Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-25
MUSTGUARD
THIS COAST
MORE BATTLESHIPS NEEDED
FOR DEFENSE
ROOSEVELT'S PLAN FOR BIC
NAVY HAS SUPPORT
Danger of Unexpected War with ori-
entail Power Emphasized-Leaders
In Upper House of Congress
Ask for Appropriation
Special to The Herald,

Special to The Herald,
WASHINGTON, April 24.-Pleading
that a powerful fleet be maintained in
the Pacific, Senator Piles of Washing
ton and others who uphold the presi-
dents policy urged that the amend
ment to the naval appropriation bill
providing for four battleships be
adopted.
Danger of war with an oriental pow
er was pointed out during the discus
sion and the absolute necessity OF
maintaining a fleet on the Pacific
coast was emphasized.
Senator Hale, as was expected, OPP
posed Roosevelt's policy, and when the
senate adjourned for the day the ques-
ton had not been decided.
Arguments in favor of the presi-
dents program for four battleships
consumed most of the session of the
senate today. Senator Piles of WASH
ington, declared the Asiatic situation
affecting the Pacific coast was men
ace to that section, as warclouds
might quickly rise there over some
clash between Americans and the Jap
anese He wanted a fleet kept in the
Pacific.
Mr. Hale laid before the senate a
statement of battleships and other fea-
lures of the American navy program,
which he said showed that as large
a fleet as is now in the Pacific can be
kept there and at the same time there
would be ships for still larger fleet
for the Atlantic coast.
I.rn Hn6 a
bate for the day with a strong ap-
peal to senators to vote for four bat
tleships He was constantly engaged
in exchanges of words with other sem
ators. He insisted that peace and not
war would be promoted by the building
up of the navy.
During the latter part of the session
kilograms were delivered to all sena-
tors from a magazine appealing to
them for four battleships.
"If the four battleshps appropriation
be not granted" the telegram stated.
I'VE shall urge the president to veto
the naval bill"
Hale Opposes Roosevelt
Senator Hale opened the debate by
submitting a statement of the naval
estimate already provided for. which.
he said, would permit a fleet as large
as that now making it's way up the
Pacific coast and leave larger fleet
for the Atlantic coast He said there
had been authorized, including the au-
thorization of the pending bill, thirty
one battleships and a great many
cruisers, many of them as large as bat
tleships.
81 do not think" said Mr.. Hale.
"that senators and representatives
have appreciated these facts We are
not compelled to build another great
fleet in order to have protection on
either coast"
Senator Bacon asked Senator Hale If
he had any positive knowledge that
the fleet now in the Poetic was to be
sent around the world and Mr.. Hale
replied that he had no direct and posi-
tive information. but from legislation
that had been recommended he was
sure the fleet was preparing to encircle
the globe.
Mr.. Hale said that legislation has
been recommended as being suitable
and essential to maintain our rank and
dignity In view of the fact that the
fleet is to visit Asiatic ports, perhaps
Africa, the Mediterranean and Euro
pean ports"
He said the president, as commander
in chief, had command of the fleet and
may order it where he will in the abb
sence of law and regulations, but, OF
course congress, if it desired, could
regulate the control of the fleet.
II do not" said Mr.. Hale, "see all
the advantages of the cruise seen by
the secretary of the navy and the
president, but I never have taken the
view that the sending of the fleet
around the world is usurpation, and
can see some benefits from it in the
way of disciplining the fleet.
81 think the fleet is going around
the world, and / bid it godspeed. hop
ing that we shall get out of the ex-
pertinent without any complications
I do not fear danger as l do not think
the people in any part of the world
where this fleet will go will be found
hostile to u.s. and / do not fear the
remotest possibility of war between
any country and the United States"
Asks for BattIeships
An earnest appeal was made by SEN
ator Piles of Washington in favor of
four battleships.
This, he declared. was a measure of
peace, and not of war. He came from
the section of the country that must
be the storm center of any conflict in
the Pacific ocean. The people of the
Pacific were in favor of four battle
ships. He sent to the vice president S
desk a statement of vote of 16e
editors attending a meeting in New
York. which, he said, showed 126 in fa-
vor of four battleships and the presi-
dents policy for naval expansion
While he had never been one of those
who feared war, 1t could not be de-
MED, he said, that there was on the
Pacific coast a peculiar condition. and
the time was coming when the people
of the country would have to face that
condition.
The Pacific coast he added, had by
it's opportunities, attracted many Ash
atics, who had been reared in diff
ferent way from the people of the
United States. There was possibility
of clash between these people and
those of the Pacific coast. Under such
conditions he declared, they some
times resort to arms That had not
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