Evening journal., 1910-05-03
FLEETS TO GUARD
BOTH COASTS SOON
U. 5. Will Soon Have Enough
BattIeShipS to Keep
Things Secure

WASHINGTON, May 3.--Very soon the
United States will have enough battleships
to maintain on the Pacific as we'll as on
the Atlantic a fleet Of no mean proper
tions Since the voyage Of tho feet around
the world a number Of the older battle
ships have dropped out and given place 10
new ones. The Nebraska and Wisconsin
were added before the journey was conf
pleted. Since then the New Hampshire,
Mississippi and South Carolina have taken
their places in tho line. The Delaware and
North Dakota have just been commission
cd.
The Florida is about TO bo launched at
the Navy Yard at New York and will be
followed in a short time by the Utah
When the Arkansas and the Wyoming,
now building, are completed and the two
battlcships which will probably be provld-
ed for by the present Congress slide from
the ways for the finishing touches there
will be but few ships OF the original fleet
which went around the world left IN the
tirst line.
Before the end Of the present year il
will be possible TO place in commission a
fleet Of twelve bstteships on the Pacific
without touching the sixteen battleships
OF the Atlantic fleet. They are the Mis-
souri, Alabama, Ohio, Kearsarge. Ken
lucky, Illinois. Maine and the four battle
ships dating from the Spanish-American
war-the Indiana. Massachusetts, oregon
and Iowa. Some of these ships went
around the world and are still first-class
fighting ships Altogether they would con-
stitute a force Of such strength that no
fleet, after crossing the Pacific, could at
tack them. with impunity or take any
chances with them.
What to do with these ships is one OF
the questions that is beginning to perpex
the Navy Department They are far too
valuable to be discarded or allowed to de-
teriorate, although none of them Is a
match for the huge Dreadnoughts which
the navies Of the world are now building.
When the newer ships 70 into commission.
It will hardly be an advantage TO keep
them on the Atlantic coast which is be-
coming better defended every day in the
way Of ships, coast artillery fortihcations
and submarines. The advantages Of es-
tabiishing battleship fleet in the Pacific
on the contrary. is obvious, and Will, with
in a very few years, become still more
obvious, as the trade of the Orient de-
velops and the competition for that trade
becomes more keen. The question there
fore Of sending ships to the Pacific is one
Of serious consideration with the depart
ment
Interest in Pacific.
The Pacific is Just now the field OF po
litical interest. The splendid isolation o
the United States so far as the Atlanti
is concerned does not apply TO the Pacific
In the past the Atlantic coast was no
likely to attract any fleets but those o
merchantmen seeking the products whic
the United States had 10 offer. That con
dition no longer eprevails and the Unite
States now overfiowing with capital an
bulging with the products Of it's factorie
must seek out new markets in the awah
ening East. The complications that hav
arisen in the struggle with other nation
are already disconcerting. Japan alread
has a strangle hold in Manchura to tn
injury Of American and other trade. Their
are the Philippines to look after. Their
will be ships needed TO counter-balance tn
embryo navy now being constructed b.
Australia. Foa these general reasons. no
to mention other. It is very probable tina
the Pacific battleship fleet is only a rev
years at most from realization.
Many problems must be solved. how
ever, before this is accomplished. To keel
thirty-two battleships IN commission no
to speak Of cruisers. submarines. torped
boats and destroyers and auxiliary craft
would mean a big increase in the enliste
force of the navy, and It is a question
whether the big Piddle western states
where the consciousness of the necessit
I OF sea power is very inactive. would loci
with favor on such an increase. Beside
the problem Of providing more officer
( would arise. as this is already a difficult
with the number of ships now in commits
sion. It is not difficult 20 get the men bu
: the officers, who must have years G
special training, are not at hand Beside
!, they are necessary TO training the crew
I who could be enlisted in time OF war.
All Of these will probably become sci
. ious questions OF naval administration b
I the time the Panama canal is opened
I the trade Of the world. This will make III
s Pacific more important than ever frol
g the commercial viewpoint and its STRATEGY
!. importance viii Increase likewise.