The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-22
In long Island Sound While En-
Route for Newport.
ALL THECREW.
He Attends Important Confer
ence at Naval War College.
Participated in by a Large Num-
ber of Officers.

Newport. r. l.. July 22.-President
Roosevelt after an adventurous night
trip in the fog from Oyster Bay, dur
! ing which his yacht, the Mayfiower,
ran down and sank a lumber schooner.
] rescuing the crew of six men on board,
arrived here at 9:45 a. m. today and
later at the naval war college address,
| ed a conference of nearly 200 naval
| officers representing all branches of
| the service to consider plans for new
American battleships.
| President Roosevelt made a stirring
| appeal for a hard hitting navy.
} Il want a first class fighting navy or
no navy at all,' said the president,
because a first class navy is the most
effective guarantee. of peace this ma
| ton can have"
There are always number or
amiable and well meaning people,
continued President Roosevelt, who
| believe in having navy merely for
coast defense. A purely defensive
navy would be almost worthless. To
| advocate such navy Is like advocat-
ing a school of prize fighting in which
no one should do anything but parry.
| ct hope this nation will never have
to hit. We should do everything that
honorably can be done to avoid
trouble. But when we do go to war,
that war is only excusapIe if the navy
is prepared to hammer its opponent
until he quits fighting. And you can't
hammer your opponent II you wait for
| him to come to the coast and hammer
you first. For the protection of our
| coasts we need fortificarIons so that
| the navy may be left free to stretch
out and destroy the enemy. That is
| its function
President Roosevelt declared that
even II the United States had no island
| ha i've
| naval policy would still be present.
| THE Monroe doctrine" he declared,
had almost fallen into disgrace and
contempt until the American nation
began to build up It's navy
Discussing the question of immi-
grafton the president declared that the
| American people have right to say
/ who shall come and dwell among
| them.
'Tt is our duty" he declared. "to
exercise that right in a way calculated
to provoke the LEAST friction. If we
! choose to say who shall come, how
ever. we must be in trim to uphold
that right in case anybody challenges
it,
President Roosevelt declared that
the cruise of the battleship fleet
around South America was the most
! instructive object lesson ever offered
of the reality of the Monroe doctrine.
Puts in Busy Day.
Newport, r. l., July 22.-The presi-
dents yacht Mayfiower with the presi-
dent on board in dense fog last night
ran. into and sank the lumber laden
schooner Menawa. All on board the
schooner, consisting of the captain and
five men, were taken on board the
Mayf1ower. The presidents yacht had
her bowsprit and one anchor carried
away, but the jar of the collision was
SO slight that none of the presidents
party knew of the accident until they
arose this morning. The Menawa be-
| longed to c. G. Pendleton, of Isleboro,
Me. The collision occurred at about
Ills a. m. when the Mayf1ower was be-
tween New London and New Haven.
AS soon as the Mayfiower arrived
here the following dispatch was sent:
"Newport, r. l.. July %, 1908.
Hon. William Loeb, Jr., Secretary to
the President. Oyster Bay. N. Y.
1.-The president and party arrived
was in collision with schooner last
night about lis O'Clock. No one was
injured Everybody aboard the schoon-
/ er rescued. The president was not in
formed and knew nothing about it un-
) til he got up this morning. (Signed),
u. L. McGREW.
r AS the president stepped from his
boat to the wharf the Constellation
{ broke out the presidents eagle crested
l flag at the main and hauled down the
? read admirars or station flag from the
I mizzen The official party arriving on
the Mayflower included the president
! and Mrs Roosevelt, Miss Ethel Ker-
4 nit, Quentin and Archie Roosevelt
and Mr. and Mrs. w. E. Roosevelt
At i o'clock during an intermission
= between the morning and afternoon
sessions of the conference the presi-
= dent and his party attended a recep-
= ton and luncheon.
During the presidents stay on the
= island great precautions are taken by
: the naval authorities. The causeway
9 gates leading to the station were clos
: ed last night at midnight and will re-
= main closed until the president takes
!, his departure. Extra sentries are or
= duty on the island patrolling the en-
i tire front with orders to prevent al
shore boats from landing.
An Important Conference.
With the arrival of President Roose
welt there begins at the naval war col
4 lege on Coasters harbor island, th
| picturesque site Of a number of nava
institutions, overlooking the. waters O
Narragansett bay, the most importan
n conference OF naval officers. affecting
d the future construction of American
4 battleships and cruisers, in the histor,
e of the sea fighting establishment Fo
d several weeks two score of officer
e comprising the staff of the war college
g the members of the summer conferenc
! and the personnel of the newly an
e poiuted "battleship commission" l1av
: been struggling with plans for futur
: battleships, without arriving at a
: agreement
Today a conference OF more tina,
r 100 officers of the navy. together witt
= a large representation from the arm,
lel was addressed by President Roosevelt
X The president afterward participate,
in a discussion on the merits of tn
30 various plans with the officers an,
s3 also took up the criticisms that recent
81 ly have been made upon naval con
Rkl structinn- He spoke eztomnaraneoual