The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-15
DEFENDS THE NAVY
FIR. HoBsoN LAUDs THE AMERICAN
 OFFICERS.
In The Discourse on Naval Appropria- tfem Bili, The AIabamian Gave Historical Review of Amert-
 eans in Naval Battles.

Washington, April i4--In the course of the discussion in the House of the provisions for fortifying subig Bay to- day Representative Hobson quoted teiephonic message from Admiral Dewey saying: Tt is subig Bay now and forever if we are to have naval base" ~
 The controversy between the army and the navy as to which Is the more desirable place, Cavite or Subig Bay, for fertilization and protection, was condemned by Mir Crumpacker,, or Indiana. He thought the apprepria- tiena for csntt3 and 0longapQ. Spbig f Bay. should be Noted out of the Uiii until the question as to the location Of the permanent naval station should De determined
 Taking advantage of statement by MT. Toss that the matter had not been finally disposed of, Mir. Tawney. or Minnesota, opposed any appropriation whatever at this time. Mir Foss. how ever, declared that Admiral Dewey and other naval authorities were all agreed that Subig Bay on account of it's depth of water was the proper place for the permanent station. In the final analy- | sis, said Mr. Foss, amid applause, tt | will be the navy that will defend the army; 1t will be the navy that will keep our flag afloat in the sky over the | Philippine archipelago" 'rf," he said, .'the United States controlled the sea, no invading army ever could come into | the Philippine Islands.
 Mir Sheriey. of Kentucky, persisted that Admiral Dewey and the joint board of which he is president, has recom- mended Cavite. but Mir. Foss asserted | that recommendations had been ap- proved and that for years back the | joint board had declared in favor of | Subig Bay.
 | MT. Hobson. of Alabama, detailed | the situation at Subig Bay from a military standpoint and reiterated ms | views in favor of that location as a naval base against Cavite. Pressed by MT. Sherley for information about Ad- miral Deweys real position in the mat ter MT. Hobson, speaking with great | emphasis and amid loud applause, ex- claimed that he had telephoned the | Admiral today and Admiral Dewey had replied: Tt is Subig Bay now and for ever if we are to have naval base.'
 Stating that while he did not intend | to criticise Admiral Dewey, Mir. Shir- l ley added that 1t would have been l more valuable to Congress if he had l made his dissent to the findings of
 the board, instead of acquiescing in | the findings and makings his dissent
 by telephone"
 This remark somewhat nettled MT,
 Hobson. who hotly retorted that Ad- | miral Dewey and the general board | had told the naval committee and the | whole Congress, that this whole ques-
 tion was to provide against the sudden l attack of 150 ,00O men that could land l at League Island" Mir. Sherley would | "criticise the admiral and the board
 and the President and the Navy De partment and every other man who
 studied the question for bringing up l a war scare.
 l Mir. Hobson asserted that in order 1 for the United States to control the | Pacific. that 1t would be necessary to | have A first class naval base at Pearl
 Harbor, Hawai-, second class station
 at Subig Bay and third class station | at Cavite.
 Following the withdrawal by Mir
 Jones of his amendment, Mir. Crum- | packer of. Indiana, offered one provid- l ing that no part of the appropriation
 shall be used for the establishment of a permanent naval base at Olongapo Subig Bay. The amendment was lost
 and the reading of the bill was con | tinued. {
 The efficiency of the personnel of
 the American navy was vigorously de- 1 tended by MT. Hobson. He gave an
 historical review of the part played | by Americans in naval battles and de-
 clared that that record of unparall-
 eled efficiency is still maintained
 The American ships. the product oi | that personnel, he added. were not only | as good but from twenty to twenty. five per cent better than special ton.
 mage of the same date abroad. HC
 warned the House that future maya
 battles would be fought with the great
 guns of long range and said that tho
 six inch and eight inch guns would not
 be as effective as heretofore.
 The reading of the bill after these
 remarks proceeded rapidly until tn,
 provison for the naval increase wal
 reached. The bill at that point wa.
 laId aside for the day.