Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-19
.FAvORS EQUAL FORCE
OF BATTltSHlPS FOR
PACIFIC AS ATLANTIC
Secretary of War Meyer Says He Re-
cards Strong Navy as Cheapest
and Best Insurance
Against War
Especial to The Herald.l

BOSTON, April 1S.-An efficient fleet
of battleships, both on the Pacific and
Atlantic oceans, was advocated by
Secretary of War Meyer in speech
tonight at the dinner of the Boston
Real Estate exchange. Secretary Meyer
also declared a strong navy should De
regarded as the cheapest and best IN
suranoe against war. The Spanish war,
he said, cost more than half billion
dollars, while eight battleships of the
oregon type, which, he implied. might
have averted the war, would have cost
less than fifty millions of dollars.
Secretary Meyer said in part: III
this dinner had been set for Monday
instead of today we should now be
having the opportunity to celebrate
one of the days that is the greatest for
Massachusetts,, and through Massaehu-
sets, for the rest of the United States
the anniversary of the battles of
Lexington and Concord, when tho
embattled farmer stood and fired the
shot heard round the world.
Lexington and Concord are names
famous in war. but now with the
blessings of peace, they have grown
and thriven; yet always, back of their
quiet beauty, there lies the thought OF
that bloodshed which made their de-
velopment possible. Today is the era
of peace. Peace societies, international
tribunals and the numerous confer
ences that have been held during the
past few years all emphasize this fact.
"Yet it is important we should not
forget that, while these peace societies
are a power, their chief value is as a
formative influence, to stimulate senti-
ment and crystalline public opinion
against the horrors of war.
Favors Big Fleet for Pacific
THE really effective and honorable
method of avoiding war is to be pre-
pared for war by the possession of an
efficient, up-to-date and thoroughly
equipped fleet of battleships, both on
the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans.
Our officers and men demonstrated
their efficiency and the battleships
their worthiness when they made the
circle of the globe without an acct
dent and on a schedule of time which
has undoubtedly excited the envy of
every general manager of our trans
continental railroads.
THAT fleet, which has worked so
we'll as unit. should not be divided
between the Atlantic and the Pacific,
but our naval armament should be so
provided for that eventually we shall
have a force of battleships in each
ocean equivalent to that which we
now have in the Atlantic.
"In this country we are brought up
with a respect for the majesty of the
law, and 1t is in accordance with what
I NAV call our national conscience to
deal Justly with other powers But IT
is essential that we should be in a
position to demand justice for our
THE cause of peace would have
been advanced eleven years ago If this
7 nicr n
battleships of the Oregon and Iowa
class. at a cost then of under fifty
millions of dollars.
Navy an Insurance Against War
1.-THE navy of the United States
should be regarded as an insurance
against war and the consequent enor-
order To serve as an insurance it must
be a strong and effective navy. 1t Is
the cheapest and best insurance in
which our nation can invest. Great
Britain, whose total value is about
$50. 600 900 900, eXpends annually on her
navy 2 per cent of this valuation ;
France, with valuation of nearly
$50. OOO, 900, 900, eXpends one and three
tenths per cent: while the United
States. with total wealth of little
more than 100000 100000 eXpends but
one-tenth of one per cent annually Tor
naval purposes.
ut is certain that large navy, with
it's ships touching at various ports az
over the world, as our great fleet did
on it's recent voyage, adds enormously
in the direction of this better under
standing. A great navy l repeat, is
the best insurance against the horrors
and expense of war that the United
States can purchase. 1t will stand FOR
peace, while at the same time it Will
he a mighty bulwark against any en-
croachment upon the dignity of this
government. England once called her
navy her wooden walls Let the
United States have ramparts of steel"