Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-04-15
FOR FOUR WARSHIPS
President Sends Special Message to
Congress on Naval Affairs.
l-cEE BATTLEsHIPs NEEDED
Executive Advances Reasons for In
sistinr on Original Program.
CHINA HELD UP AS EXAMPLE
Low Standing Of Nation Attributed
to Military Weakness.
NATIONS AMONG POWERS
CHINA HELD UP AS EXAMPLE
AMONG POWERS
NATIONS
Depends Upon Hence of Fla II
Machines slh Hone of Coco
era1 Arbitration Has &c
Disappeared.


minute speech on tho floor Of congress,
PreA'c 'cat Roosevelt today urged that body
IN s7ec'al message 10 provide for the
construcnN n four battleships OF the
largest ami most approved type. at once.
The arguments Of the president to inn
press his insistence on this naval program
were few but calculated to be effective
China was held up as an example Of the
peace at any price" doctrine, and Great
Britain, az having the naval policy to be
emuiated.
The result OF the last Hague conference
made II plain that the nations would not
for some time II ever, agree on plan OF
limitation Of naval armament Arbitration,
the president holds, cannot be relied upon
as an effective remedy, though it should
be utilized to it's fullest extent.
Dsclaiming any intention on the part OF
the United States ever to engage in a war
OF conquest the president made 1t plain
that this country could u afford to relax
into a place where insult would have to be
borne In silence.
United states Must Keep In Line.
The preside 1t said:
ITO the Senate and House of Representa-
tives; Let me again urge upon congress
the need Of providing for four battleships
of the best and most advanced type at this
session. Prior to the recent Hague con-
ference It had been my hope that an agree
ment could be reached between the differ
ont nations to limit the increase of naval
ornaments, and especially TO limit the size
OF warships. Under these circumstances
felt that the construction of one battleship
a year would keep our navy up to Its then
positive and relative strength. But actual
experience showed not merely that it was
.lt.l. st,le. st.b ant
for the Limitation OF armaments among the
various leading powers, but that there WAS
no likelihood whatever of obtaining 1t in
the future within any reasonable time.
"Concldentally with this discovery oo-
CURED radical change in the building of
battleships among the great military ma
tions--a change IN which II was apparent
modern battleships have been or are being
sonstrnoted o. = s,se ana armament which
doubles, or more probably triples their
effectiveness Every other great naval ma
ton has, or " building number of ships
Of this kind; we have provided for but two,
and therefore the balance of power is now
inclning against u.s. Under these condi-
tons to provide for but one or two battle
ships a year is to provide that this nation,
Instead OF advancing. shall go kackards in
naval rank and relative power among the
great nations Such course, would be un-
wise for us ~ we fronted merely on one
ocean. and Il is doubly unwise for US II
we front on two oceans.
speaks as Naval Commander.
As chief executive OF the nation, and as
ommander-in-ehief of the navy, is imposed
upon me the solemn responsibility Of ad-
visink the congress of the measures vitality
necessary to secure the peace and welfare
II the republic in the event of international
complications which are even remotely
possible Having in view this solemn res
possibility, l earnestly advise that the con-
Eress now provide four battleships Of the
most advanced type. 1 cannot too emphat-
Ically cay that this is a measure of peace
and not war. / can corrective of no circum-
stances under which this republic would
enter Into an aggressive warfare; most GER
tainly, under no circumstances would It
enter into an aggressive war to, extend its
territory or in airy other manner seek ma
terial ACKNOWLEDGMENT. advocate that the
United states build a navy commensurate
with It's powers and its needs, because l
feel that such a navy will be the surest
guaranty and safeguard of peace.
I'VE are not a military nation. Our army
Is SO srnan as to present an almost absurd
contrast TO our size 1t is properly treated
as lltLle more than a nucleus for Organiza-
tlon In case OF serious war. Yet we a
rich nation and nndefended wealth invites
aggression The very liberty OF individual
speech and action. which we prize and
GUARD. renders II possible that at times un-
expected causes OF friction with foreign
powers may suddenly develop. At this
moment we are negotiating arbitration
treaties With all the other powers that are
willing 10 enter them. These arbitration
treaties are not only for the hope of end
ing wrong doins by others against US. but
also as a proof that We have no intention
OF doing wrong ourselves.
FOrbeAranee of other Powers.
'Yet Il Is idle TO assume, and from the
standpoint OF national interest and honor
It is misoheyious folly for any ststeman to
assume that this world has yet reached
the stage, or has come within measurable
distance OF the stage when proud nation
jealous OF its honor and conscious of It's
great mission in the world, can be content
to rely for peace upon the forbearance OF
other powers.
"IJ would be equally foolish TO reply
upon each OF them possessing at all times
and under al circumstances and pro-
voeauons an aitruistic regard for the
rights of others Those who hold this
view are blind Indeed to all that has
gone on before their eyes in the world
at large, They are blind TO what has
happened IN China in Turkey, in the
spanish possessions, I'm Central and South
Africa during the last dozen years. For
centuries China has cultivated the very
spirit which our own peace at any price
men wish this country TO adopt For
centuries China has refused TO provids
military forces and has treated the career
OF the soldier as inferior In honor and re-
gard 10 the career OF the merchant OF
OF the man OF letters. There never has
been 50 large an empire which for so long
time has 80 resolutely proceeded on the
theory Of doing away with what is called
''mnitaflsm."