The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-15
ADMIRAL DEWEY
FOR sUB|G BAY
Tclegraphs Hobson That He Is
for That Position Now and
Forever"
sHERLEY cRITIcIzEs DEWEY
lTobson Defends the. Navy Say
ing That Ships Are Better
Than Foreigners.
sHERLEY CRITICIzEs DEWEY

| ,WASHINGTON, April 14-when the
naval appropriation bill was taken IN
by the House, there, still was pending
an amendment BY Mr.. Jones, Virginia
striking out the appropriation for
developing tile naval station at Subis
Bay. Philippine Islands.
The controversy between the army
and the navy as to which Is the most
desirable place, Cavite OF Subig Bay.
for fortification and protection, was
condemned by Mr. Crumpacker, 1ndf-
ana, who said that the administration
should not ask Congress for money
for both places until the question was
settled one way or the other.
ME- Tawney, Minnesota. opposed any
appropriation whatever at this time.
MIR. t'oss declared that Admiral
Dewey and other naval authorities
were all agreed that SuDig Bay, on
account OF It's depth Of water, was the
proper place for the permanent sta
Ition.
In the final analysis" said Mr.. Foss,
ut will be the navy that will defend the
army; it Will be the navy that will
keep our flag aloft in the sky over
the Philippine archipelago" "a
If, he said, the United STATES con-
trolled the State, no invading army
ever would come into the Philippines.
Mr. Sherley, of Kentucky persisted
that Admiral Dewey and the Joint
board of which he is president. had
recommended Cavite but Mr.. Foss as
serted that recommendation never had
been approved, and that for years back
the joint board had declared in favor
of subig Bay
Dewey for subiE Bay.
Mr.. Robson, of Alabama. detailed the
situation at Subig Bay from a mill
tary standpoint and reiterated his
views in favor of that location as q
naval base as against Cavite.
Mr. Hcbson said he had telephoned
Admiral Dewey to-day. and the Adj
miral had replied: 1T is subig Bay
now and forever IL we are TO have a
naval base"
Mr. Sherley asserted that it would
have been more valuable TO Congress
If Admiral Dewey had made his dissent
to the findings of the board instead of
acquiescing in the findings and max
ing his dissent by telephone.
Mr. Hobson holly retorted that #
Admiral Dewey and the general board
had told the Naval Committee and the
whole Congr that this whole ques-
ton was to provide against the sudden
attack of 100000 men that could land
at League Island, Mr.. Sherley would
criticize the admiral and the board
dnd the President and the Navy De-
partment. and every other man who
studied the question for bringing up a
war scare"
Mr.. Hobson asserted that in order for
the United States to control the Pacific
it would be necessary to have first
class naval base at Pearl Harbor, Ha-
wall q second-class station at Subig
:. th{rI- n q q cfa ar 10 ~ RI.
Hobson Defends Navy.
Following the withdrawal by AIR.
Jones of his amendment, a prolonged
debate was precipitated over point of
order made by Mr. Tawney against
the provision in the bill granting to
the Secretary of the Navy authority
to make expenditures for repairs and
changes on vessels in excess of the
limit now fixed The chair sustained
the point, and the words went out of
the bill The efficiency OF the person.
mel of the American navy was yigo-
rousy defended by Mr.. Hobson.
He gave an historical review of the
part played by Americans in naval
battles. and declared that that record
of unparalleled efficiency is still main
tained.'
The American ships. the product of
that personnel he added. were not only
as good but from 20 to % per cont. bet
ter than ships of equal tonnage of the
salrc date abroad. He warned the
House that future nava: battles would
be fought with the great guns of long
range. aud said that the six-inch and
eight guns woul1 not be as ef-
fectivc as heretofore.
The reading of the bill proceeded
rapidly until the provision for naval
increase was reached.
Anticipating a leng,ny debate on the
battleshlp proposition the bill was laid
aside for the day.