The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-12-13
Tor MAKING
COUNTRY SAFE.
PcretaTy Of the Navy Suggests
Plan In Annual Report
pRTY BATTLESHIpS NEEDED.

oyer Would Also Have Other Fight
ng and Auxiliary Vessels as Well as
preadaoushts to Insure Peace-Effi- :
pient Force Makes Treaties Binding,
Secretary Of the Navy Meyer in his
nual report declares that "a total Of
EFty battleships, with a proportional
mber Of other fighting and auxiliary
ssels, is the least that will place our
3 untry ON a safe basis in it's relation
tn other world powers"
While at least two other powers have
pre- ambitious building plans, he says,
is believed that If we maintain an
icient feet of this size we will be
pfc from attack and that our coun-
will be free to work out it's des-
Y in peace and without hindrance
|AThe recommendation for a contin-
A}g policy which will give us the
Yet desired" he goes on to say, "is
lde with due regard for the almost
Prldwide movement for the settle
Fnt of international disputes by ar
ration. History of all times shows
futility and danger of trusting to
good will and fair dealing or even
the most solemnly binding treaties
tween nations for the protection of
nation's sovereign rights and inter
rs, and without doubt the time is re-
tie when a comparatively unarmed
ID helpless nation may be reasonably
4 e from attack by ambitious, well
med powers, especially in a CONNER
age such as the present. To avoid
r and insure peace we should be
Fpared for war"
'he short life Of a warship, approx
ately twenty years, has caused the
Fretary to ask for appropriations for
% more battleships this year. not
increase the size of the navy, he
rs, but to maintain it at its existing
ength. He declares that two more
liers are absolutely necessary, and
would welcome new vessel of the
Etleship-cruiser type such as Great
tain, Germany and Japan are build
Panama Canal a Naval Base.
Taking up the changes that will be
tessitated by the opening of the
mama canal in 1913, the secretary
rs:
THE Panama canal, which for all
ctical purposes will become a part
our coast line and is destined to be-
ne the most important strategical
mt in the western hemisphere, makes
Caribbean naval base with adequate
fking and repair facilities absolutely
essary. The best location for this
9 ton is Guantanamo bay, Cuba.
ich we now hold. Assuming that
will continue to maintain an eff
pit fleet, this base not only will en-
e us to control the Caribbean with
its lines of approach to the canal,
with torpedo base at Key West
render the gulf Of Mexico immune
m attack.
The Panama canal will in effect be
avail base, since the docking and re-
r facilities to be provided there for
nmercial vessels will meet our MI
requirements in time of war"
Wants an Efficient Reserve.
ecretary Meyer urges legislation
|viding for large naval reserve.
be efficient" he says, modern
ps must have crews Of highly train
men, and it would be suicidal to
d ships into action with unframed
ws. Owing to the cost of modern
rfare, wars will be of short dura-
b, and there will be no opportunity
recruit and train men after the be-
ming of hostihties."
lie asks for new grading of rank
that the ranking admiral of our fleet
II be on an equality with the heads
Foreign fleets.
n the question of the use Of aero
mes in war he says:
THE primary object which has DOM
ted the work so far is the eventual
of the aeroplane from ships of the
+ Fy as an aid in scouting, in recon
Sssance of an enemy's mine fields or
Eef defenses and in communicating
8yVeen ships or between ships and
anced bases or between the feet
cooperating force on shore"