Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-29
FLEET ON BOTH
COASTS DEMANDED
CONDITIONS REQUIRE BUILDING
OF SHIPS FOR PACIFIC
WATERS.
PANAMA CANAL FAILS
TO FULFILL PROMISES
Because Of Slides in culebra Cut Plan
Of Sending Fleet From Ocean to
Ocean Has Been Abandonsd-Prss-
ent Fleet Not Sufficiently Large to
Divide in Time Of Trouble.
Especial correspondence

aSnlngtOSn, Marcn z9.-Ine soy
eminent of the United States will be
obliged in the near future to maintain
two great fleets, one in the Atlantic
and one in the Pacific. This is the
opinion of Congressman Stephens, of
California, leading member of the
house committee on naval affairs.
MIR. Stephens said today the country
would not continue to be satisfied with
the present plan of maintaining one
great fleet and keeping it in the At
lantic. The demand for another fleet
of equal magnitude in Pacific waters
is growing, as he views it.
Ii is true there is on paper Pacific
of these is great and complete battle
is the Atlantic fleet
The theory that the building of the
Panama canal would make it so easily
possible for the battleships to go from
the Atlantic to the Pacific and vice
versa that single fleet would do the
service of two. in the opinion of Mr..
Stephens will not be borne out. One
evidence of this is the fact that the
SINUS III SulStid t-ut are
so seriously with the traffic thru the
canal that the plan t. send a great
armada of battleships thru the canal
to the Pacific, to attend the San
Francisco exposition, is abandoned for
the time being and is not likely to be
carried out.
1t is clear that in the present un-
certainty of canal traffic no reliance
l. i e.
movement of the ldrea liTlai;Shts CT the
Atlantic fleet from one ocean to the
other. Further excavation in Culebra
cut, 1t is hoped. will remedy this sit
uation.
Two Needed in Time Of Troubles.
But apart from the possibilities OF
quick transit of the battleships thru
the canal, there is another factor to be
considered. Mr.. Stephens in the hear
ings before the house naval committee
compelled the navy department Off
Gals to admit in effect that in time
of public danger it would not satisfy
the public to have the big battleships
assembled in one ocean. leaving one
side Of the country unprotected.
Mr.. Stephens got Secretary Daniels
himself to admit that he would not
feel comfortable on the Atlantic coast
in time of war If the fleets We're on the
Pacific coast.
ut seems to me-" said Mr.. Stephens.
that this practically tells the story.
We need feet on both coasts
Mr.. Stephens in the next session in
tends to do what he can to promote
the idea of an adequate fleet on both
coasts. He was leading advocate in
the house for more liberal appropria-
tons for submarines. He will urge
the same thing next session.
General Leonard Wood has Just
started for the canal zone to consider
its defenses. That these are made
quate in the light of European develop
ments is believed by many army and
navy men and the disposition of navy
officers is to feel that the canal will
not be safely protected until ample
provisions are made for fleet protec-
ton as we'll as for land defenses. A
good supply of submarines for the
canal region is advocated by many
naval officers.