The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-28
Senator Elkins Advocates Great
Expansion of the Ameri-
ii Navy.
CITES GERMANY'S STRENGTH.
"New Policy Of Territorial Expan-
sion Carries Possibility o.
War With Any of the
European Powers.
~EEpTELLc

fsi-f Bill NIf.OiAL.
Washington. Lee. five should bv:,d
fifty more batueships before pairing down
the naval aprropriati!ns,' said Senator FL
kins to-day while discussing the proposed
expansion f the navy in connection with
the Venezuelan question.
We should make liberal provision for
more new battlesiips AT the present s,s-
sion, anc. If / understand the sentiment
among the members Ok the Senate. We are
gong to set a substantial increase.
l do not wish u pose a. an alar.nist,'
continued Senator E!kiu5. nor 60 l pre-
tend to be FAMILIAR with ali the diplomatic
ana court iEuiguos OF Europe. As Il pa
teal business m-n. however, 1 know that
Germany is Il buiG. aggressive and progress
sive nation. Germany Le!.eves III expansion
vi territory, as well as ErJad -ning her COM
merce, a..u he las built u arg navy ana
TnaIntaius a IaIse SJanu-ng army to !ouk
alter nvr IntUIeSss ia al paris q tAe Wuf-u.
Germany is STRIVING 10 extend her COM
merce in every direction, and her entrr-
prise, while il may be commendahIe, Is
bound TO clash with the United states ami
other nations who compete with her Tor the
worlds commerce.
FIGHTING NATION.
Germany mas d Big army and "A big navy,
and IL is u great TEMPTATION Tor ne: 90 use
one or Dotn whenever sne thinks her rights
are being affected or restrdiLed. Germany
is a tgn,;l5 nation. as mel record shows.
anu she is always prepared Tor any emer-
gency Inat may arise.
New, II ~ Id.e for us TO close our eyes
to the pOss. oiiity that We may, sooner or
later, become involved in a war with one
OF the great Powers of Europe as the result
o. cur new policy OF territorial expansions.
We might as well look the situation square
Ia, a., go. Y,aa and Ia raIars IN nafnnn
our interests and assert our rights in all
parts OF the world.
Il am a man OF peace, and hope We may
not live 10 see the day when We VIII he
come involved in a war with either DER
many, England or any of the nations with
which we now enjoy friendly relations. 1t
is but natural, however, that our European
friends enyy the commercial and business
prosperity we are now enjoying.
Il am an advocate Of arbitrator, rather
than an agitator OF strife. but when great
business interests are involved. human ma
ture and commercial rivalry often prompt
men to resort to force or commit rash acts
to carry forward their aims and their
policies.
PREPARE FOR WAR.
81 am not only in favor of making pro-
visions for several additional battleships
at the present session, but / am also in favor
OF making an appropriation for starting
up work in every arsenal and gun factory
in this country. What we need in addition
to our fighting ships is a new supply of
small arms for the soldiers.
Il know this kind of talk may sound like
that which might be expected from a
acknowledgements or an alarmist, but / hon
estly and sincerely believe that the time has
arrived for US to get ready for war and
keep our army and navy up to the highest
state of efficiency, 50 that in an emergency
we would be prepared to cope with any Of
the great wal Powers of Europe.
When : was Secretary of War did ev-
erything in my power 10 strengthen our
standing army and build up our militia. At
tina. time l urged the manufacture OF the
most improved type of small arms for our
troops and the military, but the war with
Spain came on unexpectedly and found our
troops with obs1.ste guns in their hands,
while a weaker nation was better equipped
with modern arms and ammunition,
II hope We will realize hat we are ant
to be called upon at almost any moment to
protect our business interests. and the
saoner we sst ready the better"