The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-04-21

intervention ere this In the affairs OF
countries which are in chronic atate
of revolution and where financial re.
pudiation Is not regarded as synony.
moue with commercial dishonor. Tue
mere we concern ourselves with these
countries the greater the political bur-
dens we shall have to bear. ~
In the administration Of these
three inheritarces that are In many
respects Of an international character
There will be need at times of q
strorg navy. The civilization of the
Philippines, the building of the 18TH.
mian canal, and the Strengthening out
Of the hnauGial affairs Of small repub.
lies whose fiscal transactions have
been questionable and intolerable will
each be found fiuancial burden that
will prove q great tax upon our re-
sources and political problem that
will require the highest of diplomatic
talent.
The lessons of the Russo Japanese
war are plain and simple, and should
be to heart by all people. It Is the
concomitant features Of both military
and naval organic .tions that have
been neglected by the Russians. For
the next few years, therefore, it
should he In the sp cal direction Of
developing the auxillarles of naval
sJreng h and not towar augmcntirg
the number OF fighting ships wherein
we should direcS our best energies.
Our naval budget for the next ten
years must be u large one, for IL pos
slble we should provide for a progress
sive increase in actual fighting naval
strength that would be equivalent to
tie net gain Of battleship. Tha
bulk OF the expenditures for iucreas-
ing the eli ;iency Of our navy should,
however, be applied as follows:
"(a) The preparatiurs OF plans for
The Immediate abandopm Mt, at the
81 gnteSt possible financial loss, Of
every distant possession that is likely
TO require feet to defend It, If 1t
should be undersigned that in time of
war we propose to abandon at least
temporarily, certain territorial pos
sessions, neither the morale nor the
credit OF the nation would then be
Impaired by the seizure OF such terri
| tory by an enemy.
| '(D) Improvement of the channels
leading TO all shlpbui!ding plants, ma
val stations aud ma,ilime distribut.
ing ports. These channels should be
Strengthened, broadened and deepened
| for military, as well as for CONNER
cial reasons. The Importance to both
| the merchant marine and naval fleets,
OF ships being able to enter and leave
port at all times with safety, consti-
tutes a very decided element of naval
str. myth.
.(c) The building Of a fleet of large
and fast colliers, SO that In time of
war practically all the coal required
for naval operations distant from our
own shores, would be available for in.
mediate shipment to the place where
| most needed. We should abandon the
policy Of placing any great reliance on
liked coalihg stations, they Will have
to be defended by ships as we'll as by
| fortresses, and will more likely prove
a military detriment than strategic
advantage. by keepirg the coal afoat
we could move this fuel to any tempo
rory base that 1t might be desired to
establish. The destruction between
the base Of operation and coalinp
plant is selfevIdent.
REHABILITATION OF FNAyYYARDs
'(d) The rehabilitation of all navy
yards To condition where it would
De possible, In case of necessity, to
build any type OF warship at any one
or these stations. While do not be.
lleve In undertaking such construc-
tion at navy yards. the several sta.
lions ShNn16 no In o.
carrying on the work in case OF emer-
gency.
~ The enactment into law of a
statute providing that the elect of the
graduates OF the technical institution,
"ho have successfully undertaken a
course OF instruction satisfactory to
the navy department, shall be ap
pointed as acting midshipnen, and
sha'i, after two years OF service at
sea, nave the opportunity OF compel.
Ing With the regular graduates of the
naval academy for commission in the
naval service, thereby providing a re-
| serve O. naval Cfilcers for emergency
purp SIS
20 The establishment of naval
reserve AID the appropriation Of an
amount s0flicient To send all members
or dill8 naval reserve to sea in naval
vessels for at least one month OF every
year, ami while performing this ser.
vice to receive the same pay and
emclument as officers and men Of cor
resoonding rank and grade In the
navy.
RESTORATION OF MERCHANT MARINE
"() The restora lon OF our mer
chant marine. IL would bs easier to
"ritc several thousand words In ad-
vocacY OF subsid,Z'ng our merchant
marine than TO IL, tempt 80 show In a
brief paragraph the ut cessity Of ex
| tending such help have no hesita
1ion IN asserting that In view OF our
existing relative naval strength IL
would suoServe military, Commercial
and national interos's to stop build
ing battle SHIPS and devote all or n
portion Of the money thus saved to
placiag upon the ocean merchant
marine that would help US to secure a
greater trade Of the world, and which,
in case OF war, would prove military
auxiliary only one less remove In irn.
portance than the battle ship itself.
'(n) The recognition Of the fact
that the modern navy is an engineer
irg one, and that the training OF both
Ulcers and men should be more
technical In character. The time
spent by apprentices and landsmen on
sailing vessels Is practically wasted.
| Nf