The Washington herald., 1907-07-08

morning prints a lengthy interview with
Admiral Dewey, under the date Of Utica,
had with him on the veranda Of a hotel
in Richfeld Springs, in which he advo-
Gates the immediate concentration of the
battle ship fleet in the Pacific. He says,
IN part:
1T is a pity We have not ships enough
to keep powerful fleets in both oceans,
but since we have not. It seems to me
that In the interests of peace Il Is the
best at this time that our fleet should
be in the Pacific"
The Admiral declared the 15,OO0-mue
cruise was not an experiment in naval
mobility, and asserted it was for the
purpose of keeping peace in all the Pa
cific by seizing as quickly as possible the
balance of sea power.
Laughs at Danger.
Although Admiral Dewey does not be-
Iieve that the country is likely 20 become
seriously involved with any foreign
power. he believes it necessary for the
United States navy TO be paramount in
the ocean that has jumped into such
strategic Importance since the Spanish
and the Russian-Japanese wars. He
laughed at the dangers and difficulties
Conjured up by those who oppose the
transfer and said:
Big as they are. they will go around
as easily as the ferries cross the Hudson
90 Hoboken 1t is simply a question Of
coal. and coal in times Of peace is a
question Of money"
He refused to tremble over the pros
pcct Of an unguarded Atlantic coast. His
answer 20 all such fears is: "The army
can care for coast defense"
Two Possible Effects.
In the transfer Of the fleet Admiral
Dewey sees two possible effects Of great
national Importance. He believes it will
urge the construction and equipment Of
great Atlantic feet with the ships now
building as a nucleus, and ne hopes it
VIII stimulate and hasten the completion
Of the Panama Canal. In all the inter
view he only once made mention of Japan,
and that was in Illustrating the ease with
which harbors like New York and Port
Arthur could be defended.
This cruise OF transfer. or whatever
you like 10 call fl is a mission Of peace"
the Admiral said. Il do not think It likely
that this country Will become seriously
involved with any power. But If trouble
should come by any chance It IS well TO
be fully prepared for It.
Balance of Power.
1T is necessary for us to hold the
balance Of sea power on the Pacific. The
defenses on that coast are not up 10
the standard Of the Atlantic That the
nation which has this power would con-
troll the situation was proven in our war
with Spain"
When his attention was called to the
criticism in certain quarters because the
fleet is rounding the Horn 10 a Pacific
coast base, instead Of sailing through
Suez directly 20 Manila, the Admiral did
not lack reasons to support the navy
boards recommendations lie said:
Il would say that unless the danger
was most imminent. it would not be ad-
yisabie TO concentrate a large feet. with
hundreds Of officers and thousands Of
men, in Philippine waters. The climate is
not right, and 1 know from personal ex-
perience.
An enemy might take the Philippines
on the sea they would have TO give them
up. The very presence of our sea force
I'm the Pacific will serve every purpose" q"
No Trouble Anticipated.
Admiral Dewey said that Admiral
Evans and the officers Of the fleet should
have no trouble at all in going around
20 the Pacific.
1T has been done before" he added
There is the good old Oregon, which has
made the round trip Rear Admiral A. S
Barker, who is spending the summer at
the kendall Wood. just down the street
here. took the Oregon out to Manila
without the slightest difficulty. lie had
the Iowa for company part Of the way.
Row the Oregon is back on the Pacific
coast. In time Of war the coalng diff
Guilty would be greater. as the ships
would have 10 coal at sea. as the Rus
slams did But even so. it simply means
little more time and patience.
Atlantic Coast Safe.
Referring 10 the security Of the Al
lantic coast. he said We have no enemies
on the Atlantic coast. and even if we
did, the army could take care Of them.
The coast defenses on the Atlantic are
in excellent shape
The Admiral advocated a larger navy.
and said that what was needed was two
large fleets. and added that it would not
take long to build up an Atlantic fleet. as
the naval building programme was ex-
panded according 20 the needs of the
country.
The Admiral regretted that the Panama
Canal was not finished, saying il would
amplify matters greatly.
ONE RITTTFT KTTTC TuprE