Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-09
MEANING OF THATIFLEET
Old Naval Officer Says Secretary
Long is Talking automatically.
Believes that the Experimental" Squad
ron is Really an Emergency Squadron
Destined to Go to China in tho Event of
tho Dissolution of tho Empire.

An OLD naval officer with whom q
Virginian-Pilot reporter talked yester-
day expressed the opinion that Secre-
tary Long was talking automatically
when he gave 1t out for publication
that the mobilization of that 'experi
mental" squadron had no reference
whatever to the precarious situation in
China Everybody knows THAT to speak
systematically is not synonymous to
speaking truthfully. but ait the same
time everybody should know that there
Is time to use diplomacy, even with
Quakers. AS the naval officer express
ed it. naval etiquette won't tolerate
ibbing, unless that frhbing is done TO
deceive the enemy. Perhaps it Is bet
ter to say prospective enemy in this
case.
"A few years ago." said the old Off
Ger. Uncle Sam was in the auitudc of
line sportsman walking about on his
own reserve. with plcnlty of room, and
enjoying the 'scrouging' among them
selves of tine six great powers on the
common reserve-China. Uncle Sam
could afford TO smile, for he held in
one hand the Monroe doctrine, which,
being interpreted. means simply: keep
OF of my reserve" and none of the
powers thought of disobeying the man.
date. Uncle Sam on the other hand
conlforted himself with the reflection
that, safe from disturbance from the
powers, he had no ambition to invite
their hostility by becoming one of the
meddlers in the social d Eastern Ques-
ton. He eschewed Eastern politics as
IreliSiously as he could
Within the last two years the sit
uation has entirely changed. Though
still proclaiming the Monroe doctrine,
the United States has deliberately got
mixed up in the very question she was
trying to avoid. The Selling OF the
Philippine islands made us one OF the
'powers'-one of the nations which
shall be the arbiters of the destiny of
the Celestial empire. The whole course
Of this nation for the past two years
would make IL appear inconsistent If
the United States did not have 4 hand
in the breakup of the Manchu dynasty.
That great wreck OF the greatest ma
ton of the world. numerically, Which
has been predicted since the China
Japanese war. may happen now ut any
time. Tho United States has interests
in China; it cannot fail to impress this
fact upon the six other great nations by
the usual demonstration in crisis like
this-a show of American arms. That 5
what Secretary Long is preparing to
do If occasion demands.
"From a strateS.cll standpoint, the
United States is stronger In the Orient
than any other nation, Russia excepted.
We have about 900 troops in the Phil
ippineS. They are seasoned to the
Eastern climate. and are veteran cam
paigners now. Eight or ten thousand
of these could be easily spared from
the Philippines, provided They were re-
placed by fresh troops from the United
States.
From a naval standpoint we occupy
even n better STRAIT egical position than
Russia. The PHILIPPINES; are at China's
door Russia practically occupies one
province OF China, Manchuria. The
Bear has a foothold there that will be
hard to dispute. But If the United
States holds off, the powers will gobble
up the whole OF China. and once things
are settled again, Secretary Hays
heralded diplomatic triumph" in Sc
curing the open door promise, will not
seem such triumph after all.
The commerce of China with It's $780,
900. 900 of people Is enormous. Motions
have been clamoring for 1t since the
Arabs started their coasting trade there
long before Christ The United States
can get all of its share only by being
on mana ana uenMnulnS consideration
when the old dynasty falls 10 pieces
There's nothing imperiallstic in this
view: 1t doesn't mean expansion even.
except commercial expansion. which is
possible without stretching the borders
of the Republic. We have the Philip
pines yet awhile. and unless we arc a
nntion OF sn!vell'ng idiots. afraid OF on
shadow we will make Use on them in
the apparent approaching crisis.
The Golden Wedding.