The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-04-16
PRESIDENT ASKS
FOUR BATTLESH|PS
CONGRESS RECEIVES A SPECIAL
MESSAGE FROM HIM.
MUST NOT FALL BEHIND
Chief Executive Urges Necessity Of
Keeping Our Navy on Par
with Those Of Other
Countries.

| Washington, Apr. 15.-President
Roosevelt sent message to congress
Tuesday afternoon advocating the
building of four battleships. 1t was
about 1000 words in length. Follow
ing Is the message in part:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives;
Let me again urge upon the con-
gress the need of providing for four
battleships of the best and most adj
vanced type at this session. Prior to
the recent Hague conference It had
been my hope that an agreement
could be reached between the different
nations to limit the increase of naval
ornaments. and especially to limit the
size of warships. Under these cir
cumstances | felt that the construc-
ton of one battleship year would
keep our navy up to its then positive
and relative strength. But actual ex.
perience showed not merely that it
was impossible to obtain such an
agreement for the limitation of arm
aments among the various leading
powers, but that there was no like
lihood whatever of obtaining it in the
future within any reasonable time.
Radical Changes Observed.
| Coincidentally with this discovery
incurred radical change In the build
ing Of battleships among the great
military nations--a change in accord
ance with which the most modern bat
tleships have been or are being con-
structed of a size and armament
WI ch doubles, or more probably
trebles, their effectiveness. Every
other great naval nation has, or is
building, a number of ships Of this
kind; we have provided for but two,
and therefore the balance of power is
now inclining against us. Under these
conditions, TO provide for but one or
two battleships year is to provide
that this nation, instead of advancing,
shall go backward in naval rank and
| relative power among the great ma
lions. Such a course would be unwise
for us IL we fronted merely on one
ocean, and 1t is doubly unwise when
we front on two oceans As chief
executive of the nation, and as com
manderin-chief Of the navy, there Is
imposed upon me the solemn RESPONSE
bility Of advising the congress Of the
measures vitality necessary to secure
the peace and welfare of the republic
In the event of International conipli-
cations which are even remotely pos
sible 1..
| Wants Four BattIeships.
| Having in view this solemn re-
sponsibillty, I earnestly advise that
the congress now provide four battle
ships of the most advanced type.
cannot too emphatically say that this
is measure Of peace and not Of war.
can conceive Of no circumstances
under which this republic would enter
into an aggressive war; most certain.
ly, under no circumstances would 1t
enter into an aggressive war to extend
its territory or In any other manner
seek material aggrandizement ad-
vocate that the United States build a
navy commensurate with its powers
and its needs because feel that such
navy will be the surest guaranty and
safeguard of peace"
Continuing, the president spoke
hopefully of the arbitration treaties
now being negotiated, but asserted
that 1t would be miscellaneous folly to
assume that the world has reached
stage when one nation can rely for
peace on the forbearance Of other pow.
ers. He called attention to the many
instances Of oppression during peace
and to the numerous massacres of
late years that were not the result OF
war. In conclusion he said:
Must Have Complete Defense.
81 cannot recommend to your notice
measures for the fulfillment of our du-
| ties to the rest Of the world without
again pressing upon you the necessity
Of placing ourselves in a condition of
complete defense and of exacting
from them the fulhllment Of their du.
ties toward US. The United States
ought not to indulge a persuasion
that. contrary to the order OF human
events, they will forever keep at dis
lance those painful appeals to arms
with which the history of every other
nation abounds. There is rank due
to the United States among nations
which will be withheld, II not absolute
ly lost, by the reputation OF weakness.
II we desire to avoid insult, we must
be able to repel Il; II we desire to
secure peace, one Of the most power
full instruments of our rising prosper