Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-10-31
THE PACIFIC SQUADRON.
Used by Democratic Press as Reason
for Condemning President.

The contemplated dispatch of the
battleship fleet to the Pacific appears
to have aroused great terror in certain
quarters. 1t has even taken the form
of appealing to Europe to declare how
dangerous the movement is, and the
public is told by some imaginary par
ties across the water that war will
certainly be the consequence. Europe
has no logical connection with the
movements of American naval YES
sells, and is probably not concerning
itself with the matter, as 1t has things
of it's own to occupy to the full of its
attention.
1t is difficult to imagine a greater
absurdity than this fear that the
movement of an American fleet from
one ocean to another has in it any
perils save those which will be en-
countered in transit. To move
great fleet of battleships around the
Horn and up the South American
coast to an American port involves
some danger by wind and wave
more, perhaps, than if only one ship
were sent by the route, as fogs may
be encountered, in which collisions
may occur, and storms are occasional
ly extremely severe in the vicinity of
Cape Horn; but naval vessels are
built to Withstand the hazards of the
deep, and naval officers are trained
to manage them SO that they will be
subjected to the least possible danger.
1t is not unlikely that the most seri-
Gus obstacle encountered by the fleet
will be the lack of coaling facilities.
Efforts are being made to supply this
deficiency, and there will probably be
little delay encountered, but energy
and skill are sometimes baflled by un-
foreseen causes. When all things are
considered the only mishap that is
likely to occur is delay in the move
ments of the fleet for want of time
ly supply of fuel. When it reaches
the Pacific there will be home ports
enough for all the needs Of great
feet.
But why Japan should be anxious to
50 to war with the United States be-
cause a great American feet is in the
with this country during the absence
of such feet, is one of those mys-
terious riddles which would puzzle
Lord Dundreary. Whatever may be
said of the japanese, they have been
credited with vast amount of
shrewdness and common sense. They
may have bitter feelings against this
7 IN
have more bitter feelings against
Great Britain. They may even have
cherished the purpose of giving
trouble in one way or another, but
| they know very well when it is ad-
! visable to act and when it is better
to control their feelings or their Sc.
cret intentions. If they har5ored any
sinister purpose-and they expressly
say that they never have done so-it
would have been more sensible to
| execute it when there was a very
slight naval force to check them
than to carry it out in the presence of
an immense fleet, which could make
liindling wood of their little navy.
There is probably little basis for
this fear of war which is so vocifer-
ously asserted. There is something
else at the bottom of it. A reckless
desire to condemn everything done
by the administration appears to be
more in evidence than craven fright.
The transfer of the battleship fleet
from the Atlantic to the Pacific may
be an experiment of the first import
ance. The Pacific coast has Otter
been source of anxiety, and its ex.
posed condition in case of war has
caused embarrassment to more than
one administration. If this gigantic
feet can move safely and expeditions.
ly around the Horn, the defense of
that part of the union will be solved
beyond Observation-Disclosures Ameri.
can.