The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-27
NEED SUBMARINES
FOR STRONG NAVY
This Information Will Be
Given President by De-
tense League.

WASHINGTON. D. c.. Aug. 81
Without a greatly increased number
Of submarines for our navy the pres
ent movement for military prepared
ness In this country will appear TO
the other nations Of the world as in
efiective and absurd" according to a
statement today OF the National De-
tense League.
This, in brief, is the substance of
the information which will be given
President Wilson within the next
few days in connection with his et-
fort 10 ascertain all things needed to
But this country IN a state 81 better
preparedness for war. Primarily, the
demand Tor a big increase in suoma-
rines comes from the navy officers
and naval experts, but it is signtt-
cant that this request is backed up
by army ot1icers OF high rank. Par
ticularly among the coast artillery
and the coast rortiication experts IS
there a strong demand for subma-
rines.
The explanation OF this lies in the
fact that there are at various points
on the shores OF the United States
portions OF the sea which can be pro-
tected only by submarines. This Is
because Notifications are not built
SO that the guns may sweep theSe
waters, and the currents are so s~l1t
and ungovernable that mines can not
he nlaced in them with any hope OF
definitetresults.
There has come about, therefore.
the unusual spectacle of a group OF
army officers joining navy OFFICERS II
the demand for better submarine
protection. That this will have a pro-
found effect on the President in the
preparation OF his recommendations
to Congress in behalf OF greater pre-
paredness Is accepted as certain IN
Washington.
A big American submarine building
! company, according TO reports re-
ceiyed here today. is operating IN
Canada SO successfully that. as soon
as the submarines are completed lot
the Allies. they are put into the wa
ter and sent across the Atlantic IN
der their own power with full war
equipment and ready to meet the
enemy. The building in Canada.
which Is devoted TO assembling boats
OF the Holland type, Is made neces-
sary because OF the international law
against building them in the United
States and then sending them to the
Allies.
A submarine costs about half a
million dollars. Three hundred sub
marines flying the Stars and Stripes
would cost less than a week Of &C
tua. war, the authorities estimate.
and. since a submarine can destroy
any battleship that floats. a hotllta
OF 300 Of the under.sea craft wouto
be an uufailing insurance against IN
vasion by a foreign foe at any time.
The President will be told that
now is the time TO engage the talent
and resources of the American SUD.
marine companies so that not all OF
their output can be sent to foreign
countries.
The National Defense League
which will hold a great Conference
on National Defense in Washington.
va "
October Al, Immediately following
the Grand Army OF the Republic En-
campment. has for years persistentiy
advocated large appropriations Tor
submarines. Some Of the Officers OF
the League declare that the United
States should have not less than 800
of the undersea boats.
with 300 modern submarines. the
United States could defy the world
10 1lccesstully and troops on Amer
lean soil"
This statement vas made recently
bv Lieut.. c. r. Morrison, chief aide
OH the staff Of Rear Admiral Grant
commander Of the Atlantic submarine
1otiIIa and considered the most lore
most expert on undersea craft:
There Is not a foreign nation, or
oven a combination Of nations, that
could successfully land sufficient
troops on American soil TO combat
even our present army" declared
Lieutenant Morrison.