Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-09
'HOBSON WANTS
SHIPS ON COAST
GREATER NAVY FOR PACIFIC
HIS SLOGAN
is GUEST OF VETERANS OF THE
SPANISH WAR
Hero OF Merrimac Is Shown Sights OF
Pasadena and Today VIII
View San Pedro's
Breakwater

tee on naval affairs, is in dead earnest
in his opinion that the Pacific coast
needs the protection of an adequate
battleship fleet, and he expressed him.
self freely on this subject when he ar
rived at the Alexandria yesterday.
Los Angeles could be taken without
substantial resistance by force of 30,
900 men--a fact which is true of San
Francisco or any other city on the Pa
cific coast"
This startling statement was followed
by another equally astonishing, name
ly, that there is not coast artillery
enough for this coast by one-half, and
that 1000 more men are needed to man
even that half.
"The United States, If 1t continues
on it's present naval policy, is on the
road to fifth place among the nations
of the world.
"Battleships greater than the Dread
naught must be built in order to keep
our present position among the ma
tons navies.'
Captain Hobson declared that the yell
low race has twenty-five armored ships
in the Pacific to the twenty-six of the
white man. But the former may put
into commission at any time four more
ships, two of which will be $1,000 ton
vessels, equal to any of the United
States, while the other two are 10000
ton ships carrying sixteen huge guns.
These will equal four of the American
navy"
Favors Naval Policy
The Alabama congressman favors
President Roosevelt's naval policy and
believes not only should the ships now
in the Pacific be kept in these waters,
but the five warships still in the At
lantic should be rushed to the Pacific.
He cites Japan's tremendous war
preparations during the school Incl
dents of San, Francisco and the Van
\ couver incident as reason for quick
preparation.
Build six ships a year of $4,000 tons
and send them TO the Pacific ocean.
would also advise the building of ships
of 10000 tons to cost $4,000, 900 each,"
he added.
Hobson believes the resources of the
United States will enable this nation
TO build a navy placing it at the head
of the list of the worlds navies.
At the Arcade depot yesterday morn
ing delegation of the officers and
members of Roosevelt camp No. 8,
Spanish War Veterans, met Captain
Hobson and escorted him In military
style to the Alexandria hotel. where
he remains as the honored guest of
that organization. For the past three
ering addresses throughout the north
west and middle Pacific coast on a
subject which is doubly dear to the
hearts of the westerners; in fact there
has been friendly rivalry between the
fleet and Hobson when they appeared
in the same city on the same day. but
as both are working for the same OBJ
ject. the supremacy of the American
navy on the seas, they each added to
the popularity of the other.
Congress delayed Captain Hobson
three. weeks and he was compelled to
cancel a portion of his best dates In
this state. But he made gallant fight
for four more battleships for the Pa
cific coast squadron.
Talks at Occidental
Yesterday at noon Captain Hobson
visited Occidental college and gave
talk to the boys and girls, afterward
lunching with President Baer of the
college and Secretary Sans of the Pas
adena Y. NJ. c. A. During the after
noon an auto ride showed Captain Hob
son the beauties of Pasadena. A short
address was made at the Throop school
and in the evening at Lowe opera
house under the Pasadena branch of
the Y. M. c. A. Captain Hobson pre-
sented his favorite subject, National
Peace"
The Spanish war veterans of both
Pasadena and Los Angeles acted as
escort and guard of honor, occupying
the boxes and the greater part of the
house. Most of these boys were at the
battle of Santiago and many of them
wear emblems of honor, among them
being r. e. Graham, who had charge
of the Associated Press dispatch boat
Wanda, and was standing at the bridge
with Schley when Hobson volunteered.
Graham afterward carried the first
news of this feat of valor to Key West,
where 1t was flashed all over the
world.
To View Breakwater
Captain Hobson's itinerary today in
cludes a visit under the auspices of the
directors of the chamber of commerce
and few invited guests to San Pedro
and Point Firmin, where they will view
the new government breakwater and If
possible secure an opinion on the vari-
Gus spots selected for the proposed
land and water Notifications which are
to be asked for by the California peo-
pie at the next session of congress.
This excursion Is made through the
courtesy of Captain Fries, who accom-
panies the party and has placed the
government yacht at it's disposal
The party consists of Captain Hob
son, Captain Amos A. Fries, W. w.
Braun r. W. Burnham, II. Hamlin.
John t. Gaffey, j. e. Brockway and
II. S. Kneedler.
The party will spend the morning in
taking In the various features of the
harbor and return at o'clock.
Luncheon will be served at the Cali
fornia club, where Captain Hobson will
be the guest of a number of personal
friends, prominent members of that
body. An auto ride about the city Is
planned for the afternoon and a visit
to the Polytechnic high school, where
Captain Hobson speaks tonight under
the joint auspices of the student BODY
OF the Polytechnic high school and
Roosevelt camp, Spanish War Veterans.
For Greater Navy
The subject for tonight is America
the Mistress of Seas a strong appeal
for a greater American navy, and con-
sidered by those who have already had
the pleasure of hearing it as the great
est talk on America. her naval re-
sources. her present efficiency, her past
mistakes and how they were rectified
that has yet been delivered before con-
gress or from the platform.
If you wish to know Captain Hob
sons views on this subject you should
be present tonight.
The people of Los Angeles are fortu-
nate to secure one night with Captain
fiobson, as he was compelled to cut
cut three weeks of his time owing to
duties which detained him in Washing
ton to be present when the question
OF four battleships for the Pacific coast
was raised. Captain Hobson leaves on