Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-12-08
FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENTS ADDRESS TO SXYFOURTH CONGRESS-

among the nayies OF the maritime ma
lions We should nov definitely de-
termine how We shall complete what
We have begun, and how soon.
The program 70 be laid before you
contemplates the construction within
five years OF ten battleships, six bat
tie cruisers. ten scout cruisers, NIFTY
destroyers. fifteen fleet submarines
eightyfve coast submarines, four gun.
boats. one hospital ship. two ammuni-
ton ships. two fuel OH ships. and one
regular repair ship Il is proposed
that OF this number We shall the first
year provide for the construction OF
two battleships two battle cruisers.
three scout cruisers, fifteen dostroyers,
five fleet submarines twenty-five coast
submarines. two gunboats, and one
hospital ship. the second year, two
battleships, one scout cruiser. ten de-
stroyers. four fleet submarines, fifteen
coast submarines one gunboat. and
one fuel oil ship. the third year, two
hattleships, one battle cruiser, two
scout cruisers. five destroyers, two
fleet submarines. and fifteen coast
submarines. the fourth year, two bat
tleships, two battle cruisers. two scout
cruisers. ten destroyers, two feet sub
marines. fifteen coast submarines, one
ammunition ship. and one fuel oil
ship: and the fifth year two battle
ships. one battle cruiser, two scout
cruisers. ten degtroyers, Two fleet sub
marines, fifteen coast submarines, one
gunboat. one ammunition ship, and
one repair ship
More Men for the Navy
The secretary Of the navy is asking
also for the immediate addition 10 the
personnel OF the navy Of $500 sail
ors. POO apprentice seamen, and
500 marines This increase would
be sufficient to care for the ships
which are to he 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
necessary that the number OF midship-
men at the Naval academy at Annap-
oils should be increased by at least
three hundred
II this full program should be car.
ried ont we should have built or build
ing in 1921. according to the estimates
of survival and standards of classif-
cation followed by the general board
Of the department. an effective navy
consisting Of q battleships, of the first
line. 6 battle cruisers, % battleships
Of the second line, 10 armored cruis-
ers. 13 scout cruisers, 8 tirst-class
cruisers, 3 second-class cruisers. 10
third-class cruisers. los destroyers, Is
fleet submarines, 157 coast submarines,
6 monitors . 20 gunboats, 1 supply
ships, 10 fuel ships, transports,
3 tenders to torpedo vessels, s YES
sells Of special types, and . ammuni-
ton ships. This would be navy iit-
ted to our needs and worthy Of our
: lIduilloilS.
But armies and instruments Of war
are only part of what has TO be con-
sidered II we are TO consider the SUI
preme matter of national self.suiclen-
cy and security In all its aspects
There are other great matters which
will be thrust upon our attention
whether we will or not There is, for
example, very pressing question OF
trade and shipping involved in this
great problem OF national adequacy
II is necessary for many weighty rea-
sons Of national efficiency and deyel-
opment that we should have a great
merchant marine. The great merchant
feet we once used to make rs rich,
that great body OF sturdy sailors who
used to carry our flag into every sea,
and who were the pride and often tho
bulwark of the nation. we have almost
driven out of existence by inexeusable
neglect and Indifference and by
hopelessly blind and provincial policy
of so-called economic protection. Il
is high time we repaired our mistake
and resumed our commercial indie
pendence on the seas.
Need Of Merchant Marine
For It is question Of independ'
ence. II other nations go to war or
seek to hamper each others com
merce. 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 commerce on
the seas. Our independence is provin
cial, and is only on land and within
our own borders We are not likely
TO be permitted to use even the ships
Of other nations in rivalry Of their
own trade, and are without means to
extend our commerce even where tho
doors are wide open and our goods
desired. Such a situation Is not to
be endured II Is OF capital Import !
ance not only that the United States |
should be its own carrier on the seas |
and enjoy the economic independence |
which only an adequate merchant ma
rine would give II, but also that tho /
American hemisphere as whole /
should enjoy like independence and /
self.suficlency, II It is not to be drawn
into the tangle Of European affairs.
without such Independence the whole
question of our political unity and I
self-determnation is very seriously |
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