The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-01-14
DAYTON FAYORS INCREASE
In the Strength of the United
States Navy.
West Virginia Congressman on the
Naval Committee Gives His Reasons
For Wanting Many More Good War
Ships.

West Virginia Congressman on the
Naval Committee Gives His Reasons
For Wanting Many More Good War
Ships.
Representative Dayton, of West
Virginia, ranking member of the Ma
val Committee, is earnestly advocat
ing an Immediate increase in the
American navy, in accordance With
the views Of President Roosevelt. In
this connection be points out that
in case the United States should be
called upon to stand for the enforce
ment of the Monroe doctrine against
a hostile foreign nation, England
could at best remain neutIal.
There is not single other Eu.
ropean ration he said, (which has
c immunity OF interests with the
United State so far as the Monroe
doctrine goes. while on the other
hand that doctrine may be said to
he inimical to the interests of the
whole of continental Europe. The
ultimate strength OF our navy then
should be predIcated on this view OF
the case
s'Then there is the ever recurring
assertion and belief on the part OF
both naval and army officers and
public men that somehow, some.
where and some time we are going
to get into trouble with Germany.
For this reason the strength OF the
German navy IS always held up az
the objective point of the American
navy. The natives of Germany and
the United States are at this time
about equal in strength. However,
Germany has perhaps, with the same
thing in view, arranged tor the doub
ling OF her naval force in the next
ten years. 1t goes without saying
that she will be unable to do this if
for no other reason, simply on &C
count OF the lack of construction fa-
butshe will build as rapid
/ as possible The United States
possesses one advantage in an, ma
val fight we may be called upon to
in. That is, we will be on
the defensive. A war between the
United States and any European
power means that that power would
have to be at least one third strong
err in order to be equally as strong
rs the United States navy when her
ships we're so far away from the base
Of supplies. The effect upon her
men would also be to lessen their
lighting efficiency in contest 40 far
away from home and adjacent to
hostile shore Right here comes the
absolute necessity of the maintenance
Of the Monroe doctrine in Dis coun-
Try. Great Britain alone has such
A basis of supply, but the United
States has infinl tely less to fear from
England than any other country.
Our possession of the Philip
pines, Hawaii and Porto Rico means
hat we have got TO defend them
fhis defense means necessarily ma
val defense and each defense also
means a naval fleet. Besides this,
he construction OF an Isthmian ca
nal is undoubtedly assured in the
,ear future. This waterway will
present two vulnerable points of at
,ack-entrances-and two naval
ieets would be required to defend it
n case OF hostilities.
"Ihe only argument presented for
ielay is the increased cost. This
argument, however, has two sides;
here is not nail, bolt. spar or
piece of a NOR plate which goes into
he construction of one of our bat
,leships which is not made in this
and the increased cost,
which it is estimated will amount
rom 20 to 25 per cent, will also go
% the American workingman in some
orm or other.
THE statement that the ship
1ards of the country are all too
crowded with work to take on extra
riders has been absolutely discred
ted. AS to the manufacture of ar
nor plates, tie output for many
months has been considerab. Y in ex-
;ess of the contract, and this could
De increased according to reliable