The Minneapolis journal., 1905-09-22
PRESIDENT TO ASK
FOR GREATER NAVY
Growing Interests of the Nation
Demand Increased Protection
on the Seas.
BATTL.ESHIP FLEET OF
4S VESSELS rs SOUGHT
Increase in the Enlisted Force and
Added Number Of Fighting
Ships Needed.
New York Sun Special Service.

Washington, Sept. 22.-President
Roosevelt and the navy department.
have decided to ask for a substantial IN
crease of the navy from congress dur
ing the coming session:
Authority will be sought to build
at lease $4,000 tons, and perhaps larger;
to increase the displacement Of the bat
tleships Michigan and South Carolina,
already appropriated for, to the same
figure, and to construct twelve torpedo
boat destroyers and several auxiliary
craft, such as small gunboats for the
Philippines, torpedo boat and subma-
rines.
Such a program would have been re-
garded as a big thing a few years ago.
It is considered moderate at this time
In official and naval circles for various
reasons. First, because the growth Of
the interests and influence of the
United States; second, because of the
augmentation Of the fleets Of the pow
ers, which may develop into enemies on
account Of a conflict of interests and
the Russo-Japanese war was the i'm
portance of an efficient and adequate
navy.
Dewey for Battleships.
Batleships come first in the eyes of
today that experience has demonstrated
over and over again that they are the
backbone of nation s naval strength.
The admiral and every other naval ex-
pert regard armored cruisers as val
uable only as auxiliaries. Without a
battleship, or with an inferior force of
this type a nation cannot hope to gain
command of the sea unless its enemy
should be hopelessly inefficient.
The three hatt1eshine To ha al for
with the two whose displacement it is
desired to increase, will form class OF
five Of the most magnificent fighting
ships in the world.
Big Battleship Fleet.
These five ships ought to be- com
pleted- BY 1910, by which time tn
United States will have fleet of TWEEN
ty-nine battleships, some of which, how
ever, will have to be classed as second
raters then.
The general board Of the navy ha
not modified its view that the grea
and growing interests Of the Unitet
States need protection from fleet O.
forty eight batt'5ships, The compile
+. ton of the Panama canal will increas
immensely the responsibility whicl
rests upon the navy, and the presiden
believes the navy should be given tn
means wherewith to meet it.
The situation which has develope
in the far east necessitates, in the vie1
Of the president, the maintenance of
strong force Of battleships in Chimes
waters. There are only two battle
ships now in the Asiatic station, an
one OF them must come home for re
pairs. AS soon as possible it is Intend
ed to send out three more battleships
the intention being to impress the CHI
nese with the strength Of the Amer
can government in order that our il
terests may be treated with greater II
spect.
Naval circles are inclined to loo
upon this policy as a strategical mi
take, as four battleships might be Gu
off and destroyed by a superior force.
Other Ships for the Navy.
The United States now has bull
or building twelve armored cruisers an
these are considered sufficient for tn
present.
been considering the needs of the Un
ted States with respect to coast d.
Tense, has decided that at least tw
hundred torpedo boats are required
order to aid the forts to protect tn
harbors- Of the country.
In order to man the ships now in con
mission or under construction, it will /
increase in the enlisted force. A la
permits the enlistment of $4,000 me-
Rear Admiral Converse will ask for a
additional 5000, making the effectiy
strength 10000 men. Because of tt
care with which men are selected fl
the navy, the number now in service
only $1,000.
As an indication of the high stan
ard fixed by the department. for enliste
men, the official figures produced toda
show that fve-eighth Of the men wi
present themselves as candidates for e.
1istment are rejected. During the la
fiscal year 40,200 men applied to tt
recruiting officers, and 25,2OO were d
MED enlistment because Of som physic
dfect or some objection of moral
mental character. It is the effort
the department to man the ships wi
the best type Of Americans that can
gotten.