The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-12-16

4 hlltlIeE tlley Responded TO SuGn q can 70
service or not. 1t would depend upon the
patriotic spirit of the employers of the
country whether they made it possible for
the younger men In their employ to re-
spond under favorable conditions or not.
j, for one, do not doubt the patriotic de-
Votlon either of our young men or OF
for whose benefit and protection they
would In fact enlist. L would look for
ward to the success of such an experiment
with entire confidence,
At least SO much by way OF prepara-
n f4n,J tof aefense seems to me to be aos o.
less.
New Naval Plan.
The program which will be laid before
you by the secretary Of the navy is sim
Sarly conceived. 1t involves only q
shortening of the time within which plans
long matufed shall be carried out; but
it does make, definite and explicit a pro
gram which has heretofore been only i'm
plicit, held in the minds of the commit
tees on naval affairs and disclosed in the
debates of the two houses, but nowhere
formulated or formally adopted. 1t seems
TO me very clear that it viii be to the
advantage of the country for the con
greSs to adopt a comprehensive plan for
putting the navy upon a final footing of
strength and efficiency and to press that
plah to completion within the next five
navy of the country as our first and chief
line of defense; we have always seen it
to be our manifest curse of prudence to
be strong on the seas. Year by year we
have been creating a navy which now
ranks very high indeed among the navies
of the maritime nations. We should now
plete what we nave begun, and how soon.
The program to be laid before you con-
templates the construction within five
Years of 10 battlesh.ps, six battle cruisers.
10 scout cruisers, so destroyers, Is
fleet submarines, 50 coast submarines,
four eunboats, one hospital ship, two
ammunition ships, two fuel oil ships
and one repair ship, 1t is proposed
| first Irnlr - nrDri1n for tho pn,g+v1rntinn
of two batleships, two battle cruisers,
three scout cruisers. 10 destroyers, five
two gunboats, and one, hospital ship; the
second year, two batleships, one scout
cruiser. 10 destroyers. four fleet subma-
rines, 10 coast submarines. one %gunboat,
and one fuel oil ship; the third year, two
battleships, one battle cruiser, two scout
cruisers, five d~estroyers, two fleet sub
fourth year, two battleships, two battle
cruisers, two scout cruisers, 10 destroyers,
two fleet submarines, 10 coast subma-
rines, one ammunition ship. and one fuel
oil ship, and the fifth year., two battle
ships, one battle cruiser, two scout cruis-
ers, 10 d~estroyers, two fleet submarines,
muntion ship, and one repair ship.
More Men Needed.
The secretary of the navy is asking also
for the immediate addition to the per-
apprentice seamen, and 1900 marines. This
increase would be sufficient to care for
the ships which are to be completed with
IN the fiscal year 1917. and also for the
number of men which must be put in
training to man the ships which will be
completed early in 1918. 1t is also neces-
the naval academy at Annapolis should be
increased by at least 800 in order that the
force of officers should be more rapidly
added to; and authority. is asked to ap-
point, for engineering duties only, APP
proved graduates of engineering colleges,
and for service in the aviation corps a
| certain number of men taken from civil
life.
If this full program should be carried
out we should have built or building in
1921, according to the estimates of sur
vival and standards of classification fol-
lowed by the general board OF the depart
battleships, of the first line, six battle
cruisers, Is battleships of the second line,
10 armored cruisers, 10 scout cruisers, five
cruisers, 10 third class cruisers. los de-
stroyers. Is fleet submarines. ISL coast
four supply ships, Is fuel ships, four
transports, three tenders to torpedo yes
sells, eight vessels OF special types. and
two ammunition ships. This would be a
navy fitted TO our needs and worthy of
our traditions.
u. S. Merchant Marine.
But. armies and instruments Of war are
only part of what has to be considered If
we are to consider the supreme matter of
national self-sufdciency and security in
all it's aspects. There are other great
/ EIiatLIS WHICH Will NC LII NSt uROi oil Z
tention whether we win or not There is,
for example, a very pressing question of
trade and shipping involved in this great
problem of national adequacy. II is neces-
for many weighty reasons Of national eff
ficiency aid development that We should
have a great merchant marine. The great
rich, that great body of sturdy sailors
who used to carry our flag into every sea,
and who were the pride and often the
buIwark of the nation, we have almost
driven out Of existence by l~nexcusabie
F, neglect and Indifference and by a hope
lessiy blind and provincial policy. of So
time we repaired our mistake and resumed
our commercial independence on the seas.
Why Ships Are Needed.
For 1t Is a question OF independence. If
other nations go to war or seek to ham
per each others commerce, our merchants,
it seems, are at their mercy, to do with
as they please. We must use their ships,
and use them as they determine. We
have not ships enough of our own. We
cannot handle our own on the
seas. Our independence is provincial, and
is only on land and within our own Dor
ders. We are not likely to be permitted
to use ever the ships of other nations in
rivalry of their own trade, and are with
out means to extend our commerce even
where the doors are wide open and ouI
goods desired. Such a situation is not tc
be endured. 1t is Of capital Importance
not only that the United States should
be Its own carrier on the seas and enjoy
the economic independence which only ar
adequate merchant marine would give it
but also that the American hemisphere
as a whole should enjoy a like indepen-
dence and seif-efficiency. IL 1t Is not to be
drawn into the taDgie of European affairs
Without such Independence the whole
question of our political unity and sell
determination Is very seriously ctoudec
and complicated indeed.
Moreover. we can develop no true or eff.
fectiye American policy without ships o.
our own-not ships of war, but ships o.
peace, carrying goods and carrying mucf
more: creating friendships and rendering
Indispensable services to all interests OF
this side of the water. They must rnovs
constantly back and forth between thu
Americas. They are the only shuttle:
that can weave the delicate fabric o
sympathy. comprehension, confidence. ant
mutual dependence in which we wish X
clothe our policy of America for Ameri
cans.
Remove the Obstacles.
The task of building up an adequat'
merchant marine for America private cap
ital must ultimately undertake ant
achieve, as 1t has undertaken and achieve,
every other like task amongst us in tn