The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-09-25
NAVY CONDITIONS
TOLD BY EXPERT
First of Series of Inter-
esting Articles on the
Subject.
BY FRANKLIN 0. ROOSEVELT.
tcopyrlsht 1915. y. c. Al

Copyright 1915. y. c. AZ
When war is waged on land, one
side or the other seeks to gain con,
troll of the enemy's territory-i. e., OF
cities. villages, farms, and country.
side-with the object either OF adding
this physical territory to their own
country. or OF debating successful
peace through the breaking down OF
the enemy's resistance.
In other words. when war has been
actually commenced, a nation with
common sense sfeks solely to win the
war, and, to do SO. conducts its oper.
atoms with two points In mind-to
protect Its own boundaries, people
and general well.being as far as pos.
stble. and to do as much damage to
the other nation as possible.
This sounds brutal, but war is a
contest and fact. no matter how
much we may theorize, and It is only
by beating the enemy. e., hurting
him more than he hurts you-that q
nation can win war.
War at sea Is conducted on the
same principles. The oftused term
control of the sea" means this:
The ability TO keep the oceans open
for ones warships and merchant ships
and for any military expeditions de-
sired. Nowadays, practically on great
nation can build Chinese wall
around itself and exist successfully
for period OF year on It's own re.
sources without exports or imports,
And. besides. most great nations
have relations with dependencies or
special localities beyond the seas, to
and from which communications must
be kept up. The situation OF Alaska
and the Panama canal would be a
case In point II this country were en-.
gagged in war.
We know some OF the compiled.
tons Of war on land-that, while in.
fantry. with rifles In their hands,
form the largest unit OF a great army
machine, there also are cavalry, ar.
tillery, engineers, food supply. ammu.
milton, aercplanes. etc., and that one
without the other is pretty sure to
spell handicap, II not defeat.
So, in the navy. we must forget
that. while battleships still compose
without question the backbone OF a
fleet, there must be also the other
units-scouts, aircraft, cruisers, de.
stroyers, submarines, supply ships,
golfers, etc.
| shall try to describe in these ar.
ticles and in non-technicai terms the
relationship OF the various type OF
ships and weapons that so 10 make
up the naval fighting machine, 10.
gether with the number OF the ships
OF those types now possessed by the
United States.
1t is an anxious. of course, that you
cannot catch a man unless you know
where lie IL, and II is also true that
you probably cannot evade man un.
less you know where he is. So all
na"al warfare begins with what is
called the search problem"
Whether you are seeking the enemy
TO attack him, or are on the defen.
stVe trying to protect stretch OF
coast, or are merely trying to pre-.
vent him from knowing your own
main feet, in any case II is OF the
highest Importance to get In touch
with the enemy and TO keep In touch
with him. For this purpose vessels
called scouts are or should be used.
These ships should have the follow.
ing characteristics: Great speed
great enough 10 outrun battle cru