The Mena weekly star., 1908-04-16
MORE BATTLESH|PS
PRESIDENT uR0Es coNsTRuc- TON OF FOUR VESSELS OF
 MOST APPROVED TYPE.
SPECIAL MEssAsE SENT TO CONGRESS
China Held Up as Example Of "Peacs at Any Price" DoctrIne--oreat Brit aims Naval Policy to be Emulated-- Country Must Be Ready to Resent Insults.


 Washington. Apr. 15.--Compressed into what would be not more than a ten minute speech on the floor of con gress, President Roosevelt Tuesday urged that body in special message to provide for the construction of four battleships of the largest and most approved type, at once.
 The arguments of the president to impress his insistsnce 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. as having the naval policy to be emulated.
 The result of the last The Hague conference made it plain that the na- tions would not for some time, If ever, agree on . plan of limitation of naval armament Arbitration. the president holds, cannot be relied upon as an ef- fective remedy. though 1t should be utilized to it's fullest extent.
 Disclaiming any intention oR tho part of the United States ever to en- gage in war of conquest, the presi- dent made 1t plain that this country could ill-afford to relax into e place where insult would have to be borne in silence.
 In summing up his argument the president concluded his message as follows:
 When nation is so happily situated as ours--that is, when 1t has no reason to fear or to be feared by its land neighbors--the fleet is all the more ne- cessary for the preservation of peace. Great Britain has been saved by its fleet from the necessity of facing one of the two alternatives-of submis- sion by conquest by foreign power or of itself becoming a great military power. The United States can hope for a permanent career of peace on only one condition and that is, on con- dition of building and maintaining . first class navy; and the step to be taken toward this end at this time is to provide for the building of four additional battleships. earnestly wish that the congress would pass the
 
 strengthening and rendering more efii- cient the army as we'll as the navy: all of these measures as affecting ev- cry branch and detail of both services are sorely needed. and 1t would be the part of far sighted wisdom to en- act them all into laws. but the most vital and immediate need Is that of the four battleships.
 To carry out this policy is but to act in the spirit of George Washing ton; is but to continue the policies which he outlined when he said: lob serve good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and har- mony with all.
 Nothing is more essential than that permanent. inveterate antiquities against particular nations and passion ate attachments for others should be excluded, and that in place of them just and amicable feelings toward all should be cultivated.
 cannot recommend to your notice measures for the fulfillment of our du- ties to the rest of the world without again pressing upon you the necessity of placing ourselves in condition of complete defense and of exacting from them the fulflllmeEt of their duties to- ward us.
 The United States ought not to in- iulge in a persuasion that contrary to the order of human events, they will forever keep at distance those )ainful appeals to arms with which the History of every other nation abounds. There is rank due to the United ,tates among nations which will be withheld If not absolutely lost by the reputation of weakness. If we desire 10 avoid Insult, we must be able to repel it; If we desire to secure peace. one of the most powerful Instruments of our rising prosperity. 1t must be known that we are at all times ready fes..