The Washington herald., 1908-04-29

In an address delivered last night at
the triennial banquet of the General So
ciety of the Sons Of the American Revo-
luton at the New Willard, at a time
when the past conquests of the nation
and the glories of her heroes were being
renewed. Maj. Gen, J. Franklin Bell, L.
s. A. declared that the trade Of the
United States and the future prosperity
of the country are in danger from for
sign nations. because Of the lack of sufti-
cient coaling stations and harbors OF
refuge or the sees for the ships OF the
savy
Only on one or two occasions was Gen.
Bell interrupted by applause. When he
had concluded, he was greeted with
cheers lasting several minutes. Standing,
the assembled sons of patriots sang The
star-Spangled Banner" accompanied by
an orchestra.
Speaks OF First Wars.
Mai. Bell began his address by telling
of the first wars recorded in history.
when groups Of men. living comfortably
ia q sheltered valley. were attacked by
derce and less fortunate men than their
aeighbors He said:
Il have a serious message. Statistics
show. as nearly as can be learned. that
$3.50 0G0.0C0 men have died in battle. Not
withstauding this grewsome record. men
nave continued fighting They will still
continue. The first wars were predatory
IA nature, followed by religious wars, in
which, according 10 records. Christians
inflicted more injury than did the Pagans.
Next came the wars Of national aggran-
dlzement. and the wars Of national griev-
ances and resentment. History tells us
that wars Of conquest were followed by
the wars caused by disputes over trade
relations.
"AH of these struggles, except the last
mentioned. have ceased 10 be possible ia
this age, This type OF war cannot cease.
There is not nation on earth to-day
that will not fight for its trade, which
means its life. its existence England has
525 persons to the square mile The
United States has only 26. 1t is not pOssi-
bic for England TO support her masses
without foreign trade. II may come To
pass in the lives of our children. that
this country will not be able TO support
her population with only her own re-
sources All nations have learned that
foreign trade is necessary TO the life of a
nation We have been busy developing
our resources. yet we find il wise 10 seek
foreign investment and trade.
1T is not hard. TO foresee that thl>
country cannot exist in years to come
without fOreign trade. What is necessary
o. maintain this tradeo England solved
the problem centuries ago when she
adopted the policy Of acquiring COaling
stations for her fleets in all parts Of the
world
Covered with Stations.
Il have here in my hand a map literally
covered with the names Of these stations
owned by Great Britain. How many ha.
the United States? I sometimes think We
have forgotten the policy OF him. who
was first in war. first in peace, and frs
in the hearts of his countrymen' TC
maintain peace. is to provide for war
when we stop 10 consider that thi.
country has more national advantages
and Is endowed with most prosperous con
ditions, and yet Is asleep to this policy
we arrive at the conclusion that Bismarck
was not joking. The Hawaiian Island!
recognize the same group as a blessing il
the defense Of our Pacific Coast.
We indulge in hot air Il is ma
tional habit We are sWelled with prid,
At the recent great feat Of our magnif
cent feet In rounding the Horn Gentle
men, the question is, Could the sam,
deet perform the same feat in time O.
war? I answer no. Some have said tina
before war comes. the Panama Canal vii
have been completed. Providence MAJ
interfere in our behalf.
"England's feet alone could make tha
voyage in war time, when all neutra
ports would he closed. This country ha
only one or two coaling stations.
Fleet in the Pacific.
There is great need Of getting our fee
in the Pacific Ocean. This nation want
the trade OF China In 1905 there was
greater tonnage Of trade that passed II
the port of Hongkong than in any othe
port Of the world. China's wealth ha
only been scratched.
I'VE should be acquiring vantage point
for our ships Of war in time of a morta
combat with a foreign nation. I am sur
every true American citizen is anxiou
to aid IN what is best for the nation. Al
guided in the right direction"
Following Gen. Bells address. the toast
master. Mr. John Lee. president Of th
General Society. called Hon. Hilary A
Herbert, former Secretary of the Navy
10 respond TO the toast Of "Our navy.
Mr. Herbert was given an ovation whe
he arose. He said, in part:
Mr.. Herbert's Address.
II believe it was wise and diplomatic I
send those ships on that spectacula
cruise. It has improved our relations wit
our South American friends. The object
lesson 1t is teaching the government c
Japan did not need, because that govern
ment was disposed to peace, but there
a tingo element in japan that did nee
il; an element that would. If il could
provoke that country to war with us
At Manila, counting in fleet and shoT
batteries, the Spaniards, in the weight G
metal thrown and reckoning on the stead
mess Of shore batteries, were our ST
periors but thanks TO the splendid abii
ties Of our great admiral, Dewey, and III
cOelness Of his officers and men, our vic
tory was almost .bloodless.
At Santiago every commanding Office
Of, and every officer and man on, ever
ship did his duty nobly All this the cour
try at large thoroughly understands: "
II remains to be said that the most sis
nal, the most arduous and the mo:
Efficient service the American navy eve
rendered TO the American people has NJ
Yet come to be fully appreciated in an
volume Of American history I have eve
seen
Il mean its service during the civil wa
Every historian recites that In the civ
war the navy always did its duty brav,
ly; that il accomplished this and tha
but no historian has taken up the thread
OF its achievements 10 weave them {,
gether and show, what l have heretofol
often asserted and now maintain, that b,
for the services rendered by the nav