Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-04-02
HOBSON
PLEADS FOR
WARShIPS
CONGRESSMAN SAYS THE AT
LANTIC OCEAN Is NOT THE
ONLY ONE WE HAVE TO DE
FENp.

III DdIIs WAS dS lOllOWS.
cat the proper time In the second
reading of the bill l intend to in
troduce an amendment to the naval
appropriation bin, adding two bat
tleships of $4,000 tons displacement
to the two battleships of tho Dele
ware class, provided by the bill, thus
restoring the original number rec
commended by the President, the sec
retary of the navy and the general
board.
II regret that have TO appear in
the light of differing with the COM
mittce, but the difference Is only APP
parent, for, in reality. the conviction
OF the committee Is almost unani-
nous that we ought to provide for
four battleships at this session OF
congress.
"The naval appropriation bill
deals with the most important phase
of the national defense.
There are two instrumentalities|
of power for national defense: one
I'm the form OF armed men, the other
In the form of ships.
"rhe inherent advantage of choos-
ing naval power rather than mill
tary power is recognized by all ma
tlons. We do ont maintain, and can
not and should not maintain
great standing army.
LET ms now investigate the qsies-
tion OF an adequate naval detense
| for America. | glance at the map OF
the Atlantic ocean and it shows at
once that America Is the most eX-
posed nation found upon its shores.
"The great river systems pene-
trate 10 the very heart OF the nation,
and there are more than 10000
miles OF navigable river waterways
leading up from the ocean.
america has built her great
cities on her waterways as no other
country in the word. on the At
lantic. including the countries that
border upon waterways, we nave d.
500. 900 population, and SlT6OO,-
0OO, 900 OF property values, practl-
cally within gunshot OF the water.
For the gulf. there are 11,9OO,OOO
population, and $500, 100000 prop
erty; for the great lakes, 7,OOO,OOO
poulation and $7,2O0,OOO,OOO OF
property: for the Mississippi valley,
II1,5OO, 900 population, and $500
100000 OF property; making a total
of over $4,000. 900 OF our people and
over S37 .00O. 100000 OF our property
practically within gunshot OF the
water.
"More American citizens are thus
exposed than there are citizens simi'
llarIy exposed In all Europe COM
bined. ana more American property
exposed than there Is other property
exposed I'm al the rest OF the world
II Is utterly impossible 20 provide
mobilization where the distances are
go great whereas mobilization TOT
the other nations Is the simplest OF
undertakings. AS compared Win
lother nations, we are utterly lack
ing I'm n merchant marine from
which not only 10 draw the men
needed for expansion In time OF war
land auxiliary vessels for war pur-
noses. but also TRANSPORTS necessary
for properly conducting war opera
tions. ,,
eve have almost no standing
lnrmy and could not prevent the selz'
ure by foreign power OF harhoi
on our shores or near oar shoes 70
he u-ed as a naval base; whereas II
would be practically Impossible Ioi
America 10 secure a naval base TOT
operations IN European waters.
ct would be impossible for Ameri,
ca 10 make raids uDon the shores ol
Furone. but Il would be a very sim
ME thing for European nations Ia
make raids against the shores OF
America.
4 "But the Atlantic ocean Is not IN
only ocean we have 10 defend. ON
existing navy was built uD for this
ocean. but now suddenly we find the
necessity for defending the Paeih'
ocean. but we do not find any fieel
available. The same conditions OF
disadvantage that we find In the AZ
Ilantlc are reneated In the Paelhe
leven with greater disparity. Further
more. our land defenses on the Paci.
6c slope are utterly inadequate and
we have so neglected the establish
ment OF a naval base that our out
living pO7session instead OF beine
J source OF strength are a source OF
great weakness, and II Is a question
whether Il would proye possible q
maintain a great iieet efheiently IN
the Pacific ocean, although the nee
egsity for doing so Is now unqnes'
toned. Given the open ocean ai
! compared with the broad continent
the yellow people OF Asia could pa
ten times as many men on the Paelii'
: slope as we could from the centers oi
lpopu'atlOn I'm America. In fact, II
a wrong for us to place the tempta
ton that we have placed in the patti
OF Japan. Il g. perfectly natural fol
lJapan 70 asDlre 20 dominate the com
merce OF China, the commerce o
Asia and OF the Pacific ocean; Il II
lperfectly natural for japan 20 seei
10 control the policies Of China ant
10 attain supremacy In the Pacih'
locean. and 10 lead the yellow race
Howard a recognized supremacy n