Bisbee daily review., 1913-12-31
STRONG PLEA MADE FOR MORE BATTLE
 SHIPS BY LEAGUE
Navy League Says Billions in Pensions Would Have Been Saved by Defense

NAStt1NGIONs Dec. 30.-"Four billion dollars that have peen spent in pensions since the Civl War" says the Navy League of the United States, might have been saved if the nation had had a navy of sufficient size to smother the War of seces- sion The largest single appropria- ton of the government, year after year. is for pensions. If the nation is sufficiently far-sighted, it can save future billions for unnecessary mili- tary pensions. A navy sufficient to prevent any enemy of the future from landing on our shores would accomplish this desired result"
 The Navy League raises this ques- ton at this time in the interest of an adequate navy, Congress having bud landing on our shores would accom- gets under consideration With ap- prcpriations for ;5ut one battleship a year, as have been made for the last two years. the American navy IS becoming inadequate Ito prevent war and the multitude of expense that would result from it.
 The nation has spent $1.S73 0000o0 more for pensions since the Reyolu- ton than it has for it's navy. It is spending twenty to fifty million more each year for pensions than for the maintenance of its navy. Yet this IS obviously all in penalty for an mad in ha
 Had the American Navy been suffi. cient. the commercial war with France in 179S would never have oc- cured; Tripoli would never have dared make war on us in 1901; the British would never have been able ot land troops and burn our capital in the war of 1872. Had not Congress rraetica1Iy abolished the navy; the war Of the Confe5eracy would have been smCthered in six months with her ports so blocked that she could not get ammunition. It is these wars that have caused the payment O ,SSs3. .eOo ,O00 in pensions and tat are now calling for the paying out Of amounts ranging from sl5O,0e0.- 600 to s1S000G, 600 each year-amounts that show no tendency toward abate- ment.
 It is more true today than it has ever been before. that any conflict that the United States should have with a first class nation would be fought on the sea. A single great dreadnaught has a defensive strength equal to that of fifty thousand sol diers ashore. With enough of these to prevent the landing cg armies on cur shores there could never be thrust or the United States a pro tracted war. The pensions following such a war and lasting fer 8 century would be ten times greater than the expense of maintaining suciant navy to prevent it, even were the I9sses of life and to commerce not considered
 Last session Congress increased the appropriatio for pensions due tc past wars s25 000, ,000 yet refused to rrcvfde for two battleships necessary to insure peace in the future. The Navy League in no way decries the granting Of these pensions, butargues that such appropriations may. in the future. be unnecessary by the main- tenance of a navy large enough to in- sure peace. One battleship a year will 1kt provide that insurance. Since the last two Congresses have given but one where two or more should have been provided, the nt- csssity is at present for four bat tleshipg. Admiral Dewey and SEe General Board urge this program