New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-15
NAVY THAT WINS
IS THE CHEAPEST,
SAYS FLETCHER
Poor Policy to Count Cost
After Defeat, He Declares
at League Dinner.
INADEQUATE SHIPS
ARE MONEY WASTED
+. D. Roosevelt SCOTS at u. ).
Equipment-Lyman Abbott
MOurnS Peace.

Admiral Frank F. Fletcher com
mander IN chief Of the North Atlantic
feet. broke his official silence last
night.
The cheapest navy We can build IS
the navy that will be adequate to de-
feat the navy Of an enemy" he said, IN
the Longest speech he has made since
New York aad the Hudson River be-
came his temporary home. He was
speaking before five hundred members
of the United States Navy League at
the Hotel Ansonia
money expended on an inadequate
navy is money thrown away he con-
tinued. i'm his simple, straightforward
way. Furthermore, his money is
liable TO be followed by more money,
because an inadequate navy will mean
war indemnify after it has been de-
feated."
Assistant Secretary Franklin D..
Roosevelt. representing the Navy De-
partmou.. ridiculed the familiar boast
that. man for man. ship for ship, gun
for gun. our navy would match favora.
blv with any in the world. "Why.
HavI might say this truthfully If She
had two modern torpedo boat destroy
ers manned by a capable crew. he SAID.
"Hayti would be telling the truth about
as much a. We are"
Exponent Of universal peace and be-
lever in the appeal TO reason, the Rev.
Lyman Abbott. d. d.. confessed, sor-
rowfully, that different tactics must be
employed In the present crisis.
lie said that he thought he repre-
scented the great mass OF people IN the
United States in this utterance: w @
don't want war, but we do want 10 be
prepared for = war that may be thrust
upon US
Lauds Wilson's Note.
an my judgment the note that Pres
ident Wilson has transmitted to the
German government will rank among
the best and noblest utterances Of our
nation in all past history, and there
have been some fine ones. | am hop
ing almost against hspe that his mes
sage Will not prove IN vain. II the
Presidents message reaches the Ger
man people do not believe 1t will have
been sent in vain.
But suppos it does not reach them!
What If they continue to exercise that
power in violation not only OF rule OF
international law but Of fundamental
principle Of humanity? What then
War?
If there is no other way 20 protect
American ships on the high seas or to
fulfil our duties % our citizens, we al
ways have one resort. We can invite
the civilized nations of the world TO
declare non-intercourse with that ma
ton which tramples under foot inter
national law and the rights Of man
Until rule of justice and right has
been created, il is idle to talk or beat
ing swords into ploughshares ana
spears into pruning hooks
DR.. Abbott prefaced his remarks
time called for serious and flank
words. lie said that the government
which is not able to protect the per
sons and property of its citizens Is not
worthy of the name of government.
"When there are no burglar in New
York we can reduce the police force.
But there are criminals III New YORK
and there are criminals abroad. II
we have no navy to protect our cItizens
abroad, our ships on the seas then
every merchant ship must 90 armed,
and that is international piracy.
"My voice is not for war" he ex-
plained. "Do not misunderstood me, /
have vet to meet the man whose voice
is for war. Why il would be easier for
old Diogenes 10 take down his lantern
and find an honest man in Greece than
for any one to find lingo IN America
.o-day."