality OF the oper-
,tors Is most important. No foreigner
n allen Of any description should be
allowed 10 have any connection with
he line In any capacity whatever It's
direction and operation should be-
american pure and simple or betrayal
II trust win surely follow.
zone other great military advantage |
4 a national over a private cable Is the
by the government OF prop
rly equipped and manned cable ships.
n the conflicts OF the future the cable
nd cable ship are destined 10 play a
art hardly secondary 10 that OF the
rmy and navy IL may be taken as an
Nlom In future wars between nations !
With outlying possessions that a cable !
var will go on side by side with the |
military operations, and that nation |
which has failed % provide Itself with |
ables and cable laying and cutting !
ppliances viii De worsted"