Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-16
NATION IS NOT PREPARED
TO DEFEND PANAMA CANAL
In Addition to Navy, Large Mobile
Army Would i'e Required to
Protect Waterway.
STIRLING GIVES HIS OPINION
Commander of Atlantic Fleets Sub
marine IFlotilln Holds BattIeship Is
Prime Factor in Naval Defense.
Roosevelt Proposed us Witness.

WASHINGT'ON. December 15.-Pre-
fend the Panama Canal in case of war
was the subject of a series of ques-
, tions put to Commander Stirling, COM
! nanding the Atlantic Fleets subnnn-
rine fotilla. at to-days hearing before
! the House Naval Committee. The COM
mahdcr expressed the opinion that in
addition to the navy, n large mobile
army would be required to protect the
canal and keep it open.
! us our naval force prepared to give
us control of the canal against navy
: Of the size, say. of Germany's?" asked
! Representative Farr.
Not very we'll prepared" the officer
| replied. after some hesitation.
Commander Stirling pointed out that
| lack of base would handicap opera
tions of any hostile navy against the
canal. The nearest foreign base. he
said, was Jamaica, Il British possess
| sion.
Questioned about the Pacific Coast,
he declared he thought both coasts
equally safe. ms long as the canal
/ could be kept open for passage of the
| feet.
OFFICERS TESTIMONY
ATTRACTS ATTENTION
The officers testimony as subma-
| rinc commander that the hatt1eship
was the prime factor in naval defense
| attracted much interest among com.
! nittec members. Ultimate develop
| ment OF the battleship he predicted,
would ba to more offensive, rather
! than defensive type. with less armor
! and more speed. Development of the
submarine. he said, would lead to
| type of 2,o00-ton armored twenty
! five knot. scagoing vessel. to accom-
! pany the battlcshps wherever they
| 20 as Il terror to the enemy's battle
| ships.
| Asked regarding the eighteen sub
/ marines under his command he said
all of them could get into active COM
! mission on comparatively short notice
! eleven of them within ten days and
| the rest within two weeks. except two
! that are in reserve and not yet ac-
cepted. and one practically discarded
| lie told OF serious lack of tenders for
the submarine. and Of how he had re-
| peatcdly asked for more
! Commander Stirling said the navy
/ had ffty-hve subma rines altogether
counting thrty-eight built. eleven
| building. and eight more authorized
OF these. he said. twenty were in the
| Pacific waters including nine Mt Ma
| nila
| All of the boats, he said. were
equipped with torpedoes good at $500
! TO 5000 yards. He regarded the hvo
submarines at Colon as ready for any
= emergency 10 take the offensive by
! going out after an cncmys ship that
might menace the canal.
! The commander said the navy now
! has thlrty-hvc destroyers. and he be-
/ lievcd there should be eight seagoing
submarines as n proportionatc part Of
| a feet.
W. should have n submarine hotilla
! on each coast" he said.
! Representative Hobson asked IL
there was any really adequate defense
OF the country against a great battle
| ship fleet, except by Il large navy.
Not against u military nation that
has standing army and is willing to
take the risk Of invasion---a temporary
! INVASION" replied the officer.
| Commander Stirling said he could
not conceive Of time when the sub
| marine would be able alone to control
| tho sea anu make 1t safe for country's
| commerce.
Theodore Roosevelt was proposed to-
day as witness before the commit
tee. Representative Hobson proposed
that the Colonel be called. and the com
mittee will decide tomorrow on that
| point.