Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-04

itation of armaments. But even before
1t had assembled informal inquiries had
developed that as regards naval al ma
ments the only ones In which this coun-
try had any interest Ii was hopeless to
try to devise any plan for which there
was the slightest possibility OF securing
the assent of the nations gathered at
The Hague. No plan was even proposed
which would have, had The assent OF
more than one first class power outside
of the United States. The only plan
that seemed at all feasible, that of limit
ing the size of battleships. met with no
favor at all.
1T is evident, therefore, that it is folly
for this nation to base any hope of Sc
curing peace on any international agree
ment as to the limitation of ornaments.
Such being the fact it would be most
unwise for us to stop the upbuilding of
our navy. To build one battleship OF
the best and most advanced type a year
would barely keep our fleet UP to its
present force. This is not enough. In
my judgment we should this year pro-
vide for four battleships.
But it is idle to build battleships I'M
less in addition to providing the men
and the means for thorough training we
provide the auxiliaries for them. unless
we provide docks, the coaling stations,
need We are extremely deficient In
coaling stations and docks on the Pa
ci1ic, and this deficiency should not long
er be permitted to exist Plenty of tor
pedo boats and destroyers should be
built Both on the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts Notifications OF the best type
should be provided for all our greatest
harbors.
we need always to remember that
fc nf n Ia
used to defend harbors and sea-coast
cities; we should perfect out system OF
coast fortifications The only efficient
use for the navy is for offense- The
only way in which 1t can efficiently
protect our own coast against the pos
sibls action of a foreign navy is by
destroying that foreign navy. For
defense against a hostile fleet which
actually attacks them, the coast cities
must depend upon their forts, mines,
torpedoes. submarines and torpedo
boats and destroyers. All of these to-
Rether are efficient for defensive pur-
poses, but they in no way supply the
place Of thoroughly efficient navy
1apshIe Of acting on the offensive; for
carrying never yet won fight IL car
only be won by hard hitting. and an
aggressive sea-going navy alone can
do this hard hitting of the offensive
DG-
necessary so that the navy may be
footIoose. In time of war there is sure
to be demand, under pressure OF fright
for the ships to be scattered so as TO
defend all kinds of ports. Under pen
atty of terrible disaster, this demand
must be refused. The ships must be
kept together, and their objective made
the enemies feet.
.sIf fortifications are sufficiently
to attack them. so long as the foe mas
In existence a hostile navy of anything
like the same size or efficiency. But
unless there exists such a navy then
the fortifications are powerless by
to secure the victory for
of course the mere defciency means
that any resolute enemy can at MS lels-
ure combine all mis- forces upon one
noint with the certainty that he can
take it.
1TTntil our battle fleet is much larger |
than at present it should never be split
into detachments so far apart that they
oo,,Id NOT in event of emergency be
sneedily united. Our coast line Is on
the Pacific just as much as on tne AZ
lantic. The interests OF CailI olhi1'
oregon and Washington are as en-
the interests OF tle Mno
r-nion as those of Maine and New YORK
~ T,ouisiana and Texas. The battle
feet should now and then be moved 10
the pacific, Just as at other times IL
should be kept in the Atlantic.
"When the Isthmian canal is built the
transit of the battle fleet from one ocean |
to the other will be comparatively easy
Until it is built ! earnestly nope una1
tho hattie fleet will be thus shifted be-
t,,,aen the two oceans every year or two.
rTbe rnarksnnanship on all our ships mas
;mnroved phenomenally during the last
ave wears. Until within the last two or |
three wears 1t was not possible to traap
. battle fleet in squadron mareuVers
under service conditions, and IT is ohly
during these last two or three years
that the training under these condltlons
has become really effective. Anotner
and most necessary stride in advance
Is now being taken. The battle fleet IS
about starting by the straits OF Magel-
IAN TO visit the Pacific coast Sixteen
battleships are going under the COM
mand of Rear Admiral Evans, Whlle
eight armored cruisers and two other
will meet him at San Fran
cisco, whittier certain torpedo destroyers
are also going.
such a VOYAGE. ana 1t will be of very |
yreat educational use to all engaged i'll
h The only way by which to teach
officers and men how to handle the Meet
50 as to meet every possible strain and
emergency in time of war is to nave |
hem practice under similar conditions IN
lime of peace Moreover, the only way |
10 find out our actual needs is to perform
in time of peace whatever maneuverS
might be necessary in time of war.
After war is declared it is too late to
find out the needs; that means to invite
disaster This trip to the Pacific Will |
show what some of our needs are aiid
will enable us tn provide for them. The |
proper place for an officer to learn his
duty is at sea, and the only way In
which a navy can ever be made efficient |
Is by practice at sea, under all the con-
ditions which would have to be met If
war existed.
Plea for Navy
81 bespeak the most liberal treatment |
for the officers and enlisted men of tho |
navy. 1t is true of them, as likewise
Of the officers and enlisted men of the
army, that they form body whose in
terssts should be close to the heart of |
every good American. In return the most !