Morgan County republican., 1907-10-24
THE PACIFIC SQUADRON.
Used b. Democratic Press ss Reason
for condemnlns President

The contemplated dispatch OF the
battleship fleet to the Pacific appears
to have aroused great terror In certain
quarters. II 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 ves'
sells, and Is probably not concerning
itself with the matter, as II has things
of its own to occupy to the full OF its
attention,
II is difficult to imagine greater
absurdity than this fear that the
movement of an American fleet from
one ocean TO another has In II any
perils save those which will be en-.
countered In transit. To move
great feet 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 IL 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
60 h. So
II 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 baffled 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 1t reaches
the Pacific there will be home ports
enough for all the needs of a great
fleet.
But why Japan should be anxious to
70 to war with the United States be-
cause a great American fleet is In the
Pacific. when she has not gone to war
with this country during the absence
OF such a 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
country. Logically, they ought to
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 1t is ad-
visable to act and when 1t is better
to control their feelings or their Sc
cret intentions. II they harbored any
sinister purpose-and they expressly
say that they never have done so-it
would have been more sensible to
execute 1t when there was very
slight naval force to check them
than to carry 1t out in the presence Of
an immense feet, which could make
kindling 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 feet
from the Atlantic to the Pacific may
be an experiment OF the first import.
ance. The Pacific coast has often
been a source Of anxiety, and its ex-
posed condition in case Of war has
caused embarrassment to more than
one administration. II this gigantic
feet can move safely and expeditions
ly around the Horn, the defense of
that part OF the union will be solved
beyond question.-Baltimor Ameri.
can.