Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-01-07
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
&hina

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 he points out that
in case the United States should be
called upon to stand for the enforce
ment of the Monroe doctrine against
hostile foreign nation, Eng land
could at best remain neutIal
"There is not single other Eu
ropean ration he said, (which has
community of interests with the
United States so far as the Monroe
doctrine goes. while on the other
hand that doctrine may be said to
be inimical to the interests of the
whole of continental Europe The
ultimate strength OF our navy then
should be predlcated on this view of
the Case.
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 as
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 for 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 ia
cilities, hut she will build as rapid
l. as possible. The United States
possesses one advantage IN an ma
val fight we may be called upon to
participate 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
er in order to be equally as strong
as the United States navy when her
ships were 80 far away from the base
OF supplies. The effect upon her
men would also he to lessen their
fighting efficiency in contest so tar
away from home and adjacent to a
hostile shore. Right here comes The
absolute necessity of the maintenance
of the Monroe doctrine in this coun
try. Great Britain alone has such
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
that we have got TO defend them.
This defense means necessarily ma
val defense and each defense also
means a naval fleet. Besides this,
the construction of an Isthmian ca
nal is undoubtedly assured in the
near future. This waterway will
present two vulnerable points of at
northumberland two naval
fleets would be required to defend it
in case of hostilities.
"1he only argument presented for
delay is the increased cost. This
argument, however, has two sides;
there is not nail, bolt. spar or
piece of amor plate which goes into
the construction of one of our bat
tleships which is not made in this
country, and the increased cost,
which it is estimated will amount
from 90 to 25 per cent, will also go
to the American workingman in some
torn or other.
The statement that the ship
yards of the country are all 90
crowded with work to take on extra
orders has been absolutely discred
tied. AS to the manufacture of ar
NOR plates, tie output for many
months has been considerably in ex-
cess of the contract, and this could
be increased according to reliable
authority"