Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-02
FEARS ONLY GREAT BRITAIN.
American Navy Exceeds Any Other
Saws Senator Hale.

Washington. March 30.-Declarine
he would willingly put the United
States navy against any in the worlc
with the exception of England's, Sem
ator Hale yesterday spoke in opposi-
ton to AN increase in the American
naval establishment. Mr.. Hale said IL
would be folly to attempt to equa
Great Britain's navy, but believed thai
with the vessels now authorized OF
completed the American navy would
be superior to the French navy and the
second in the world. He further eX-
pressed the opinion that no Increase
was necessary in the future and that
nothing more was necessary IMAM "
replace vessels as the existing ones be-
come useless.
Army Medical Bill Passes.
Mr.. Hale's remarks were made IN
the course of an address opposing re-
organization of the army medical de-
partment.
'The army man and the navy man
go on the theory that the government
is run for their benefit" he said, but
1 do not believe that the people gen
orally want the army augmented IN
time of peace On the contrary, they
want it decreased, and it is not gooa
legislation to increase the force either
in detail or in the total
Despite Mr.. Hale's opposition, now
ever, the bill was passed by vote OIL
40 to S. The contract surgeon system
will therefore be done away with.
Oppose Great Battle Ship.
Since the decision of the house COM
mittee on naval affairs to recommend
an appropriation of $6,000,000 for the
construction of a battle ship larger
than any now atloat naval experts IN
Washington have begun heated discus
sion of the size of battle ships whlch
shows that Admiral Dewey is not sup
ported by many naval OFFICERS IN ms
advocacy of battle ship greater than
the 1SOOO-ton English battle ship
Dreadnought.
At least four battle ships of the same
speed and with similar batteries ana
equipment are necessary, according TO
the view of these constructors, TO pc
effective in an engagement. One great
battle ship even if it be swifter ana
have more guns than other ships afloat,
thew contend, can not accomplish any
thing in actual war and is no more eff
fectiye than the slower and less for
midable ships with which it is joined In
action.
When Admiral Capps, the chief con-
structor of the navy, discussed the size
of battle ships before the house, COM
mittee on naval affairs, he advocated
the construction of two 10000 ton bat
tie ships like the proposed battle ships
Michigan and South Carolina, that the
navy may have four effective ships OF
this type to operate together. His ad-
vice was not seconded, however, by
Admiral Dewey, who showed a decided
preference for one great battle ship
rather than two smaller ones.
Greater Than the Dreadnoueht.
If congress should decide that the
new battle ship must have twelve-inch
guns, as has been suggested, ship
with a displacement of $4,000 tons
would be necessary, in the opinion OF
Admiral Capps, and Secretary Bona
parte believes this will probably be the
size of the proposed ship. The British
battle ship 'Dreadnought carries only
twelve-inch guns.
sIn the clamor for the biggest battle
ship in the world many persons seem
to lose sight of the fact that the big
ger a vessel is the better target 1t
makes" one prominent naval officer
said in discussing the proposed ship.
..But Of course this is world Of big
things and the United States must not
be left behind"
Great Britain constructed the Dread
nought in less than a year from the
time it was authorized Naval officers
of other countries have intimated that
the Dreadnought was rushed to COM
pletion that other powers might see
how soon England can build new
navy