The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-28

Germany's Progress Should Stimulate
This C0untry's Efforts.


New York Herald.
Our special cable dispatch from Berlin
announcing the Reichstag's decision TO pro-
vide for this year greater number of war
ships than had been included In the orig
inal sea budgets is coincident with the news
of the Fort San Carlos bombardment. The
Herald correspondent states that no effort
is made to conceal the jubilation i'm naval
circles over this fresh proof of the German
governments intention to keep its fleet
ahead Of our own: nor is there any doubt.
he declares. that the increase is inspired
mainly by determination 10 make Ger
many's annual contribution of armored
strength superior to that contemplated by
our House of Representatives.
These two new illustrations of the theory
of blood and iron-translated it now is
by the mailed fist OF the war lord-fur-
nish object lessons that may study with
profit. While Germany goes forward under
definite and scientific programme that
makes her each year stronger against as
sault, we content ourselves with supine-
ness that is only one remove from neglect
We sit serene in faith that good luck and
opportunity can take the place of rigorous
plan and that manifest destiny we
euphemize pet fetch, is mightier than the
preparedness that counts.
1t was projected in the German pro-
gramme of this year to include two battle
ships of 1900 tons, one armored cruiser OF
gunboat for Chinese waters and one tor
peGo division. But the uncomfortable
itching of German naval officers, untried
in war and lacking in traditions of achieve
ment, to establish records for themselves
has been so effective that this modest array
has been magnified into six first-class bat
tleships, three armored cruisers, three pro-
tected cruisers and a number of small gun
boats.
This leap forward confirms the impress
sion among the other sea powers that the
battle fleet prescribed by the programme Of
1898 will be completed before 1907. Germany
will then be able to muster. in addition to
her large sQuadrons of armored and pro-
| tected cruisers, thrty-eight ships equipped
for the first fighting line. Nominally few
| of these will be obsolescent under the theo-
retical age limit, but such apparent va
cancies will be more than filled by the re-
| built vessels of the Siegfried and Sachsen
| classes.
In the meantime we have at this moment
built, building or authorized only nineteen
| battleships, with no definite or logical pro-
vision for a further increase. The House
naval committee has, 1t L. true, proposed
the addition of three; but even if an equal
number should be provided next year We
shall be left at the end OF 1907 with only
| twenty-five ready for duty. This disparity
is too great and too dangerous, and Con-
|
| fluctuations which through an established
| programme will in FIVE years give US q
| fighting fleet somewhat on a par with that
/ Of our most troublesome and uneasy rival.
| Had we begun Systematically with the
| Indiana class in 1890 and utilized the facil-
| tiles then and subsequently available, the
| present urgency would be unnecessary. We
| can hesitate no longer. for we have reached
the limits where any further delay or daily
| ing with fortune is most dangerous. We
must begin to build, and We cannot do bet
| ter than to take a leaf out of Germany
| book of wisdom.
| If Congress be prudent it will seek to
/ have by 1907 not less than thirty nine bat
/ tleships ready and authorized, remember
| ing that for the eighteen years between
| 1890 and this date the average annual in
| crease will amount to a trife more thar
| two ships Several methods are open; the
| best, perhaps, is to authorize six battle
| ships at once, six in 1904, four in 1905 and
| two each in 1906 and 1907. The large num-
bers assigned at first will be the quick re-
| Spouse to Germany'S challenge; the smaller
| numbers suggested for the end of the period
| will permit the inclusion of an augmented
| percentage of armored cruisers and specia
| types.
The Herald has no desire to be an alarm
| ist but it must be apparent that the great
| est dangers to our peace, prestige and com
| mercial welfare Turk in the Vaccinations
| aspirations and ambitions if you will-oi
| Germany. We should be able not only &c
| defer but to escape the evils that weakness.
| invites, and to meet threat with threat by
| developing in peace the cheap energies thai
| mako costly war inpOSSible.