The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-12-16

those who give them employment those
for whose benefit and protection they
would IN fact enlist / would look for
ward to the success OF such an experiment
At least so much by way Of prepare
tlon for defense seems to me to be abso-
luteIy imperative now. We can not do
less. rA
The program which will be laid before
you by the secretary OF the navy Is SIM
!larly conceived. 1t involves only
long maturcd shall be carried out; but
IL does make definite and explicit pro-
gram which has heretofore been only inn
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 IL viii be to the
advantage of the country for the con-
gress TO adopt a comprehensive plan for
putting the navy upon final footing OF
strength and efficiency and TO press that
plan to completion within the next five
years. We have always looked 70 the
navy of the country as our first and chiet
line Of defense; we have always seen II
to be our manifest course 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
definitely determine how we shall COM
plete what we have begun, and how soon.
The program TO be laid before you con-
templates the construction. within i've
years of 10 battlesh.ps, six battle cruisers
10 scout cruisers, so destroyers, 10
fleet submarines, IS coast submarines,
four gunboats, one hospital ship, two
ammunition ships, two tuei 81 snipSs
that of this number we shall the
first year provide for the construction
of two batleships. two battle cruisers.
fleet fleet Submarines, Is coast Submarines
two gunboats, and one hospital ship; the
second year, two batleships, one scout
rines, is coast submarines, one gGnboat,
and one fuel oil ship; the third year, two
battleshipe, one battle cruiser. two scout
cruisers, five destroyers, two fleet sub
marines, and 10 coast submarines; the
fourth year, two battleships, two battle
cruisers, two scout cruisers, 10 destroyers,
two fleet submarines, Is coast subma.
oil ship, and the fifth year, two battle
ships, one battle cruiser two scout cruts-
ers, 10 destroyers. two fleet submarines,
10 coast submarines one gunooat one am
muntion ship, and one repair ship.
More Men Needed.
The secretary of the navy is asking also
for the immediate addition to the per.
sonnet OF the navy or ,5oO sailors, z,ovV
apprentice seamen, and Log marines: lbs M.
the ships which are TO be completed with
in the fiscal year 1877, and also Tor the
number of men which must be put In
completed early in 1913. 1t Is also neces-
sary that the number Of midshipmen at
the naval academy at Annapolis should be
force Of officers should be more rapidly
added to-: and authority Is asked to APP
point, for engineering duties only, ap-
proved graduates OF engineering colleges,
and for service In the aviation corps q
certain number Of men taken from civil
life
II this full program should be. carried
iSai. w aoc oG to the estimates Of Sur
yival and standards Of classification fol
lowed by the general board of the depart
Bses.S Sh ef Sf s qh rs e sR battle
cruisers, Is battieships Of the second line,
10 armored cruisers, 10 scout cruisers, five
first class sas Inr er,seSs los de-.
stroyers IS fleet submarines. i57 coast
submarines, six monitors, 70 gunboats,
four supply ships, ~ fuel ships, four
sells Is eight vessels Of special types, and
two ammunition ships. This would be
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 y
we are to consider the supreme matter Of
national self-suffictency and security IN
all its aspects There are 1aner oi gre at.
tention whether we will or not There Is,
for example, a very pressing question OF
trade and shipping involved In this great
for many weighty reasons Of national ef.
ficiency and development that we should
have a great merchant marine. The great
merchant fleet we once used to make Us
who used TO carry our nag into every sea,
and who were the pride and often the
bulwark Of the nation, we have almost
6eyen G snd ndfferenSs ad BY hopss
Iessly blind and provincial policy OF So
called economic protection. II Is high
time we repaired our mistake and resumed
our commercial independence on the seas.
s Why Ships Are Needed.
For Il Is a question Of independence. II
other nations go to war or seek to ham
per each others commerce, our merchants,
1t 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 commerce. on the
seas, Our independence u provincial, and
ders. We are not likely to be permitted
to use even the ships of other nations in
rivalry of their own trade, and are with
where the doors are wide open and our
goods desired Such situation Is not to
be endured. II 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 an
adequate merchant marine would give 1t.
but also that the American hemisphere
as a whole should enjoy a like indepen-
dence and self-efflciency, IL IL Is not to be
drawn into the taugle of European affairs.
Without such independence the whole
question OF our political unity and self
determination Is very seriously clouded
and complicated indeed.
Moreover, we can develop no true or eff
fective American policy without ships OF
our own--not ships Of war. but ships OF
peace, carrying goods and carrying much
more; creating friendships and rendering
indispensable services to all interests on
this side of the water. They must move
constantly back and forth between the
Americas. They are the only shuttles
that can weave the delicate fabric of
comprehension, confidence, and
mutual dependence in which we wish to
clothe our policy OF America for Ameri-
cans.
Remove the Obstacles.
The task of building up an adequate
merchant marine for America private cap
ital must ultimately undertake and
as it has undertaken and achieved
every other like task amongst us In the
past, with admirable enterprise, intelli-
gence, and vigor; and II seems to me a
manifest dictate OF wisdom that we should
remove every legal obstacle that
may stand In the way of this much TO be
desired revival OF our old Independence
and should facilitate In every possible
way the building, purchase. and American
OF ships. But capital cannot
acCOnnplish this great task of n 9uddnn.