The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-06-19
The PROBLEM OF THE NAVY.
BY Robert Peterson, '09.

''On the morning Of July 8, 1893, oc-
Cured one of the greatest naval fights
nj history. Admiral Cervera steamed
up his vessels and attempted to run by
the American squadron, stationed OUT
side of Santiago harbor. He was no.
ticed by one our ships, the signal was
given and such a torrent of shot and
shell was poured on his vessels that, in
side of three hours, his ships were all
sunk. Admiral Cervera and thirteen
hundred men were taken prisoners
while but one man was killed and few
wounded on the American side. We
may well be proud of such noble
achievement of our men and ships. Ev-
cry true American heart swells with
pride when the fact is remembered.
All readers of history cannot fail to
find that many other instances have oc-
Cured in which the United States navy
has rendered great service.
But the United States however is not
the only country that can boast of a
strong fleet. The other nations of the
world also have strong navies and each
one has set great record of notable
and Daring achievements. Each one
has met some important crisis and has
carried that country on to glorious vic
tory. Nations feel that their strength
lies in strong navy and they are doing
their utmost towards accomplishing this
end. England and Germany are each
building many large battleships. Their
building program becomes larger and
larger every year. The United States
and the other nations of the world have
also fallen into line and commenced to
build extensively so that now we have
eN, fa CO.. Pssf
why do nations build so many large
battleships? Why do they invest their
money in implements of destruction?
Do they think that strong navies are
essential to their progress? They
claim that a strong navy is necessary to
hold their own against the other nations
to protect their commerce and citizens
abroad, to keep their dignity and to up
hold their treaties and doctrines. The
question now arises whether large
navy is really necessary to carry out
these measures or whether it would be
better to gradually decrease the navy
with the idea of abolishing it altogeth-
er and substituting in its place some
other means of securing these results.
We cannot judge the future by the
past nor need the future be a repetition
of what has gone before. Conditions
are different now than they were cen
turies ago. Then navy was essential
to country. The seas were infested
with pirates and the commerce of these
nations was not safe unless they had
the strength to protect themselves. A
navy was also necessary to protect its
shores from invasion. Nations were
uncivilized, they did not have good gov
ernments and hardly any laws. Their
sense of justice was slight and their
only means of settling disputes was by
war. AS civilization advanced, good
governments took the place of tribes,
schools were started and religious
teachings brought in. Trade fiourished
and nations became better known to
each other. Conquests were carried on
and the strong nations became even
stronger. As nations have become
more enlightened, they have realized
the horrors of war. They have settled
minor disputes by diplomacy and have
fought only when great principle was
at stake. Yet, at the present time,
Aarge navies are being built 30 that ma
tons can maintain their supremacy and
can uphold their doctrines by force.
Everything has its price and navies
are q great expense to q country.
Vast sums are necessary to build, equip
and maintain them. Small countries
have to maintain . navy at an enor.
NOUS expense. Taxes are very high
and almost all the earnings of the
lower classes are consumed by them.
They therefore have to work hard tc