The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-11
Dur Coast Weakest in
the World, He
Thinks.
Argues in House for
Four BattleShipS This
Year.

ton pleaded today for an appropriation
It once for four new batueships, instead
If for only two, as proposed by the
Committee on Naval Affairs
House Listens Intently.
Seldom has a new Member of Con-
Tess attracted such attention. Where
Disorder had reigned when some "old
liners" had been talking on the naval
appropriation bill, the hero Of the Mer-
imac was able to secure a death-like
Hence.
As to economical objections to four
attleships, Captain Hobson said critics
FOuld do better TO criticize the ap-
reputation for the administration and
maintenance OF the Navy Department
ather than the construction plan.
When a nation confronts another on
he eve of war, exclaimed HObsOn, :" ''she
SKIS not how much does the other ma
ion spend for the administration Of her
ut how many battleships does she
iOssess?'
He expressed his belief that It would
e easy TO man the new ships.
Foss Interrupts Speech.
Chairman Foss, Of the Naval Commit
ee. sort of cautiously called Hobson's
lot provide for the manning OF the pro-
osed ships. Hobson acknowledged
hat The next time a member rose to
SIX a question he insisted that queries
aust be pertinent.
Representative Gregg Democrat. of
seXas) asked if the Alabamian did not
now that the Navy Department had
ieen unable 10 man what vessels she
assesses.
THE gentleman does not know any
hing OF the Sort shouted HObsOn as
le sprang forward with Clenched fists
republicans and Democrats alike
aught by the spirit Of the speaker,
hCered him ana the galleries, Jammed
the doors with admirers Of the young
representative. accepted the opportunity
express roaring approval Of the
democratic defender Of the Rooseveltian
avail policy.
The eIoquence Of the Hero Of the
derrimac." and his evident comprehen-
i've knowledge of the subject, made the
membership forget the fact that this
vas the maiden effort Of the young Con-
FRESHMAN.
The penalty for being unprepared for
gar, he said, would simply stagger the
imagination. The proper investigation Of
he question OF national defense, he
maintained. involved the consideration
4 the possibility Of war with Great
Britain and Japan combined. "a war
q which the American flag would ne
wiped from the sea, and in which the
IOrdeS Of India and China as well as
apan. would be thrown upon our
hOreS.
The only rational basis for a proper
atiOnal defense is for US to proceed 10
guarantee control Of the sea against any
iation of Asia In the Pacific" declared
captain Hobson, "and against any na-
ion OF Europe in the Atlantic. both at
he same time; and 1 here proclaim,
whether we realize this policy or not
Fv.n #of. f1r rr.nT ,I.T.
whether we shall have TO learn our
essOn in the school of suffering, amidst
humiliation and defeat-we viii yet
earn the lesson that for the elemental
mrpose of self-preservatiOn. the very
lrst duty that we owe ourselves in
.eeping with the first law OF nature, is
hat America must be supreme on the
cean-"
II was in line with the movement
oward this supremacy that Hobson
sized for four new battleships. The
cry minimum demanded by a reason
bic program, In view Of the battleships
nat other nations are building, he said,
Fould be a provision for six enormous
attleships a year for several years for
he atlantic ocean, and four for the Pa
idc.
Our Coast the Weakest.
lie showed that on the Atlantic ocean,
ccluding the navigable rivers and the
treat Lakes. and the West india possess
ions. there were 1900 m les of water
me exposed TO naval attack To this
ne Monroe Doctrine had added Is, 700
allies making in all $1,000 miles, as COM
AIRED with 400 miles on the same ocean
or which the three principal maritime
atoms OF Europe were responsible.
As America had built her cities on
er waterways and on the ocean as no
Their country had done, 50 would she
uffer from a naval attack" he de-
Jared. ION the Atlantic including the
Ounties that border upon waterways,
70 have 1880, 900 population, and 81, Co.,
O.0OO OF property values, practically
5ithin gunshOt of the water
More American citizens are thus ex-
.osed than there are citizens similarly
exposed in all Europe combined, and
nore American property exposed than
here is other property exposed in all
he rest of the world combined"
Hobson deplored the lack OF a mer-
liant marine, The large standing ar
aies of Europe would make ii possible
o maintain naval base in America,
ghile such would be impossible for
,merica in Europe.
'Forts. mines, torpedoes. torpedo
oats. and summaries are valuable ac-
essOries, but such defenSeS have never
topped a determined commander of a
reat fleet" exclaimed Captain HobSon
I a climax in his speech They did
.ot stop Nelson at Copenhagen, nor
arrarlIt AT Mobile bay, nor Dewey at
Ianila. Such defenses never determine
he issue OF a war, and have no weight
q deterring an enemy from seeking
-ar"
The same conditions OF disadvantage
hat were TO be found in the Atlantic.
aid the Congressman, were repeated
nth greater disparity in the Pacific.
with three times the amount of coast
ne" he declared, we spread over the
5hole ocean, while the whole Japanese
cast line is concentrated there at
ONE, permitting Of a perfect defense
We have so neglected the establishment
naval bases that our outlying pos
essionS, instead of being q source Of
tnength. are a source OF great weak
ess, and Il is a question whether II
Fould prove possible to maintain a
reat fleet efficiently in the Pacific
oesn. although the necessity for doing
~ now unquestiOned.
Condition a Temptation.
"Our unpreparedness and defenseless-
ess was wrong. in that it placed temp
alton in the path OF Japan 10 aspire
o dominate the commerce Of the Pa
ifc ocean, and to lead the yellow race