The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-04-15
HOBSON'S SPEECH
ON NAVAL BILL
ADDITIONAL 25OOOToN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
INCREASE THE NAVY UNTIL AMERICA HAS CONTROL OF
THE sEA-GIvEs WARNING ABOUT JAPANESE WAR PREPARA-
TIoNs-SWARMs o SPIES

WASHINGTON, D. c., April e.
Pointing out what he declared to be
the precarious condition of the nation
al defense of the United States both in
the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans,
Mr.. Hobson, of Alabama, in the House
of Representatives today made an
earnest plea for two battleships of 25,-
600 tons displacement in addition to
the two authorized by the naval APP
preparation bill. He said that con-
servative estimate would indicate that
for the minimum basis of security and
safety in the Pacific ocean the United
States should lay down at least four
big ships a year for many years to
come, until Japan comedies to us what
is inevitable-the American control OF
the sea around which our possessions
are scattered" AS a minimum for the
Atlantic ocean the government should
lay down six battleships a year, he
said. Heretofore, said Mr.. Hobson, the
weakness of America in the matter OF
national defense had not been fatal to
its growth and development, because
the oceans constituted great barrier
between America and the armies of the
world. Now, however" said he, the
oceans have been bridged and the ar
| mics of the world have been brought to
our doors, and along with the armies
of the older nations of Europe have
come the armies of the ancient nations
| of Asia" He said that where Ameri-
ca formerly lived more or less in $50
| lation, she is now exciting the jealousy
| of other great nations in threatening
their supremacy in commerce, indus
try and finance In addition, he de-
clared that recent events have thrown
us into the political vortex Of the
world, and that the dangers of being
unprepared are becoming greater anC
greater with each succeeding year.
After calling attention to America
lack of a merchant marine, which cOult
be used as auXiliaries in time of war
and of transports necessary for pro
perly conducting war operation, MI
Hobson said:
LACK OF DEFENSES.
1--WE have almost no standing arm
and could not prevent the seizure by
, foreign power of a harbor on on
shores, to be used as naval base
whereas it would be practically impos
: sible for America to secure a naya
, base for operations in European wa
ters. Forts, mines, torpedoes, torped
boats and submarines are valuable &C
} cessories, but such defenses have ney
a err stopped determined commander O
great fleet. They did not stop Nelso
at Copenhagen, nor Farragut at Mobil
bay, nor Dewey at Manila Such dc
lenses never determine the issues Of
war, and have no weight in deterrin
an enemy from SEEKING war. The fort
that we have are woefully manned
whereas the troops needed for othe
landward defense could not be mobi
lized within the time necessary
THE YELLOW PERU.
= The possibility of a conflict wit
: Japan was discussed at length by MI
Hobson. He said it was but perfect
ly natural for Japan to aspire to dom
mate the commerce of China, the com
merce of Asia and of the Pacific ocear
j And he added it was perfectly nature
for Japan to seek to control the poll
cies of China and to attain supremac
, in the Pacific ocean, and to lead tn
Z Yellow race toward a recognized 81
premacy in the world.
With regard TO the great nations {
) the white race, Mr.. Hobson said, 81
is, of course, clear to the Japanes
statesmen that America is the on
great nation standing athwart Of tn
realization of these ambitions. 1t
true that America only asks a fal