The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15
FLEET IN EACH
OCEAN NEEDED
AYERS DEWEY
Not Half Fleets but Great Ar
madas Is Answer of
Admiral
Navy Should Be So Powerful
That All Nations Would Pre- !,
fer TO Keep Peace
Those Against Increase, Says
Sea Hero, Mean Well, but
Are Misinf0rmed
DISPATCH TO THE CALL

- A@NA<AL bACE A10d IL 1hE GALL
WASHINGTON, March l4-Armed
with President Roosevelt's written
authorization, W. S. Merriweather in
terviewed Admiral Dewey today re-
garding needs of the navy. In his
letter, President Roosevelt paid his
respects to various bodies of citizens
who have been prompting congress
against further increases in the navy.
Admiral Dewey was outspoken in
his approval of the presidents utter
ances on the feet question. He said
two fleets, not two half fleets, are abso-
States from possibility of attack on
either coast
I am thoroughly convinced" said
Admiral Dewey, that persons petit
tioning congress are misled as to the
efficiency Of the measures they advo-
ing the navy at present would be far
more likely to bring on war, with its
awful horrors. than extension of fleet
to twice its present size.
NO TEMPTATION FOR WAR
TT is, in my opinion, a mistake to
assume that possession of powerful
military force, either afloat or ashore,
would tempt the United States to en-
ter upon a policy of aggression which
would lead to war. I believe that our
government. as constituted today and
will continue TO be constituted for an
indefinite time. can be trusted to make
proper use of any lighting force it may
possess.
Il believe, moreover, that if we
should become involved in difficulties
with another nation. the United States
would not resort TO the measure OF
war except to resist actual encroach-
ment, and then only after all powers
of diplomacy and arbitration had been
exhausted. But it is to be prepared
for this last unhappy contingency that
an army and navy are needed.
Those who have not studied the
subject fail to realize that the peculiar
States requires for protection a much
larger feet than If its possessions. were
concentrated in a smaller region It's
coasts border on two oceans separated
by many thousands of miles, and It's
insular possessions lie far beyond con-
tinental limits
MUST HAVE TWO FLEETS
The limits that have been set for
the United States navy do not contem-
plate preparation to meet two nations.
but or1y a single one. This, however.
includes any one. The most casual
study of the policy required will. re-
veal the necessity for having two bat
tie fleets. one in the Atlantic and one
in the Pacific. each adequate to cope
with any situation that may quickly
arise in its own region.
This does not mean half a feet In
the Atlantic and half a feet in the
Pacific, halves liable to destruction one
at time by any enemy far inferior to
the combined feet, the prime cause Of
Russia's recent defeat It does not
mean a fleet of proper size In the
Atlantic and no fleet in the Pacific, nor
a proper fleet In the Pacific and none
IN the Atlantic
Despite the inspiring example we
are having of our ability to move 1s
battleships from one to the other ocean
with certainty and precision that marks
an end in naval achievements. if war
breaks out with our fleet In only one
ocean an enemy could hold uninter-
rupted sway for period of months
while the fleet was being transferred.
during which time the damage wrought
might be irreparable
We must have an adequate feet
with all the means in each of the
widely separated regions where attack
is possible"
President Roosevelt wrote In his let
ter authorizing the Dewey Interview:
These excellent people might as
well memorialize the mayor of New
York to reduce the police force of that
city or sign petition to curtail the
fire department An adequate navy is
sure guarantee of peace and main
tenance of law and order in inter-
national affairs. as is adequate police
protection in municipal affairs. AS pos
session of a well equipped fire depart
ment insures a city against loss from
destructive fires, so does well
equipped and adequate navy insure a
nation against destructive wars"