New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-04-18
MEYER FOR BIG NAVY
IN ASSURANCE OF PEACE.
Would Keep Fleet of BdttIeShips IN
Both Oceans.

Boston. April 17.-An efficient feet OF battleships
on the Pacific and Atlantic was advocated
by Secretary Meyer In speech at the dinner OF
the Boston Real Estate Exchange tonight. Mr..
Meyer also declared that strong navy should be
regarded as the cheapest and best insurance
against war The Spanish war. he said, cost more
than half a billion dollars, while eight battleships
Of the Oregon type. which. lie implied might have
averted the war would have cost less than S0.-
10000 Mr. Meyer spoke in part, follows:
Our officers and men demonstrated their efficiency
n1o te ] % {helr a accident
and on a schedule of time which has undoubtedly
excited the envy of every general manager or our
ranscontinentel railroads. That fleet, which has
worked well unit, should not be divided
between the Atlantic and the Pacific, but our
eventually shall have a force of battleships in
each ocean equivalent 10 that which We now have
Civilization has harnessed the fighting spirit that
IS Unborn in man; and has turned 1t toward me
development of science making ii the great factor
in the extraordinary human progress and deye.op-
Is still the same lighting spirit and the fact thaI
it has been diverted into other channels should
to welcome the thought of peace at any price
In this country We are brought up with respect
for the ma esty OF the law and il is in accordance
with what I may call our national conscience 10
that should be in a position TO demand justice
The navy OF the United States should be regarded
as an insurance against war and the consequent
enormous losses incident 10 war But IN order to
serve as an insurance 1t must be a strong ana an
effective navy. 1t is the cheapest and best insur-
ance in which our nation can invest. Great BTU
ain whose total value is about SS0o0O,UO,Oco. ex-
ponds annually her navy per cent of this val
Uation France with valuation Of nearly $1,000
01 O1l expends | $40 per cent; while the United
States. with a total wealth of little more than
s000oo 10000, expends but one-tenth of per cent
annually for naval purposes. an expenditure vastly
less than that of any other naval power in the
world compared with resources.
What is necessary in order to bring about uni
versal peace is a good understanding among ma
tons. and bring about that understanding re
quires international ecquaintanceshlp and conn
dence You. business men, fully appreciate the
necessity OF confidence in business rela tionships
and YOU also know that for continuous business
relationships the confidence must he mutually sat-
1 isfactory So with nations and in time, as sci
ence develops the modes or transportation ano
brings different nations into closer touch there
will a better appreciation. and finally thai
common understanding necessary for mutually sat
isfactory international relationships AID lasting
peace -
1t is certain that large navy, with Its SHIPS
touching at various ports all over the world as
our great feet did its recent voyage, ADDS eno
nously in the direction of this better understand
ing. a great navy. I repeat is the best lnsur
against the horrors and expense of war that the
United States purchase. Il VIII STAND TOT
peace while at the time it will be a mighty
bulwark against any enCroaChment upon the dig
nifty of this government. England once called ner
navy her wooden walls" Let the Unteo STATES
have rampaTts Of steel.