The Mena weekly star., 1907-12-05
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tect n eoaB Hk4yHAk vnS possible action of foreign navy ia by destroy ing that foreign navy For defense against hostile fleet which actually attacks them, the coast cities must de- pend upon their forts. mines, torpedces, submarines and torpedo boats and de- stroyers. All of these together are ef- icient for defensive purposes. but they In no way supply the place of q thor ouEhiy efficient navy capable of acting on the offensive: for parrying never yet won a light. It can only be won by hard hitting. and an aggressive ssa-go- ing navy alone can do this hard hitting of the offensive type. But the forts and the like are necessary 50 that the navy may be footloose. In time of war there is sure to be demand. under pres sure of fright, for the ships to be scat tered 90 as to defend all kind of ports. Under penalty of terrible disaster, this demand must be refused. The ships must be kept together. and their ob- jectivs made the enemies heet. If Notifications are sufficiehtly strong. no modern navy will venture to attack them. 90 long as the foc has in exist encs . hostile navy of anything like the same sizs or efficiency. But unless there exists such . navy then the forti- ncations are powsrless by themselves to secure the victory. For of course the mere dencisncy neans that any rssolute enemy can at his leisure com- bins all his forces upon one point with the certainty that he can take It.
 Gives Reasons for Despatch
 Of Fleet to the Pacific.
 Until eur battle fleet is much larger than at present it should never be split into dstachments SO far apart that they speedily united. Our coast line Ia on the Pacific just as much as on the At- lantio. The interests of California. Oregon and Washington are as em- phaticaliy the interests of the whole union as those of Nains and New York. of Louisiana ana Texas The battle Acct should new and then be moved te the Pacific, just as at other times 1t should be kept in the Atlantic. When the isthmian canal 10 built the transit of tho battle fleet from one ocean to the ether will bs comparatively easy. Until it is built earnestly hope that the battle fleet will be thus shifted be- tween the two oceans every year or two. The marksmanship on all our ships has improved phsnomenally dur ing the last Ave years. Until within the last two or three years it was not possible to train . battle fisst in squad ron mansuvsrs under service conditions. and 1t is only during these last two or three years that the training under these conditions has become rsally sf- fsctivs. Another and most necessary stride in advance is now being taken. The battle fleet is about starting by the Straits of Magellan to visit the Pacific coast. Sixteen battlsships are goine under the command of Rear Ad- xirsl Evans. while eight armored cruisers and two other battieShips will meet him at San Francisco. whithsr certain torpedo dsstroyers are also go- t- ~ atu hA made such . voyage. and 1t will be of very great educational use to all en- gagged in 1t. The only way by which to teach officers and men how to handle the fleet 70 as te meet every possible strain and emergency in time of war is to have them practice under similar conditions in time of peace. Moreover. the only way to find out our actual needs fs to perform in time of peace whatever maneuvers might be neces- sary in time of war. After war 10 de- clared 1t is too late to find out the needs; that means to invite disaster. The trip to the Pacific will show what some of our needs are and will enable us to provide for them The proper place for an officer to learn his duty is at sea. and the only way in which . navy can ever be made eficient is by practice at sea. under all the condi- tisns which would have to be met tf waf existed"
 He reviews the work accomplished by the second peace conference at The Hague: notes the improvement of af- fairs in Cuba. and the preparations be- inS made to rsestablish the govern msnt of the island republic; asks per- mission to cancel the remainder of CAina's indemnity obligation to us. ana reviews the effect of Secretary Roots visit to Mexico.
 THEODORE ROosEvUA
 0Ae White House,
 December :. 1907.