The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-07
Congressman Again Waves the Yellow Flag of Danger from
 the 0risRta| Races
NATIONAL DEFENSE MUST
 BE MADE MORE SECURE
lnadequacy of Present American Navy and Coast Defense Is Pointed Out and the Danger That Lies
 in Procrastination.


 Washington, April 6-Pointing out what he declared to be the precarious eondi- ton of the national defense of the United States, both in the Atlantic and the Pa- oiic oceans, MT. Hobson of Alabama in the House of Representatives today made an earnest plea for two battleships of 25,OO0 tons displacement in addition to the two authorized by the naval appropria- ton bill. He said that conservative estimate would indicate that for the mini mum basis of security and safety in the Pacific ocean the United States should lay down at least four big ships A year for many years to come, until Japan comedies to Us what is inevitable the American control of the sea around which our possessions are scattered" As minimum for the Atlantic ocean the government should lay down six battle ships year, he said. Heretofore, said MT. Hobson. the weakness of America in the matter of national defense had not been fatal to it's growth and develop ment because the oceans constituted a great barrier between America and the armies of the world Now, however, said he, the oceans have been bridged and the armies of the world have been brought to OUT doors, and along with the arEies of the older nsttions-ot Europe have come the armies of the ancient na- lions of Asia.' He said that where Amer ica formerly lived more or less in isola- tion, she is now exciting the jealousy of other great nations in threatening their supremacy in commerce. industry and finance. In aG~ition he declared that re- cent events have thrown us into the politi- cal vortex of the world, and that the dangers of being unprepared are becoming greater and greater with each succeeding year.
 Things Lacking.
 After calling attention to America's lack of merchant marine, which could be used as auxiliares in time of war, and of transports necessary for properly conducting war operations, MT. Hobson said:
 We have almost no standing army and could not prevent the seizure by a foreign power of a harbor on our shores or near our shores, to be used as a naval base; whereas it would be practically impossible for America to secure a maya base for operations in European waterere Forts. mines. torpedoes, torpedo boats ione submarines are valuable mn mn 1s mics: sort such defenses have nev, scent there and termined commander op again. They did not stop Nelsolthat the lynching
 q l. rar- of aJ nor Farragut at Mobile ta d;ss,'ise thsir at Manila. Such defenses
 the issues of war and h;-- deterrng an enemy froeachers. The forts that we have a-(Special. )-State manned whereas the trottion H. (. Gum other landward defense corthe county su- ilzed within the time necessilow the teach
 Conflict With JaEte 'sdy ed;,cstio,ai a'o a1
 The possibility of a conhic, 16. This will was discussed at length by ,ce. which MI. He said it was but perfectlS fesarus ms Japan to aspire to 6omina merce of China, the corsnerce-- of the Pacific ocean, andsxe AND perfectly natural for Ar e. control the policies of S<Soei iii' ioi !" tain supremacy in the Pace to lead the yellow race toM,. & p c,h nized supremacy in the wo
 With regard to the gres-.-..-...z ,. . < < < < E E ]" < . ]. .. !. . 2 the white race, MT. Hobson UEBAl of course, clear to the Jap! I8 M men that America is the or ton standing athwart of tn, of these ambitions. It Is true ica only asks fair chance al s simply the open door policy but this policy goes counter ambitions"
 The United States, said MT must accept Japan's protesta-.r friendship, and we should most ly reciprocate friendly feelings and realize that if any breach should between the two countries it would our fault, on account of being so fenseess, and not the fault of Jspa
 Conditions to the West.
 Pursuing his analysis of the conditf in the Pacific, Mir Hobson declared tf I've cannot ignore the fact that JapI has undertaken stupendous war pred rations. preparations which have double the national debt of Japan since the war with Russia was over. 1t is estimated that she has between 3O0,0O0 and 400.0o men under arms. yet there is no menae from the armies of Siberia or the armi, of China or the armies of Europe nation since the world began has eH maintained such an army, under sue except as a preparation fo an early campaign of aggression"
 Japanese Programme.
 Continuing, MT. Hobson said that not withstanding the fact that five battleships of the Russian navy had been added to navy, and although the Rus sian fleet had vanished from the Pacific ocean and there was no fleet of any sizs --~~-~-----~-----~>--- ->>~>--~---~---~-