The Alaska daily empire., 1915-07-30
IS
 TO WORK FOR
 LARGER NAVY

-1-
 Benjamin Ryan Tlllman, U. S. Sen. ator from South Carolina, passed though Juneau this morning on the steamship Princess Sophia. on his re- turn to Portland, with his daughters Miss Sallie Tnlman and Mrs. F. W. Hughes. who accompanied him on his trip North. They spent Wednesday and Thursday in Skagway and en- joyed trip over the White Pass & Yukon railroad. a special train hav- ing been run for their benefit Thee Tnlman party was met here this morning by Mir. and Mrs e. l.. Cow ard. Mrs. Coward was classmate at school, of the Tnlman girls, in Tren ton, s. c.
 Upon his return to Seattle Senator Tnlman expects to visit the Bremen ton navy yard, and will then go to Portland. after which he expects to return to Prince Rupert B. G. and return Beast over the Grand Trunk road
 A Fighter Himself
 Senator Tillman was elected Go the United States Senate from South Car olina in 1895. and was reelected in 1901. 1907 and 1915 his present term expiring in 1909. He was born in Edgeneld County, So. Carolina, Aug. n. 1S47. and entered actively into pol itics in 1881. He was elected goyer nor of South Carolina in 1890 and re- elected to that office in 1892. He has been engaged in farming ever since the close of the Civil War, during the latter part of which conflict he was a soldier in the Confederate army. He is rated as an authority on agricultural subjects.
 But at the present time he is inter- ested in the naval affairs of the coun- try. his position as chairman of the naval committee of Congress throw ing him in close contact with the de- fense problem.
 Need Battle Cruisers
 Senator Tnlman believes that if the war has taught the United States any thing it is that she should have a larger navy-an adequate navy, he put it. and at the next session, as chairman of the powerful naval af- fairs committee. he will do his utmost for more ships. He doesn't think material increase in the army is of such importance
 eve ought to have some battle cruisers" he declared. "I don't know just how many, but there must be an adequate number. And they must have more speed and a greater range than our ships have now It would not be very nice, would it, to have our vessels sunk before the enemy hove in sight?
 Every naval man you talk to wants battle cruisers ships that can go out on the ocean and fight These are the ships that command the seas. Then we must have submarines. too. Just the number we ought to have cant say But let's have an ade- quate number, anyhow for coast pro tection purposes"
 Senator's Opinion Definite.
 Asked whether he thought the United States would ever have to so to war With Germany. Senator Till man. without a moments hesitation. gave voice to the remark quoted above
 He was questioned as to his opinion of the proposed board composed of the great American inventors and in- dustrial wizards to confer with Sec. reary Of the Navy Josephus Dan- iels. in an effort to solve some of the problems arising from the European hostlities
 Approves Invention Board
 "The best idea Daniels ever had" was the Senator's incisive comment. I'm for it."
 Senator Tillman believes the Unit ed States shauld have standing ar- my of about 125.O0O regulars, an in- crease of about 35.OOO men,
 That's enough, in my opinion" he said. "It must be remembered our wars have been fought by volunteers and will be SO fought again. Our men are natural fighters and they learn the technical part Of war very quickly believe. however, we should have equipment ready for large army-much larger than l have indicated-and that this should be available when we want !t."
 -o--o-c