Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-09
WATERWAYS URGED
FOR DEFENSE PLAN
Vital in Any Adequate Scheme
of preparedness" Speak
erS Assert.
NEEDED TO HELP PEOPLE
CARRY ADDED BURDENS
Representative Moore Insists There
Should Be a Rivers and
Harbors Bill.


and insisting on the close relation of
the waterways to any scheme of ma
tional defense, were sent broadside to
the delegates at the morning session
Of the twelfth annual convention of
the National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress in the ballroom of the New Will
lard Hotel
Mayor Preston of Baltimore said the
waterways of the Atlantic coast must
be improved a part Of the fortifica-
tions scheme. c. W. Ashcraft of Ala
bama asserted that national safety lay
in the waterways, because they We're
more difficult to destroy than the rail-
roads, and pointed out that the gov
eminent realized it was no. longer safe
to maintain its supply stations on a
narrow strip of the eastern seaboard,
and that water transportation was the
best, safest and cheapest for men and
material in time of war.
Necessary for Strategy.
The need of the improvement of
waterways to enable the naval and
military experts to use strategy was
urged by Representative J. Hampton
/ Moore of Pennsylvania, president of the
Atlantic Deeper Waterways Associa-
ton. Strategy cannot be practiced at
the present time, for if a fieet-of the
United States is driven inside it has
to stay there as long as the fleet out
side is larger, he said.
Representative Moore said he approx
ed the Presidents scheme of prepared
ness and would give it support, but
there was no suggestion as to where
the money to carry it into effect was
coming from. He said, however. that
he was unwilling to shift additional
burdens onto the backs of the people
without giving them opportunities for
earning money to meet those burdens.
Il don't want war now or ever, he
said. Il don't want to be led into war
by any fool pacemaker or peacemaker.
jingoist or. munitions maker. l don't
want to be misled or misdirected.
won't want additional burdens placed
on the backs of the people, who don't
deserve to have such burdens placed
there. But if war is forced upon US,
want to be duly and sensibly pre-
pared"
Army Not self-supporting.
Calling attention to the fact that ap-
Preparations had been asked for a larger
army and navy, but that no suggestion
was made as to how the money was to be
raised. he said there must be something
to support the soldier. soldier does
not create revenue. he said, and neither
does the sailor. Both must rely on the
revenue created by some one else
Who is itg' he asked TT is the
ma OF commerce, of industry and
agiiculture-al those who abor in the
United States The revenues come from
tns people. 1t is loss of the energy
OF the people when We go to war and
it takes years to restore the condition
that 1t distorted when We make the
declaration of war
Reading the details of the naval
building program, Representative
Moore said: i would like to see the
ships built for the industries of the
country, not for war, but for the main
tenance of peace. If you build them
you must have the means Are YOU
going to force these burdens on the
people without giving them a chance
10 earn the expenditures"
Skyscraper Without Elevator.
He said the railroads are unable to
handle the business of the nation. He
characterized the United States as a
skyscraper without an elevator, say
ing that the country has the ports. but
the fleet can't get from one to the
other withou going on he outside
IL the additional ships are provided,
he said, they have no place to CO. and
they must have fresh water basins
II
the time.
II the coast submarines. asked for by
the President, were driven into the
Chesapeake bay. they could continue
up the bay. and there they would have
to remain. because there is no channel
Tor them to get to Philadelphia as
there should be.
He said the people should have a
rivers and harbors bill to earn the ad-
ditfonal burdens to be put on than.
but that IL the economists have their
way there will be no river and harbors
bill tets year.
Urges Second Line of Defense.
Provision for an inland system of
waterways. behind which our fleets
can trade north. and south and be-
hind which our battIeships can rnobi-
lie. should be made. said Mayor James
H. Preston of Baltimore today He
warned his listeners TO take lessons
from Germany, and fortify the Goa SITS
as a second line of defense of the
country.
There is sinister influence in this
cry for preparedness" he said 1--WE
should be prepared. but the first ster
In any scheme of preparedness should
be the protection OF the coasts not by
large standing army. and not by the
multiplication Of the navy. There Is
no better lesson OF this than by the
presen, war. Why has. not. Great Brit.
ain been able 10 land on the German
COAST Why has not Russia been able
to land on the Bulgarian coast? Why
has not the allied feet been successful
In the Dardaneiles? 1t is because OF
the coast defenses
Let me appeal TO you first for great
er coast defenses before "A greater
army and navy. The first line is the
navy. Then let the second line be the
keys along the coast and the main
land as Il protection OF national honor
integrity and safety. Our future safety
may rest in the first place upon the
ability to have place behind. which
our fleets can trade in safety with the
north and south and behind which oui
fleets can mobilize
Eastern Shore Cut on.
Mayor Preston urged the Congress
should not cut out any wise expendi.
lures for rivers and barbors improve.
ment. He said that the railroads il
the east cannot get close to the coast
and for that reason the eastern shor
OF Maryland was cut off from Norti
America us much as the Caribbean Is
lands. Boats travelling on a road which
Is free TO all would cheaper the prod
their hands on more equitable bash
than at present.
An appeal to the congress to use it
N nc to. hall hrt,, .h..Yr h.