The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-08
R. ?. H()BS|M AND
HIS BIG SCHEME
Retired Naval Hero Writes of
His Purpose.
BILLION DOLLARS NAVY
10 Make United States All
Powerful.

Give me N-Soo,oo0.eoo and III make the
United States the greatest naval power
in the world. Her navy shah transcend
all other navies. Every mile of seacoast
shall be guarded. and East. West. North
and South the United States shan hold
the reins OF the seas
So says Captain Richmond Pearson
Hobson, the man who sunk the Merri-
mac at the mouth OF Santiago Bay under
Of the worlds foremost experts in naval
construction
Captain Hobson would take thirteen
years To furnish ships of the greatest
power TO outmetsl and Outright those OF
England. Germany. Russia or any other
country. says the New York World
1t is his theory that we are commit
ted irrevocably to the Monroe doctrine,
and that to protect 1; we should be able
TO send TO South America as large feet
as Europe could possibly gather on those
southern shores
He believes that when We once surpass
the strength OF the European nsvies We
will never again lose our prestige.
of their standing armies is too great a
burden for them to bear and they have
no surplus 10 expend upon their navies as
America has.
Capt. Hobson has recently resigned from
the navy and is therefore free 10 express
his convictions without reserve.
BY RICHMOND PEARSON HoBSON.
The ships We now have. particularly
those recently constructed, are excellent.
and l believe the officers and men have
high degree of personal efficiency. But
in the number of ships and in strength
of personnel our navy is altogether made
uate.
! would recommend the immediate au-
thorization Of an increase of SO per cent.
in the numbers of officers and enlisted
men and the immediate appropriation by
Congress for large number Of ships.
believe that Si50.0000oo should be
spent on the new navy within the next
three or four years. would carry out
plan something like this:
Appropriate sum each year sufficient
to build at least eight battle-ships- Next
year the appropriation should be for ten
ships and for 1866 a dozen. and so on.
starting with s4O.co00oo this year. go. oo0.-
Oc0 next year. 900. Ooo the following year,
ard so on.
The increase OF $Ioeoo. ooo year would
represent the cost Of two battle-shps !
would continue this programme Of ap-
propriations until We should achieve the
naval supremacy of the world which
would be. In my opinion. about 1916. This
would be the work OF thirteen years. and
the total cost would be about $40" .oCo.
The plan would not involve military or
ganization among the people such as ex-
lists in Germany or other European ma
tions
The divisions Of our navy are so remote
from the people. and are in such small
bodies that their presence. excepting In
making demonstrations. attracts little at
tention from our own people. ] cannot see
the slightest tendency in naval power
toward rnilitarism. The navy is indeed the
natural weapon Of industrialism.
And, what is more the fulhlimert Of
noble service-service 10 the entire world
such as saving China and other weak
and helpless peoples while making them
better markets and customers would be
wholesome activity for our nations
thought 20 offset certain tendencies OF
industriansm toward producing CONNER
cialism and materialism.
Right here let me say that deny the
truth Of the statement sometimes mae<
even BY this nation. that this Is ma
ton OF money-makers
We are the only nation Of idealists IN
the world No other nation in history has
10 such ar extent made money second
airy consideration IN dealing with other
peoples. Think OF our generosity IN con
Guiding the war with Spain. IN dealing
with the Chirese when our citizens de-
rnanded indemnity. and the other case
when national honor wsE put before
greed. As the miEllt'est world power.
with the greatest world interest. ard b.
ing the exponent % individusilsm. We
should have q voice in the counseis %
the nations greater than tina; ~ nations
OF .rnflitarfsrn. and Therefore 80 rnust bold
the naval supremacy ~ The world
The reason ] suggest a sliding scaie n
the building q new navy s. - permit /
the shipyards TO respond and expand -
;Hat the work may b economically done [
and continue = natural Development.
7 propose essentially ships u the great +
cS, power. with adequate suzlliarY vessels (
the particular kinds % - left each year 4
WITH ia Navy Department
7 have been y = ;ru~ IN apostle ~ 4
universal peace. bvi I car sss nofhir- 4
Ircongfrrenf zifh this - fhe adVncacT = .
. great navy. The plan = eefrasshie 5ofh 4
N The grounds = business inieresss a.
ds;isr-Suefress Interest,"
,e~aY-. 80 have more ces-f~i-e properly
ID --o-erty 81 LAKE, al rfvers. vu.reT-
-. - -s.e~ ffs- al Turosse oernhsres5
M we have rrors SstsT hsorrs fnah 80
ruroue co--tfsed md no' oniT ms. ny
xs shsr 500 have sre>t iHisferts iH