Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-16

Washington, March 15.-In response
to a letter from President Roosevelt,
advocating more efficient navy. and
with an authorization from the Presl-
dent, w. s. Merriweather sought Ad-
miral Dewey Saturday and obtained
from him an argument for better sys-
TEN of laval defences.
II have read with considerable regret
Of the concerted action taken by d
number of clergymen and educators IN
petitioning Congress against the de-
velOpment of the navy along lines re-
commended by the administration.
while have the profoundest respect
for the motives of these gentlemen, ana
lust as great an interest as they in the
object which they are seeking to pro-
mote, / am thoroughly convinced that
they are misled as to the efficiency OF
the measures which they advocate Tor
achieving that object. To stop the up
building of the navy at the present time
would be far more likely to bring on
war with its awful horrors, than TIT
extension of the fleet to twice its pres
ent size.
1T is in my opinion a mistake to as
sumo that the possession of power
full military force. either atioat or
ashore, would tempt the United states
to enter upon policy OF aggression
which would lead to war.
"Therc is no incident in our history
which justiiies the conclusion that our
government is given to picking quar-
rels with weaker nations, or that our
Ia inIi,,iIun1c thn Snirit
Of the bully | believe as firmly as /
believe anything that our government
as it is constituted today and will con-
tinuc to be constituted for an indefinite
time to come, can be safely trusted to
make proper use of any fighting force
which it may possess.
Those who have not studied the
subject fail to realize that the partic-
uidr geosra phical situation of the
United States requires for it's protec
ton larger fleet than if our possess
siOns were concentrated in a smaller
region. It's coasts border on two
oceans, separated by many thousands
Of miles, and its insular possessions lie
far beyond the continental limits.
1.-The only nation whose situation is
spect is Great Britain, whose proclaim
ed naval policy is to keep a navy
which shall equal the combined forces
of any two other navies in the world.
"The limits that have been set for
the United States navy do not conten,-
plate preparations to meet two ma
tons. but only single one This, how
ever includes any one
THE most casual study of the policy
thus required will reveal the necessity
for having two battle fleets, one in the
Atlantic and one in the Pacific, each
adequate to cope with any situation
that may quickly arise in its own re-
gion.
This does not mean half feet in the
Atlantic and half a fleet in tn Pacific
time by any enemy far inferior to the
combined fleet. the prime cause of Rus
sia's recent defeat
Despite the inspiring example we arc
having today of our ability to move Is
battleships from one ocean to the other
with certainty and precision that marks
an era In naval achievement, if war
breaks out with our fleet in the wrong
ocean an enemy could hold uninterrupted
sway for a period of months while the
fleet was being transferred. during which
time the damage wrought might be ire
parable. We must have an adequate fleet
with all that that means in each of the
widely separated regions where an at
tack Is possible.
The gentlemen who have signed the
petitions to Congress do not desire peace
more than l do. But l am certain that
II any nation contemplates making war
upon US. the evident fact that we are in a
position to make wa: Improbable for that
nation will go further toward the main
tenance of peace than would the an
that we believe in an official
of war through a policy
of military weakness
The President having given authorita-
tive reply to the memorials protesting
against navy increase. other navy Off
GERS of high rank now stationed in Wash
lhston felt free to give their views
These unanimously state that there
should be no cessation in building Sims |
and that instead of reducing the naval
establishment 1t should be steadily and
largely increased