The Detroit times., 1911-01-20
THINKS UNCLE SAM
WOULD Be WEAK
AGAINST JAPAN
We're Without Transports for Troops
and Auxiliaries for the Navy, Con-
gresham Humphrey Tells
Lake Carriers.
Pacific Coast Without Protection
Development of Merchant Marine
Solution of Situation.

Solution of Situation.
Congressman William r. Humph-
rey. of Washington, In the course or
an address at the banquet Of the Lake
| Carriers association In the Hotel
Pontchartrain, Thursday night, said
| that the Pacific coast would be help
less In the event OF war. He urged
better merchant marine service, say
ing the commerce OF the United
States was completely in the hands
of q combination OF foreign ship COM
panies. He said In part:
! The other nations OF the earth
know we are utterly unprepared for
war. They know that our army Is
too small, that our navy is prac-
tically helpless because we have no
merchant vessels as an auxiliary.
They know that We have no trans.
! ports for the one and no auxiliaries
for the other.
The war department will tell you
that in case of contest We would
need for transport $50 vessels. We
have not on both oceans, 20 vessels
fit for this purpose. The department
will tell you that We would
need 40 vessels in 10 days after
hositilities were declared. We could
moi have 40 vessels In 40 weeks;
they could not be secured until We
had built at least half OF that num-
| ber
I'VE are more helpless today upon
the Pacific than was Russia at tho
beginning of the war with Japan.
Russia and the United States are the
only nations OF the earth that have
| committed the criminal folly OF
building great navy without at
the same time building a great mer-
chant marine as an auxiliary, 70
furnish trained seamen for the YES
sells OF war.
"All the indications of the pres
ent point to the fact that IL war
comes again 1t will come upon the
Pacific. IL ii does. and We remain
In our present condition, the fate OF
Russia will be our fate. The con-
dition upon the Pacific ocean today
is a disgrace and a reflection upon
the intelligence and patriotism OF
congress and a menace to the na-
ton.
Il do not prophesy war with ia
pan. I see no reason for war with
that country. hope and believe
that the friendly relations between
this country and japan that have
always existed will continue. A war
between Japan and the United
States would be crime against
humanity. But II Is not given TO
any man to look into the seeds OF
time, and If unhappily war should
J come, then want my country to
| be prepared. The only guarantee
OF peace upon the Pacific Is to be
prepared for war.
Japan has 600 merchant vessels
| On the Pacific fit for transports. The
| United States has six. Japan mas
OH her ways today more than gu
ocean going vessels under construc-
ton. The United States not one and
has not had for more than seven
! wears. Japan can transport 25O, 900
| troops at one time. The United
States not more than 10000. Japan
has 500. 600 trained seamen for crews
! for her vessels Of war. On the Pa
cific there are not 1000 American
sailors. Japan could place 100000
men In the Philippines and 100000
| I'm Hawaii before we could get 10000
troops ready to embark from any
port upon the Pacific. The United
States could not get $4,000 troops In
the Philippines in a year even In
time of peace without using foreign
ships, a thing she could not do In
time of war.
"In case of war Japan could
come down the coast of Alaska 10
/ within 4S hours of Seattle, and all
along teh Alaskan coast she would
find splendid harbors where she
could coal her fleet. Each of these
Alaskan harbors, totally unprotect-
ed, would practically answer for
the purpose of a naval base. From
lthese she could convoy transports
carrying 100000 men with her en-
ire battle feet up to the wharves
of Belhngham, city OF $4,000 peo-
pie, without going within rs miles
CT our nearest gun. She could then
seize Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, the
government navy yard at Bremen
ton and five great transcontinentai
railways, fortify the mountain
passes and have an empire upon
which to live, one of the most pro-
ductive regions upon the globe.
"She could do all this before We
could get $4,000 troops to tile Pa
cific ocean. In such contest We
would not dare attempt to send
troops to either Hawaii or the Phil
ippines. In case of a contest with
Japan all military authorities agree
that we could do nothing with the
army, we would have to depend
entirely upon our navy, on the bat
tleship feet now on the Atlantic.
But | have In my possession a
letter over the signature Of the
secretary of the navy saying
that IL was impossible to take our
bsttleships from the Atlantic to the
Pacific without using foreign ships to
carry the coal. This could not be
done in time OF war. American ships
do not exist. so II war were TO come
Iupon the Pacific today our mighty
battleship squadron could not leave
the port in which 1t was anchored
10 come to the rescue, and SAX
you n Il Is not criminal folly to
expend $3.50, 100000 a year to main.
tain a navy in time OF war. We
spend millions OF dollars for bat
tleships that are useless and refuse
to expend even the pitiful sum Of
the profits on our foreign mails for
a navy auxiliary that would make
them effective.
To-day more than 80 per cent Of
the foreign trade OF this country is
carried by foreign ships belonging 20