Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-16
Noted Admiral Discusses Mil
liant Peaceful and Religious
Relations of the Country To-
ward Other Powers.
MORE GUNS AND SHIPS
AND ONE WOULD HEAR
LESS TALK OF WAR
He Pictures Situation in japan and
Shows, Though 1t is Hl-Advised To
Start a Quarrel, Yet Uncle Sam is
Prepared.
fsDecia1 Dispatch TO The Journal.)

Especial Dispatch 10 Inc JournaIl
WASHINGTON, Feb. B.-Admiral
Winfield Scott Schley, hero OF the battle
OF Santiago, in which the Spanish fleet
commanded by Admiral Cervera, was an
initiated on July 4. 1893, retired now from
active naval service. received neWspa-
per correspondent in his home In this
city today and discussed the militant
peaceful and religious relations OF the
limited States toward other powers.
'Mr. Hearst's insistence that the Pa
cific coast be fortified with an addition
al navy strength" he said, lis sound
Americanism and it's logic cannot be dis
puted by any one. / think the Paclnc
coast should be supplied with at least Is
dry docks and naval stations, the central
station being San Francisco.
"It would be indicate for me In my
position to tell congress what it should
do OF to advise the Americans as to how
many battleships It should keep on the
Poetic coast. My knowledge now is that
we have twenty-five or more lighting
ships in the Pacific. But none of these
unfortunately, are battleships.
How To Stop War Talk
''If we possessed more guns and more
steam power and more powder In that re-
gion it is possible we would hear less
talk Of war.
..I do not think there Is a man in the
navy or army who believes in hghting'
Surely those OF US who have seen blood
shed or been in the conflict Of battle re-
we're such memories. My idea Is that All
army and navy men would much rather
be bishops than colonies or admirals. We
would then sleep sounder Of nights.
but from the dawn OF time the human
race has been a lighting race. wars
come of competition for commercial ad-
vancement. Let us take the prize fighter,
Jeffries. His right arm possesses a ter
rible swing-a terrible punch. You ana
/ having also an athletic TRAINING we
Will say. have become jealous OF the rep
utation OF Jeffries. 1t is the natural de-
sire TO discover whether this man really
is the awe-inspiring creature that he has
been pictured.
Situation in Japan
so IL is. think with Japan. She went
against one of the most powerful ma
tons Of civilization and that nation was
subdued. She heard Of an American SEN
timent that was inharmonious with her
commercial and military ambitions. 1t
would not be fair to say that the govern
ment of Japan-intelligent government
that il is, friendly government too, 1
might SAYS now or ever was DESTROYS
OF clashing swords with America, but the
people behind the ruling powers Of the
little island, inflated and overzealous be-
cause OF former triumphs have had II IN
their minds that they could lick the uni
verse.
1T may be that some of these years
long to come the United States may
be licked by some power or other. But
doubt II any one existing on either hem
isphere could do It now. II we were sud-
denly engaged in a conflict, we might be
temporarily embarrassed because of the
lack Of warships. because of the lack OF
military material, because of the absN7ce
of coast defence. But to whip this coun-
try or to embarass it for more than a day
or two would be like comparing the ath-
letic force and energy Of Battling Nell
SON to that of a Jim Jeffries, or of a
small savings bank depositor to that of
an E. H Hartman depositor. We have
the men. We have, all OF US, that nation
al pride which when aroused is irwin
chile Moreover our nation is blessed
with so many natural resources that we
could fight for an interminable time
without causing hunger in any home.
'It would be inadvisable in me as an
attache Of the navy department to sug-
gest 10 the government how our coasts.
both east and west might be better for
titled I agree with the president that
japan at the present time.
No Conflict Imminent
II don't mean to say that this govern
ment would be embarrassed should
quarrel be developed. but 1 do say that
do not think the circumstances so far
presented are sufficient to precipitate a
conflict. / believe. however, that this
war talk will so influence the American
people that they will insist that con-
gross viii provide the seas with those in
struments that really insure peace.
For instance, we VIII take Great
Britain. Not In 100 years has she had a
naval battle. Nor a war with a nation
that had coast to defend. You ask the
reason why. Well. while nations have
been angered at England and have want
ed war with her. they have not dared to
go against England, because they knew
that war would be disastrous.
Il have read with much interest the
proceedings emanatfng from wear to