, 1908-04-06
ALABAMA CONGRESSMAN TAKES
SOMEWHAT OPTIMISTIC VIEW
OF NAVAL CONDITIONS
IN COUNTRY.
Expects War With Japan and Fears
American Coasts Are Not Proper
ly Guarded Against INVASION
Thinks Pacific Squadron Should
Have Four Battleships Fash Year
and six for the Atlantic Squadron.

Washington, d. c., April 6.-Point-
ing out what he declared to be the
precarious condition of the national
defense of the United States both in
Mr.. Hobson of Alabama, in the house
of representatives today, made an
earnest plea for two ~battleships of
%, 900 tons displacement in addition
to the two authorized by the naval
appropriation bill.
Four Ships a Year.
He said that a conservative esti-
mate would indicate that for the mini,
mum basis of security and safety in
the Pacific ocean the United States
should lay down at least four big ships
a year for many years to come, until
Japan comedies to us what is newt
able1the Ameficaa-eontrol Of the sea
arounI which our possessions are scat
tered"
Six for the Atlantic.
AS a minimum for the Atlantic
ocean the government should lay
down six ~battleships a year, he said,
weakness of America in the mater
of national defense had not been fatal
to its growth and development, be-
cause the oceans constituted a great
bar between American and there
armies of the world.
Bridging The Ocean.
Now, however" said he. "tbe ocean,
have been bridged and the armies of
the world have been brought to our
doors, and along with the armies Of
the older nations of Europe have come
the armies of the ancient nations of
Asia"
Exciting Jealousy of Nations.
He said that where America for
merly lived more or less in isolation,
she is now exciting the jealousy of
other great nations in threatening
their supremacy in commerce, indus.
try and finance. In addition, he de-
clared that recent events have thrown
us into the political vortex of the
world, and that the dangers of being
unprepared are becoming greater and
greater with each succeeding year.
Lack of Merchant Marine.
After calling attention to Americas
lack of a merchant marine, which
could be used as auxiliaries in time Of
war, and of transports necessary for
properly conducting war operations,
Mr.. Hobson said:
Need of Naval Base.
We have almost no standing army
and could not prevent the seizure by
a foreign power of a harbor on our
shores or near our shores, to be used
as a naval base; whereas it would be
practically impossible for America to
secure a naval base for operations in
European waters.
Valuable But Weak Oefenses.
Forts, mines, torpedoes, torpedo
boats AMI submarines are valuable ac,
c~essories, but such d~efenses have
never stopped a determined com
mander of a great fleet. They did
not stop Nelson at Copenhagen, nor
Farragut at Mobile Bay, nor Dewey at
Manila.
Forts WoefulIy Unnamed.
Such d~efenses never determine the
issues of a war, and have no weight
in lettering an enemy from seeking
war. The forts that We have are woe,
fully unnamed, whereas the troops
needed for other landward defense
could not be modified within the time
necessary"
Conflict With Japan.
The possibility of a conflict with
Japan was discussed at length by -
Hobson. He said it was but perfectly
natural for Japan to aspire to domi'
nate the commerce of China, the com.
merce of Asia and of the Pacific
ocean. And he added it was perfect
ly natural for Japan to seek to con
troll the policies of China and to az.
tain supremacy in the Pacific ocean,