Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-28
FOR A NEUTRAL CANAL.

The current number Of the Engineer
ing News considers at length the pro-
posed naturalization Of the lsthmian
canal. and arrives at the conclusion that
Il would be a serious mistake to spend
money Tor Notifications at the termini
Of the waterway Some Of the reasons
advanced for this position are OF gem
cral interest. They corroborate the
view that a strong fleet is as essential
for the coast defense as forts.
II, for instance great European
power were to declare war against the
United states, the hostile fleet would
first endeavor to destroy our navy,
Only when that had been accomplished
would II be possible 70 blockade the
seaports. or undertake other military
movements. Hostile ships would not
sweep the coast and shell hotels and
bathing resorts, for the simple sea-
son that 1t would cost more to do so
than the damage would amount TO. and
also because It is contrary to the rules
Of civilized warfare to destroy towns
not fortified
The present experience Of Great Brit
ain Is considered a revelation rs to how
difficult It would be for any European
power TO undertake a hostile expedition
against the United States. In case we
have anything like the naval strength
we ought TO have. England in this war
against two small republics, notwith-
standing her wonderful naval equip
ment, has been compelled 10 charter
additional transports from the mer-
chant marine TO the number Of PA, rep
resenting a total Of over a million tons.
what transports would be needed, were
an expedition against this country con-
templated2 And could any power pro-
tect such a fieeet OF transports against
the cruisers Of the country TO be at
tackled? The entire British navy would
be needed for the protection OF the
transports on their way across the At
lantlc. 1t would not be possible to
land any such expedition here until
the navy OF the United states had been
destroyed
on these presentations It follows that
the eventual canal would not tempt any
European power to pass through there
in an attempt to reach our Pacific coast.
As the Engineering News argues:
ANY hostile fleet which comes over
here win have for It's business the at
tack and destruction OF the United
States forces on the seas, and II WIZ
moi seriously undertake anything else,
until that Is accomplished. II II Is de-
feated In this attempt the Nicaragua
canal will DO Il no good. II II sue
ceeds, II viii not undertake a voyage
of one 60 three thousand miles 20 our
Pacific coast, but win Immediately
proceed 10 blockade some OF the most
important Atlantic seaports as the best
means OF bringing us to terms. II II
follows this move by a military inva-
sion (which Il would be most unlikely
10 dor Il will conduct Il from some
point on the Atlantic coast and would
never dream OF going round TO the
Pacific. two or three thousand miles
farther from its home base
In other words. no hostile feet would
seek 10 attack our coasts but would
aim at the destruction OF our fleet, and
for that purpose the canal would not
be Of any assistance, But II VIII aid
the United States whenever che con-
centration Of our forces IL desired The
enemy willNffect his concentrations at
some point so far distant that the can
al would be OF no use TO him, and even
II It would be a convenience for some
OF his minor moves, passage through Il
would involve too many risks TO make
Il worth attempting.
These, briefly stated. are the views Of
the Journal quoted, expressed In reply
to the demand that the United states
build the canal, take charge Of Il, and
fortify Il against pll the world. There
seems to be no two opinions on the
proposition that this country should
have the control OF the proposed high
road between the oceans but Il Is be-
lleyed by many that powerful fleet
Is more effective for the exercise OF tina;