The Washington times., 1907-07-08
We MUST HOLD
POWER BALANCE,
NAVY HEAD SAYS
Believes Transfer Will
Compel Construction
of More Ships.
Laughs at Talk of Danger
to Evans, Vessels Near
Cape Horn.

UTICA. n. Y. July SIT is a pity
we have not ships enough to keep
powerful fleets in both oceans, but since
we have not. 1t seems to me that. in the
interests OF peace, It is best at this time
that our feet should be in the Pacific
In this comprehensive and significant
sentence, Admiral George Dewey. chair
man OF the General Navy Board. and
the hero OF Manila bay, summed up the
reason of and necessity for sending the
United States battleshlp feet-sixteen
huge floating fortresses-from the At
lantic to the Pacific. the longest cruise
of the sort in naval history.
dictates the Statement.
That there might be no mistaking his
meaning, Admiral Dewey dictated the
all-meaning phrase as he sat on the
shady piazza of the Berkeley W aiontha
Hotel, in peaceful Richfield Springs 1t
was his first utterauce on the subject
since the naval board took up the
startling project Of transferring the
nation's sea fighting force around the
Horn.
Admiral Dewey proved that the Gov
eminent is making every preparation for
the defense Of the coast by asserting:
mander Spencer Wood. leaves on a trip
with General Murray. chief OF artillery.
TO fix places for mines. Don't let the
people worry about coast defense"
Father of Peace Cruise.
In the long interview which followed.
the Father Of the Peace Cruise"-for
such title is surely coming to him-tore
OF the filmy cloak which had been off,
cially thrown around the movement
since it was announced on June 10.
To him the 15,OOO-mile cruise Is not an
experiment in naval mobility. 1t is for
the purpose of keeping peace in all the
Pacific by seizing as quickly as possible
the balance of sea power.
Although Admiral Dewey does not be-
lieve that this country Is likely TO be-
como seriously involved with any for
eign power, he believes Il necessary for
the United States navy 70 be paramount
in the ocean that has jumped into such
strategic Importance since the Spanish
American and the Russo-Japanese wars.
Laughs at Dangers.
He laughed at the dangers and diff
culties conjured up by those who pro-
pose the transfer OF the ships.
big as they are, they will go around
as easily as the ferries cross the Hud-
son TO Hoboken." he said.
at is simply a question OF coal, and
coal in times Of peace is question of
money"
He refused TO tremble over the pros
pect of an unguarded Atlantic coast.
His answer to all such fears is:
The army can care for coast de-
Tense"
In the transfer of the feet Admiral
Dewey sees two possible effects of great
national Importance. He believes II will
urge the construction and equipment OF
a great Atlantic feet, with the ships
now building as a nucleus. and he hopes
IL will stimulate and hasten the compile
ton Of the Panama canal.
Mentions Japan But Once.
In all the interview he only once made
mention of Japan. and that was in
illustrating the ease with which har-
bors Ike New York and Port Arthur
could be defended.
This cruise. or transfer. or whatever
you like TO call it, is a mission Of peace .,
continued the admiral. after his opening
dictation of belief. II do not think II
likely that this country will be involved
win any power. But II trouble should
come by any chance. it is we'll TO he
fully prepared for H.
1t is necessary for tis 70 bo1d +bo
balance Of sea power on the Pacific- The
oeIenses on that coast are not IN 10 tbe
standard Of the Atlantic That the ma
Iion winch has this power controls the
Spain. "'N
There were $4,000 Spanish soldiers or
tne Island when Cervera's fleet started ,
out OF the harbor of Santiago de Cuba
mItn the sinking of the feet the war
Our Great Resources.
Fortunately the United States is co
big and has such vast internal reso,T,,,a,
that IL cannot be bottled I'd as were |
the Spaniards'
When the admirars attention vas
called TO the fact that there has baeD /
criticism in certain quarters because the
feet is rounding the Horn to a Pacific
coast base instead Of cutting through |
Suez directly TO Manila, he did not lack |
reasons to support the navy boards |
recommendations.
Il would say that unless the danger
was most imminent Il would not be adj
Visable TO concentrate a large feet with
hundreds Of officers in Philippine waters.
The climate is not right, as I know
from personal experience.
There were thirteen months that I
was not out Of Manila bay / sent the
Olympia 70 dry dock for cleaning and
repairs, transferring my flag 70 one OF
the other vessels OF the feet. When |
nnally went away / was all unstrung. |
and II was weeks before / got nv men
back into condition.
Spaniards and Climate.
Il believe one Of the reasons we had |
such an easy victory over the SPAN
iards.' said Admiral Dewey, was that
they had been so long In that ener-
waiting climate. 1 am certain that we |
could not have fought so well when we /
left as when we entered.
Il suppose should not say ANYTHING
against the Philippines. having been in
Ornamental In securing them for the
United States, but there is no Rainsav-
ing the fact that the climate IS hard on |
soldiers or sailors.
IAN enemy might take the Philippines /
and Hawaii. but as soon as we met on /
the sea they would have to give them
up. The very presence OF our sea force |
IN the Pacific will serve every purpose -
Wont Admiral Evans and the officers |
OF the fleet encounter many difficulties /
ana Dangers on cruise OF such i
length2' was asked
They should have no trouble at all in /
going around, said the admiral, with i