Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-02-26
WANTS GREAT NAVY.
tiobson Thinks America Should
Have no Superior on Sea.
LETTERS TO OFFICERS HERR

Than $50 900 Per Year For New
Shirs-Outlirc Of His Plan.
Richmond Pearson flubson, fUrn,c:,
y Ct the United States navy and hero
" TIC Merrimac incident at Santiago
during the Spanish war is
taking active interest in the growth
aNl development, Of the Emitted States
navy This fact is Of especial interest
70 the people OF Ncwpor, News. as Mr.
liobsun was stationed ct the shipyard
ll":" dnrin. the construction OF the
hattlcships Ncarsar:c an; Kentucky
and has a host Of warm friends here
As assistant tn Captain J. J. Wood
ward. tien naval constructor at lie
Newport News ShipDuilding plant Mr..
!l"bSnn became involved in a cortro-
Eersy with lis superior officer concern
ing work on the twc above named war
ships, Which! resulted in a victory for
nim. Soon afterwards he was trans
Fcred from this station
lie then wont abroad with 4 party
nt naval cadets. Who were taking
pest graduate course in naval con
str',ct'on. In he summer If 1895. dur
ing the Spanish-Amnrican war. Ii III
tenant Hobson. With a party OF volun-
'cr.S blew up the Old ship Merrimac
in the entrances To Santiago ha:'bor in
an attempt to bottle tho Spanish fleet
under Admiral Cevera. The brave
mon escaped from The ship after she
was sunk, but were taken prisoners
ny the Spaniards and remained in
for Spanish prisoners.
\ little over a year ago Lieutenant
Hobson resigned the navy on account
Of his falling eye sight. Ever since
that time he has been cndcavoring to
arouse public interest in the idea of
making tho American nav. the largest
in All the wor!,l.
Naval officers in this city have re-
erenca TO the increase of the Ameri-
can navy on the plan which will make
il the largest III the world Following
is copy OF one Of tho lettcrs:
Dear Sir: "
II beg leave to enclose a copy of cor
rcspondencc With members Of Con
.ress upon the subject of America S
foreign policies. and particularly her
Oriental policy and the necessity for a
speedy increase in our naval strength
Your attention is particularly in
vlted to the part relating to the war in
the Orient ana the grouping Of the
military powers Of Europe. which fore
shadows a combined movement for tie
seizure Of China, to the exclusion OF
the United States. Great Britain and
Japan, movement that would set the
world on fire. The balance OF power
between these groups is 50 evenly
poised that war ard peace may hinge
upon the activity Of America il naval
preparation during tho mex, few years.
Wherefore earnestly urge your CO.
operation in creating public sentiment
i'll all available ways for prompt ac1ica
by tho United States. and in making
the congressional delegation from your
state feel the force OF your opinion,
and OF the public opinion on the sub
sect. 50 as 10 further the appropriation
al an adequate sum for new ships at
tho present session Of Congress- be
ievc that S6o,Gnn 900 is the minimum
sum. Yours truly.
RICHMOND p. HOBSON"
rs he states in a letter 10 Hon. w.
NJ. Wiley, congressman from Alabama.
Nj. flobson las addressed speeches on
the subject to more than 100000 peo-
pic in ii States and Territories.
While the naval bill for the present
session CT Congress has been passed.
MI Hohson will nor relinquish his
work, but will keep at it in a deter
mined va. He Will endeavor to
arouse enough public interest to war
rant the passage Of a large naval ap-
preparation during the next session.
RI asks FOR All appropriation Of $500
100000 year as a maximum figure
and SG0.00o.G00 as a minimum sum.
The appropriation this session was;
$50 100000 While that sum is not
near the maximum amount advocated
by MIR. Hobson. il is larger than that
Of last year ana it looks as if his labor
has not been in vain.
IN letter addressed 10 a member of
he House OF Representatives Mr. Hob
son says in part:
Il estimate that the program provid-
ni for would make the United States
The first naval power Of the world in
about eighteen years after its adoption
and inauguration
The commanding position guaran-
tecd by naval supremacy is the nat
inral, logical position for great nation
tnat has no enemies and hates no PEG
PIC. America, holding this position
marked out for her by manifest des-
tiny, would, secure her own protection
and peace and would advance, by a
mighty stride, the cause Of peace and
Justice among all nations. Her move