The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-06-08
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, d. c., June s, 1905
Admirers of President Roo sevelt
cannot but regret the serious error
which he made in his Decoration
Day speech when he argued that
the victory of Admiral Togo over
his japanese opponents demonstrate
ed the necessity for further enlarge
ment of the American navy. Mr..
Roosevelt's opponents will use his
error to prove their contention that
the President is addicted to loose
reasoning. Perhaps the actual fact
is that he is so much of All enthus.
last that he believes he sees strong
arguments for any cause which he
is interested even where none exist.
XXX
The more that is known OF the
great naval battle of the Corean
straits the more obvious it becomes
that naval efficiency, rather than
what is ordinarily termed naval
strength, is the most potent factor
in naval success. From the start
Russia has possessed a larger navy
than Japan and only the exception
al prowess of the Japanese naval
personnel served to obliterate that
difference. Even when Togo met
Roiestvensky the latter possessed a
considerably larger force than the
japanese commander. Some re-
view of the naval engagements in
the world S history reveals the same
results it has always, or almost al
ways been the smaller but more
efficient force that has won.
#**
1t is entirely probable that even
Russia appreciates by this time the
error she made in building addition
al naval vessels instead of seeking
to increase the efficiency, and es.
pecially the Workmanship, of her
men behind the guns for, as was
the case at Manila and Santiago, it
was "the man behind the gum
who won the battle of the Corean
straits. The actual capture by To-
go of two of Russia S most powerful
battleships also serves to upset the
predictions of naval experts in this
country who, while admitting that
a battleship might be disabled and
sunk, have always contended tha,
these floating fortresses could never
be captured. The fact that Japan
has succeeded in capturing two Of
the Russian battleships will newt.
ably be used with considerable eff
feet in the debates in the next
Congress in opposition to the Presi-
dents insistence that more battle
ships be authorized. Manv members
OF Congress who have for years Civ.
en- careful attention to the efficiency
of the various naval units have con
tested the argument that battleship:
are the all important sea fighting
machines and in the last session o
Congress only the most insisten
urging on the part of the President
secured the authorization of anoth
er of these comparatively untried
floating fortresses. In the past
the conservatives Oh naval con
struction have had only theory witt
which to support their argument
and while this has been almost al
true OF the advocates of the mos
expensive type of vessel, they hav'
always had the aid OF the powerful
lobby maintained by the Stee
Trust which sells to the Govern
ment immense quantities of armo
plate for each ship, at exorbitan
prices. Now, however, that Tog
with considerably fewer battleship
than his opponent has not only an
initiated the latter's fleet but cap
tured some of his battleships a
well, the opponents OF naval ex
travagance will have powerful ar
guments with which to supper
their contentious.
Xxx
Despite the numerous report
sent out from Washington to the ei
feet that President Roosevelt |
seeking to promote and negotiat
terms of peace between Russia an
Japan. the president has taken II
action in this direction. Of course
he may do SO at any time, but h
will not. and cannot do anythin
TO that end, until requested to d
so by one or other OF the belligel