The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-08

1he fact was the land force being at
home and knowing the points ~ best at
tack or defence was so much stronger
than the enemy. who had not this knowl-
edge. Our navy. having the knowledge OF
the secrets or the coast was Just so much
stronger than the enemy, VINO had IL not
These naval secrets were the keynotes
for all military or naval movements In
our colony. IL was seen as soon as the
war opened that the naval defence was
indispensable and without which the war
was failure. IL was at once urged upon
congress the necessity OF this defence at
sea. Ut was pointed out the British army
must be supplied with arms and mater
ials ana that In transporting IL across
the ocean there were chances OF captur-
ing IL and that these supplies were OF vital
necessity 10 the successful conduct OF the
war.
PLEA FOR A NAVY
In bringing these facts before the Con-
tinental congress our colony took the lead.
It's general assembly was the first legis-
| lative body that took action and instruct
ed their delegate TO lay It in their name
before congress
The result was a debate and questions
for information OF such a character that
II was providental we had a man there
! In the person OF David Howell, who had
introduced IL 10 also be able to defend II
and give the information sought.
The result was the act passed and Cp-
tain Esek Hopkins was named command
er-ln-chef. There was also named sew
eral other officers 10 high and command
ing positions from tlhs colony.
IL will be proper right here 10 inquire
In what school OF naval warfare had these
men been taught.
/ have already spoken Of their knowl-
edge OF the secrets OF the coast and their
warfare with the Free Rovers, so l need
only to call your attention TO one moral
source OF knowledge, which was very inn
portant and laid the foundation for the
naval discipline during the entire war.
This knowledge came from the expert
enre gained I'm the old French war.
The sege OF Louisburg is case In
point. In this campaign this colony fur
nished the naval contingent, which block
AIDED the station so effectually as TO COM
pei the surrender OF the fort. the strong
est fortress at that time in North Amer
lea. The British commander in his offi-
cial report 10 the government said:
without the aid OF the naval contin-
gent frons Rhode Island, the reduction
OF Louisberg would have been impossi-
BILE"
This Gibraltar OF America surrendered
May IS 1895. The peace OF France and
Spain with England was signed May !,
1862.
Back OF this must be placed the events
between these three nations ever since
the first settlement here, so Il can be said
confidently these three nations had ever
kept open a naval school wherein our sail
ors had learned their art Of warfare.
During this long struggle the most
gigantic and supremest effort was made
in the period between the fall OF Lams-
burg and the treaty OF peace In 1852
In these wars the colonies had aided
greatly the fortunes OF England In North
America. Beyond question the final tri-
umph OF England was from this colonial
aid, and without IL France and Spain
would have held their own against her.
The three had TO come 10 peace because
each was at the end OF their resources. 1T
was not a peace, but truce. Had II been
a treaty of peace the Quebec compact
never would have been made, This tea
ture alone shows how exhausted was
England. This compact at once placed
the colonies on guard and they never for
gave England for that act OF perfdy.
EXHAUSTED RESOURCES.
SO exhausted was England that she had
TO increase her taxes. and the ministry
say that they could not saddle the whole
OF 1t on the home portion without an out
cry from the people. so the scheme OF tax
alton for North America was planned
which the colonies would have accepted
had their reasonable claim for representa-
tion been allowed.
IL the Quebec compact was n mistake
the refusal to let them have representa-
ton was another. The third and final one
was the policy OF coertion and driving the
colonies 10 war.
France and Spain had been resting
They had been watching affairs They
saw the trend OF events and helped the
colonies so much in order TO cripple their
common enemy, England
In this school OF warfare our sailors
had learned naval discipline. The cadets
OF those wars were graduated for the
revolution.
Many OF these young men al tho time
little dreamed what would soon be re-
quired of them in the near future So,
too, it can be truly said our young mill
tary and naval cadets while serving in :he
Mexican war little dreamed what immense
armies would In the near future c1me
under their eye.
Our colony being the most extensively
engaged in sea trGde i'm proportion 10
numbers than any of the others, took the
lead. Their situation forced them TO do IT,
We will not rehearse here the result by
giving the history OF the building of the
two continental frigates ord red built here
by congress. the Warren and the Provi-
dence. which were the two first to be
launched. for this belongs TO another
affair
III can De SalO mere, however, that from
the time or the Liberty and Gaspee affairs
our colony did not relax its policing OF
the bay when the war came Bankboats,
gunboats and raw galleys were provided
for the protection and policing OF the
bay, and larger craft 10 go outside and
watch the enemy.
When the war opened the privateer
made It's appearance. Here now came
home 10 the English government the fact
that curses like chickens came home to
roost." They had granted for a century
commissions for privateers TO cruise
against France and Spain and now these
colonies granted commissions TO cruise
against them.
NAVY WON REVOLUTION.
These vessels were commanded by dar-
ing men, were built on improved models
with a sharp consideration for speed and
rapid handling.
These vessels often surprised the Eng
lish admiralty by their daring, often
were they angered by the severe defeats
experienced from them and frequently hu-