Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-19
TWO NAvIEs.

don, Commander Richardson Clover, IN
sleaklng Of the strength Of the British
navy, takes O View somewhat different
from some other experts on that sub
Jet He believes that Great Britain
today IS equal to any thrse OF the
European powers, aud that 1t never
was In better condition than It is now.
Great Britain has $4,000 men afoat,
well trained and disciplined, Her ma
val reserve Is not equal in numbers
or drill to the French, but the men
serving VIII the flag are superior and
constitute the real strength of her per-
sonnet Additions are constantly be-
Ing made to this lighting force
Concerning the Channel feet he
states that It Is magnificent, and that
rumors about its deterioration are
without foundation, Such rumors gem
orally originate in England. They are
put in circulation by the naval league,
an organization for the upbuildlng Of
the British navy, with branches
throughout the British islands, and in
fact the admiralty viii often refuse
to officially deny statements Of report
ed defects IN the British navy, and
rather encourages feeling Of deprecla-
ton Of Its strength than magnihes Il.
Whenever On accident happens, or
ship ls lost the league makes the most
Of u and sounds warning Of the fate
that VIII oyertake England il her sea
power Is not Kept at the top notch Of
efficiency. These tactics have the de-
sired effect They please the contn-
entail powers that are but too willing
to believe that the naval force Of their
great riYal IS less formidable than il
appears to be, and serve their purpose
at home, to draw out large approprla-
tons by which the navy is constantly
iept up to the standard
Commander Clover also has a word
TO sag about the American navy, He
does not believe that It is as superior
as some fancy It to be He says, for
instance
We would stand no show at all In a
conflict with most of the European ma
tons, and we ought to get over the abb
surd notion that we have in regard to
our inyulnerabilily The English de-
precate ther prowess while we exag-
gerate our own At the same time we
do not fool the foreigners, who know
us for just what we are"
He points out that In naval strength
we rank fifth or fourth, according TO
the point OF view. But Germany, he
says, has more extensive program
Of Increase than the United states,
and viii probably lead US In few
years at her present rate Of building
unless liberal appropriations are made
for naval development
In brief, he thinks the British prac.
tice of depreciatlng the navy, is prefer
able 70 ours. Of exaggeratlng It's
strength. But that depends on cir.
cumstances It is conceivable that
continental powers believing in the re-.
ports Of the status Of Great Britain's
navy may feel embodened to provoke
a conflict. Spain went to war with
The United States believing that our
ships were phanioms and our armies
an undlsciplined rabble. Had that
country known the truth there would
nave been no war 1t may be safer
Tor The peace Of the world to let the
exact truth be known as to the hghtIng
ability Of the nations that play the
chief parts of Its history.
We suspect the naval attacbe in
Spe2Elag about our own navy. Is mere
" 'ryias to stimulate desire for larg-
e appropriations Tor ships and equip
m9nt Our vessels are modern, and
our officers and men are as Efficient
as eny IL the world Il may be true
'aa' some of the Spanish ships were old
'ups' badly manned and handled. But
some OF them were not Of that charac-
YER And there was no lack Of yalor
on the Spanish side. Yet spain's
seuaafohs were completely wiped OF,
from The face Of the ocean. That Is
a lasting testimony 10 the aa,o,.,.y =,