Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1903-12-07

of our naval power, the number of our
ships of each class, their condition. and
the promptitude with which we may
bring them into service, and will pay
due consideration to that argument"
/ heartily congratulate the congress
upon the steady progress in building up
the American navy. We can not af-
ford a let-up in this great work. To
stand still means to go back. There
should be no cessation in adding to the
effective units of the fighting strength
of the fleet Meanwhile the navy de-
partment and the officers of the navy
are doing we'll their part by providing
constant service at sea under condi-
tions akin to those of actual warfare.
Our officers and enlisted men are learn
ing to handle the battle ships, cruis-
ers, and torpedo boats with high eff
ficiency in fleet and squadron forma-
tions, and the standard of markes-
manship is being steadily raised
The best work ashore is Indispensable,
but the highest duty of a naval officer
is to exercise command at sea.
lie VI a IdNdl vase
in the Philippines ought not to be
longer postponed. Such a base is de-
sirable in time of peace: in time of
war 1t would be Indispensable, and its
lack would be ruinous. Without it our
fleet would be helpless. Our naval ex-
perts are agreed that Subig Bay is the
proper place for the purpose. The
national interests require that the
work of fertilization and development
Of a naval station at Subig Bay be
begun at an early date; for under the
best conditions it is work which will
consume much time.
1t is eminently desirable. however,
that there should be provided a naval
general staff on lines similar to those
of the general staff lately created for
the army Within the navy depart
ment itself the needs of the service
which the duties of a general staff
are partially performed; for the bureau
of navigation has under it's direction
the war college. the office of naval
and the board of inspec-
ton, and has been in close touch with
the general board of the navy But
though under the excellent officers at
their head. these boards and bureaus
do good work. they have not the au-
thority of a general staff and have not
sufficient scope to insure proper read
mess for emergencies. We need the
establishment by law of a body of
trained officers, who shall exercise
systematic control of the military af-
fairs of the navy, and be authorized adj
visers of the secretary concerning it.
Isthn,ian Canal
BY the act of June %, 1902, the con-
gress authorized the president to enter
into treaty with Colombia for the
building of the canal across the 18TH
mus of Panama; it being provided that
in the event of failure to secure such
treaty after the lapse of a reasonable
time, recourse should be had to build
Ing a canal through Nicaragua. 1t
has not been necessary to consider
this alternative, as am enabled to lay
before the senate a treaty providing
LOI pulluliB VI lHC dSIoSc LLC
of Panama. This was the
route which commended itself to the
deliberate Judgment of the congress,
and we can now acquire by treaty the
right to construct the canal over this
route. The question now, therefore, is
not by which route the is,hmian canal
shall be built, for that question has
been definitely and irrevocably decided.
The question is simply whether or not
we shall have an isthmian canal.
When the congress directed that we
should take the Panama route under
treaty with Colombia, the essence of
the condition, of course, referred not
to the government which controlled
that route, but to the route itself; to
the territory across which the route
ay, not to the name which for the mo-
nent the territory bore on the map.
The purpose of the law was to author
re the president to make a treaty with
the power in actual control of the
Isthmus of Panama. This purpose has
been fulfilled.
Review Of Relations Of United States
Government to Matter Of Transit
Across isthmus of Panama
In the year 1916 this government en-
cred into treaty with New Granada,
he predecessor upon the isthmus of
he republic of Colombia and of the
present republic of Panama, by which
reaty 1t was provided that the govern
nent and citizens of the United States
should always have free and open right
# way or transit across the Isthmus
# Panama by any modes of commune
alton that might be constructed. while |
n return our government guaranteed
he perfect neutrality of the above |
mentioned isthmus with the view that |
he free transit from the one to the !
'ther sea might not be interrupted or
The treaty vested in the |
United States a substantial property |
light carved out of the rights of SOW
reignty and property which New |
Granada then had and possessed over |
he said territory. The name of New |
a.