The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01
The Hero Of the Merrimac Delivers IN
InterestInE Lecture ON sour
Nation aud Our Navy"
IN Y. M. C. A. LECTURE COURSE
THE SPEAKER INTRODUCED TO THE
AUDIENCE BY JOHN W. KERN.
History and Achievements of the
American Navy Traced-It Has
Won Confidence OF People.

I. United States navy. addressed an audience
\ Of perhaps twenty-five hundred people at
TomIinson Hall last night under the aus
pices Of the \. NJ G. A. star lecture course.
Captain Hobson's topic was "Our Nation
and It's Navy" He was introduced by
! John W. Kern in an appropriate talk IN
which Mr.. Kern referred TO the Spanish
American war and particularly TO Captain
Hobson's thrilling experience in the bay
at Santiago.
In the course of his lecture Captain Hob
! son said: Most Americans are familiar
with the glorious achievements OF our army
Ca land. but few ever think of the achiev-
ments OF the navy. The navy is even a
little neglected in our histories and litera-
ture- Almost every schooIboy can tell of
the battles and victories of the revolution,
yet how many men, how many of you,
know that during the war the little Ameri-
can navy in it's very infancy captured more
than eight hundred British vessels? How
many Americans know that the French war
OF 1928 was quickly cut short by the sharp,
efficient action OF our young navy? How
many Americans are acquainted with that
glorious page Of our naval history which
tells OF the stamping out of Algerian
piracy in the Mediterranean? How many
Americans remember that the navy ended
the war of 1S12 before the battle of New
Orleans was fought?'
NAVY IN CIVIL WAR.
In speaking Of the part played by the
navy in the civil war Captain Hobson re-
marked that three things were necessary
TO conquer the South: First, an efficient
blockade OF it's ports; second, to cut the
South In twain by holding the Mississippi
river: and third to capture its capital.
Richmond. Two Of these things fell to the
lot of the navy and history tells how thor
oUShIy the work was done.
How many Americans" said Captain
Hobson, in telling OF the work of the navy
in the Spanish-American war, appreciate
the fact that there will never again be
15O.coo foreign troops at our doors as in this
last war and that Americas wars in the
future will altogether be on the sea: illus
trating as nothing else can what an i'm
portant role the navy played III the recent
The United States has recently become
the greatest exporting nation Of the earth.
Its vast property. borne on the high seas.
when the United States herself is at war,
but also when foreign countries are at war,
and as Oelligerents are tempted to invade
our rights as a neutral Port mines and
tOrpedoes are valuable for the defense OF
a country, but they have never been known
To permanently check a determined COM
Inander or a strong, attacking heet. The
only adequate protection for the billions of
dollars worth OF vulnerable property in this
Captain Hobson called attention 10 the
rapid rise OF the United States as a pro-
Queer for the worlds markets. He de-
clared that no one can estimate TO what
vast proportions the Chinese market alone
can protect it's rights in foreign markets.
rights OF vital importance for the present
and future, by a strong navy. But the ma
terial interests of the country, he con-
timed while ImnOrfanf are nor the OpIy
ones 10 consider. BY the results of the last
war the destinies Of 100000 of the yellow
race fell into our hands. Among the most
solemn obligations We have, he said, is the
promise to protect these wards against ag-
g~ression from foreign powers. an obliga-
ton that must precede all other obliga-
tions. To advance our material interests
and keep our sworn word with the world a
navy of adequate size is necessary.
WORLDS GREAT b
Captain Hobson said: Il am not speak
ing in exaggeration when 1 say that Amer
lea may become the worlds great arbiter
for peace and progress. L believe it is not
a mere chance but a guiding hand of Prov
idence that led America TO the Orient for
the redemption OF the 100000 who sat in
darkness in the islands of the sea. 1 be-
lieve that America of to-day and OF the
future has a matchless destiny to play on
the earth, one to appeal to the heart and
conscience as well as the mind of the Nation
rs a land of hberality ii has a role in the
future greater than the majestic role that is
being played by the Chinese empire. 1t
has duties toward the rest of the world
which II must perform. The United States
IS essentially the only great power in a
position To guard Chinese political integrity.
1t alone can prevent the Chinese empire
from being divided. China must be opened
up and viii be opened up Captain Hob
son declared. but the process will be sim
liar 10 that followed in Japan rather than
a large role in Africa and the greater pity
for poor Africa. II the United States had
been an African power l do not believe
there ever would have been the lamentable
picture OF a great power, the most liberal
OF Europe, engaged in the humiiating task
OF crushing a heroic band of rural people
struggling for self-government. 1t is only
with a great navy that the United States
can work out its heroic destiny in the flu
ture. prevent the partition of the Chinese
empire. be an arbiter for peace and prog
ress. and spread the spirit Of liberty.
1T is not fanciful." he said. Ito conceive
time when the great Slavic wave. in
cOmparably greater than any of the human
tidal waves that have overrun Europe in
lea may yet save Europe and Africa
a well and a large part of Asia from
the conquest OF the Siav-'
COASTwISE PROPERTY.
Captain Hobson asserted that the instru-
ment. and the only instrument for protect
FMS our coast line and the vast accumula-
ton OF coastwise property; for protecting
WAA NNNAh~htA IL lAtNtA ~ . AUA AiAoAiAAAllllls
our vital interests in foreign markets: for
protecting the island population committed
10 oir charge; for maintaining the sacred
principles OF our fathers and forefathers,
and Tor fulfilling responsibilities TO the
world that are inalienable from the estate
OF greatness and happiness for which Prov
idence has called us. is the navy. with us,
national policy can have no other trend
National interests and national duty cal
TO Us more strongly than any other nation
Great Britain not excepted. 10 build up aid
maintain q great naval force. The speaker
continued:
our immediate naval requirements are
that We should maintain a fleet in the
North Atlantic capable OF resisting any
feet that could be sent by any power
- against our Atlantic and gulf coast line
1d our possessions i'm the West Indies
ar we should maintain In the far East a
eet equal TO the ASiatic squadron of any
European nation, and that simultaneously
with maintaining these fleets we should b.
able 10 dispatch To- any port in South Amer
fca q neet eQual in strength 10 any one that
could be dispatched there by any European
nation.
"When we realize that the great naval
p0Wers are about a. close 90 South America
a we are and have fortified bases in the
far East and welI-forttned bases on this
SIDE OF the Atlantic, and that Great Britain
has impresnsbie bases both on the Pacific