The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-04

ton In their own way.
Why We Need The work of upbuildng the navy
Larger Navy. must be steadily continued No
point of policy foreign
domestic, is important than this to the honor
and material welfare. and above all to the peace, Of
nation in the future. Whether we desire It not,
must henceforth recognize that have interna-
uonal duties less than international rights Even
If flag were hauled down In the Philippines and
Porto Rico even if we decided not to build the 18TH
mian canal should need thoroughly trained
navy of adequate size else be prepared definitely
and for all time to abandon the idea that nation
is among those whose go down the in
ships. Unless commerce is always to be carried in
foreign bottoms. must have craft to protect It,
Inasmuch, however. the American people have
thought of abandoning the path upon which they
have entered, and especially in view of the fact that
the building of the stlmian canal is fast becoming
of the matters which the whole people united
in demanding. it is imperative that navy should
he put and kept in the highest state Of efficiency. and
should be made to answer to our growing needs. So
far from being in any way provocation to war.
adequate highly trained navy is the guaranty
against war the cheapest and most effective peace
insurance. The Of building and maintaining such
navy represents the very lightest premium for In
surfing peace which this nation possibly pay
Probably no other great nation in the world is
anxious for peace There Is not single
civilized power which has anything whatever to fear
from aggressiveness part. All want is
peace: and toward this end we wish to be able to
the respect for rights from others
which we are eager and anxious to extend to their
rights i'll return. to insure fair treatment to
nerciay, and to guarantee the safety of the Ameri-
people
Our people intend abide by the Monroe doctrine
and to insist upon it the means OF
ing the peace Of the Western hemisphere. The navy
offers the only of making insistence
upon the Monroe doctrine anything but subject Of
hersion to whatever nation chooses to disregard it,
We desire the peace which comes of right to the
just man armed: not the peace granted on terms OF
weakIins.
1t is not possible to improvise navy after
breaks out The ships must be built and the men
trained long in advance. Some auxiliary vessels
be turned into makeshfts which will do in default OF
any better for the minor work. and proportion of
raw men can be mixed with the highly trained their
shortcomings being made good by the skill of their
fellows; but the efficient fighting force OF the
when pted against equal opponent will be found
almost exclusively in the warshps that have been
regularly built and in the officers and who
through years of faithful performance of duty
have been trained to handle their formidable hut
plex and delicate weapons with the highest efficiency.
In the late war with Spain the ships that dealt the
decisive blows at Manila and Santiago had been
launched from two to fourteen years and they We're
able to do they did because the men in the coming
towers. the gun turrets. and the engine rooms had
through long years of practice III sea learned how to
do their duty.
Our present navy begun in lss.. AT that period
navy consisted of collection of antquated
wooden ships already almost out of place against
modern vessels as the galleys of Alcbiades and
Hamicar- r-certainy the ships Of Tromp and Blake
modern man-of-war Under the wise legislation of the
congress and the successful administration of a sue
patriotic secretaries Of the navy, belonging
10 both political parties the work OF upbuding the
and ships equal to any in the world
of their kind were continually added and what was
important, these ships were exercised Mt
singly and in snuadrons until the men aboard
them able to the best possible service out OF
them. The result in the short war with
Spain which decided with such rapldity because
of the infinitely greater preparedness of our navy
than of the Spanish navy
While awarding the fullest honor to the men who
actually commanded and manned the ships which de-
stroyed the Spanish forces in the Philippines and
in Cuba. must not forget that an equal need OF
praise belongs those without whom neither blow
could have been struck The consressmen who voted
years in advance the money to lay down the ships.
build the guns to buy the armor-plate; the de-
partment officials and the business men and wage
workers who furnished what the congress had a''-
thor2ed: the secretaries of the navy who asked for
and expended the appropriations: and finally the off,
who, in fair weather and foul actual sea SER
vice, trained and disciplined the crews of the ships
when there no war in sight-all are entitled TO
full snare in the glory of Manila and Santiago and
the respect accorded by every true American to those
who wrought such signal triumph for our country.
II forethought and preparation which secured us
the overwhelming triumph of lS9s II we fail to show
forethought and preparation now there may come a
time when disaster will beall us instead of triumph:
and should this time come. the fault Will rest Pri-
marily, upon those whom the accident or events
puts in supreme command at the moment but upon
those who have failed to prepare In advance.
There should be cessation In the work OF COM
peting our navy So far ingenuity has been wholly
unable tn devise substitute for the great war craft
whose lnimmering guns beat out the mastery OF the
high seas II unsafe and unwise not to provide this
wear for several additional battle ships and heavy
rmored cruisers. with auxiliary and lighter craft in
proportlon, for the exact numbers and character
refer you report of the secretary of the
Bnt there Is something need even than addi-
tiona ships and this is additional officers and
To provide battle shps and cruisers and then lay them
IN with the expectation of leaving them unnamed
until they needed In actual war; would be
than folly; 1t would be IA crime against the nation,
To send any warshp against competent enemy
unless those aboard II have been trained by years of
actual service including incessan gunnery prac-
lice, would be TO invite not mere disaster but tho
bitterest shame and humiliation Four thousand addi-
onal and thousand additional marines
should be provided; and an increase In the officers
should be provided by making large addition to tho
classes at Annapolis. There is small matter which
should be mentioned In connection with Annapolis.
The pretentous and unmeaning title OF naval cadet
should be abolished the title of 'midshpman." full
of historic association. should be restored.
Even in time of peace warshp should be used
until it wears out for only It be kept mt to
To nv he Ofic m