Evening journal., 1908-02-29
HOBSON PLEADS
FOR BIGGER NAVY

Speaking on thes ubject 1.-THE Navy
In It's Relation TO Our Inland Water
ways" Congressman Richmond Pear
son Hobson. of Alabama, said:
These waterways have significance
in any comprehensive scheme of ma
tionol defense Wilmington is, of
course. particularly interested in the
development of tho waterways along
the Atlantic coast and Gulf coast. The
navigation OF a large part of the dis
tance covered has alreacv been accom-
plished by various vessels Of the United
states Navy. notably the torpedo boat
Gwin and the Cushing.
1T is not necessary to point out the
great strategic advantage these inland
waterways. adequately improved,
would afford to our coast defense IN
time Of war; particularly for the next
decade or two. when it is likely that
any important war would find America
unable to control the sea and forced
TO wage a defensive war of coast de-
fense. can, therefore, safely say
that the movement 10 develop these
waterways for the purposes of trade
will have the hearty support and CO.
operation Of all who are interested in
the question Of national defense.
"By treaty. America and Great Brit
ain agreed to maintain but one gum
boat, each. in the Great Lakes; there
fore should eventuallties bring these
two countries into conflict the ques-
tion of defense on the Great Lakes
would be a matter either Of improvised
vessels or OF shallow-draft vessels that
can reach the Great Lakes from the
sea. America would be at a most de-
cided disadvantage, not only because
Of vastly greater amount Of property
located on the American side but be.
cause the British already. through the
ST. Lawrence and the Welland Canal
and other canals can now send war
ships to the Great Lakes. through their
own territory and on very short notice.
Should Defend Great Lakes.
"I do not mean to intimate that the
close friendship may not always exist,
as It should exist. between Great Brit
ain and America. but any rational
scheme Of national defense must in
clude protection for the Great Lakes.
and this protection under existing
treaties cannot be properly provided
from the Gulf to the Great Lakes.
TT the Navy has need of these In
land waterways in return have need Of
the Navy. because it is only through
ethe Navv that they can be adequately
protected in time of war
AT present our Navv is incapable of
controlling the ocean and, therefore,
all Of these waterways. accessible Ia
one way or another from the sea- are
liable to attack.
Should Control Pacific.
"I may be permitted to point out the
peculiar Importance of this question Of
the Pacific at the present juncture. We
should regard the Panama Canal as
simply part OF our schCme Of water.
way development and that when We
Ret across the Isthmus we have merely
begun our voyage 70 the Orient 1t is
not necessary to point ont that we only
ask an "open-door' policy in China
we only ask Just ami fair play It
need scarcely be pointed out. on the
other hand. that Jspan, and in fac;
the great commercial powers ol
Europe. are now and will become more
and more antagonists TO the extension
Of our commerce in the Orient. As
fate would have n. we already have
station over the whole ocean, from She
Alutian Islands IN the Alaska to Pana-
ma and Samoa In the South; Guam
and Philippine Islands In the West
and the great cross-roads OF the Paci'
fic. the Hawaiian Islands, In middle
It does not require special foresight
to see that II we would carry forwar,
the proper scheme fer waterway de-
velopment at homo. we must stimuli
taneouslv extend our naval strength g,
that we can control the Pacific Ocean
and through this we have security II
! transit and justice on the arrival o.
our goods on the other side.
Japan a Naval Force.
may be pardoned in referring e
the fact that the rise of Japan re
uulres a special readiustment of oul
old standards OF naval defense. Up t.
the present time we have built an'
maintained our Navy with a view Z
defense in the Atlantic ocean alone
To-day the defense must be extendet
10 include the Pacific Ocean also. II
fact the defense OF the Pacific oceaI
is to-day more difficult and fraugh
with more dangers than the defense o
the Atlantic. It is only right that ou'
Condvued on Fifth Page.
Tbren r,rtvas viii he given at thl