Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-10-24
WILL SURPASS ALL
PREVIOUS REVIEWS
Gathering of U. S. Warships at Panama.
California Exposition In 1915 Will Sur
pass Any Like Demonstration of An
cient Or Modern Times

Washington, October 21.-It is only a
coincidence, of course, that the great
naval review held in New York last
week was at the very time Europe was
being lighted up by the torch of war.
No one, least of all the United States
Government, has any idea that this
country will be drawn into war, but it
8 satisfaction to know that the navy,
+ called on, would be found ready.
To the hundreds of thousands who
saw our fighting ships in review on the
Hudson last week it was primarily a
glorious pageant. The splendor of the
night illUminations. the parades of the
blue-jackets, the fine discipline of Of
icers and men, all contributed to make
2 holiday spectacle rarely surpassed, but
9vershadowing the pageantry was the
demonstration thst the navy is ''trained
the minute" and this assurance is a
real guarantee of peace.
In just little more than two years
5hese great fighting ships, and others
hat will then be in commission, will sail
'cally southwark, ss.through the PAN
ANA canal, and in imposing double or
triple column formation turn their
prows northward to assist IN the formal
opening of the Panama California Ex-
position at San Diego; then continue
heir course to take similar part lit
lie later in the San Francisco Exposi-
ion. What the presence Of the fleet
viii mean is foreshsdowed by the recent
great review in New York. 1t will be
a sight which will draw people from
very land, and no American who has
the good fortune to see it will be able to
,.aze on that spectacle without feeling
i;is bosom swell with pride.
The event which is to call forth the
great naval review of 1915 will be one
# the most significant in all history. 1t
will be the formal opening of the Pana-
ma canal, linking together two great
oceans and giving the commerce of the
world q short cut between the Atlantic
md the Pacific. That the whole world
Is intensely interested in the canals
completion will be evidenced not only
by the participation of many nations in
the twin exposition being prepared to
celebrate the event, but it will be fur
iher demonstrated by the sending of
warships from every maritime country
to take part in the naval review which
will thereby take rank as the greatest
that the world ever saw, not excepting
the naval demonstrations of ancient
times with all the barbaric splendor at
tending them.
1t has been remarked that Europe
seems to be more keenly alive to the
benefits arising from the opening of the
Panama canal than America is. Prob
ably this is only in appearance, for
mere is no real lack of interest in the
canal in this country. But Europe is
lighting hard for commercial openings
and the various nations of the Old World
are watching each other very keenly
-est some advantage may be lost. The
United States, with the tremendous
market found within its own confines,
>as been so busy with its own develop
-nent that it hardly has time or inclina-
Ion to meet special demands necessary
% extend its trade in foreign markets,
and yet it's foreign trade has grown
amazingly. The commercial interests
OF the nation feel a quiet confidence in
heir ability to meet foreign competi-
non on its own ground, whenever expe-
fiency may seem to require this course,
md to take fair share of the spoils.
That we have an inadequate merchant
marine is generally conceded to be
handicap, and it is more serious that we
nave inadequate harbor and dock faciIi-
lies, but this latter will be remedied.
On the Pacific coast there are great har-
5ors at Puget Sound and San Francisco,
d great one is building at Los Angeles,