Evening journal., 1908-02-29
BOARD OF TRADE
ANNUAL DINNER
Ccon;inusd from Second PaUs)

whole feet should have been sent to
the Pacific Ocean. and may venture
main in the Pacific Ocean. II con-
sists of sixteen battleships that have
gone out, to be joined by two more
battleships already there, and by eight
armored cruisers. making altogether
twenty-six armed vessels. At the
present time Japan has eleven battle
ships and eleven arlnored cruisers,
making twenty-five vessels; but IN the
course Of a few months she win add
the Ibuld and the Musaba, vessels Of
about $1,000 tons. making twenty-four;
and then m the course of a few months
more she viii add the Satsuma and the
Ald, great battleships larger than the
Dreadnaught. Each one Of these bait
tleships is estimated bv experts to be
at least the equivalent Of three OF the
existing types. Therefore the addition
Of these two viii he equivalent TO six,
and win bring up the Japanese figure
to thirty.
Hence. we may say that before this
year Is out our margin of superior
strength in the Pacihe viii disappear -
"The events of the past few years
make It necessary for America to re-
wise her methods of dealing with our
Navy. It must now be taken up in
an earnest, serious, adequate, scientific
manner; and I submit 1t to the bust
ness men OF wilmington that the only
sound basis upon which we can secure
our vast extent of coast line. our COM
munications with Panama. not TO mem
ton our protection Of Cuba. Porto Rico
and the Monroe Doctrine in South
America, demands that America must
control the ocean in the Atlantic. Sim
! liar considerations for our Pacific coast
and for our outlying possessions de-
mand that we must control the ocean
| in the Pacific. Furthermore, we must
| be prepared to control both oceans al
the same time.
Il do not impute any unfriendly
motives 20 other powers when ] say
that any scheme Of national defense
must contemplate an alliance between
the European power and an Asiati'
power. and, in truth, we are now fac
ing the offensive and defensive alliance
between Great Britain and Japan.
"Co-incident with this doubling de-
mand for a naval power, there hai
been a revolution In naval architecture
brought about by the Russo-Japanes'
war. which has evolved the grea
new ships known as the "Dreadnaugh
class" For three years all the othel
powers have been proceeding witt
great energy 10 equip themselves witt
these new ships. Great Britain hal
in hand Is. Germany IS. France II
Japan II. while America only has two
and these two are allowed three year
in building. whereas other nations de
mand completion Of their vessels Il
less than two years Even Italy ha
four of these new vessels and Brazi
three. Having lost all of this tim
and being practically detenseless in IN
Atlantic and scarcely able TO hold on
own in the Pacific. feel that it is yer!
conservative to conclude that the pres
emit session OF Congress ought to auth
orize two additional ships Of the Della
ware class. to complete four Of TIA
class and should, in addition. authoriz
four more battleships of an improves
delaware class. Of about $4,000 tons
which with about 20 per cent create
cost can realize from 40 to 50 per cent
greater power"
AS a preliminary to his speech Nj
Hobson said he had heard Of Whining
toms big powder yards and It's oil
shipyards. but since being with yol
tonight have felt that the bigges
thing in Delaware and the bigges
thing in Delaware and America jus
now is Judge Gray" The applaus
which followed the tribute to the dis
tinguished Delawarean was deafenin
Then he said;