Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1915-11-26
That Statement

paredness, which appears IL full
in this issue, is open to criticism
and rebuttal on practically all OF
the points brought out.
To begin with, a cursory re-
view of the whole question shows
that in final analysis, for the
average layman it is simply a
question Of choosing which set OF
authorities on the navy OF the
United States he prefers to be-
Iieve. In Point No. |, Mr..
kItchin states that we are al
present threatened from no
quarter. This is true, but a few
short weeks ago war clouds were
ominous and il days like these
no man may say what hour will
not see this country brought
again to the brink Of war. We
cannot expect present conditions
% continue forever ! change
alone Is eternal
Mr.. Kitchin says we have the
second navy in the world : the
naval board says we rank thlrd
and possibly fourth : again a
conflict Of authorities. Between
naval board consisting OF
scientific experts in construction
and equipment and between Mr.
kitchin who knows little more
Of naval science than the average
citizen must the choice be made.
AS to the enormity Of the pro
posed increase in naval strength.
ID is sufficient to state that Presl-
dent Wilson has stopped tar
short in his recommendations OF
what the experts say IS needed
to defend our coasts and our
growing commerce with other
nations.
AS to its cost, one year Of dis,
astrous war, with our navy
bottled UP as that Ct Germany
and our ocean borne commerce
destroyed, would cost more thar
the entire naval program OF
decade. The argument abou'
taxation is worse than futile, !.
we need to be better prepared
NJ should pay the price regard
less Of the sacrifices entaled
IHis country is the richest o.
iii globe and amply able to pa,
tor adequate protection.
Mr.. kitchin states that nine
and submarines are ample 70
the defense Of our coasts an
corroborates this statement b
calling attention TO the way Ger
many and Russia have defende
their short coasts with sue
equipment. He forgets gu
9 1oqndLess sweep Of coastal lin
t and probably has not compute
The number of mines and sui
marines which would be neces
sary to make our own coasts a
ATE from attack as Germany
short little hundred miles OF Sc
3 frontage. And even so, granite
hat we had them and that the
we're adequate for defense pu
poses, what defense would the
he for our trade with other n
ions? What would it cost US
be unable to ship bale OF co
ton. bushel of wheat or
!, pound Of meat across the ocean
How could we expect to enfor'
= the Monroe doctrine with a sy
!, :, tenn of defense comparable on
! to that of a porcupine?
Mr.. Kitchin says that 9th
:. nations will increase their na'
e prorortionate to the increase
The navy of the United State
1t has been stated repeated
that the great powers Of Euro
: are staggering under the 10;
Of their military expenses al
i, that for the past twenty yea
= they have been increasing the
military and naval resources
u fast as they possibly could. '
j think they will continue to
4 this in spite of Mr.. Bryan al
!. independent of any action I
;. United States may take in t
= way of preparedness. Proper
y prepared the United State
fighting in a Just cause, ne
J. fear no foe.
is The United States will be pr
If perly prepared when it has
navy strong enough not only
n defend the coasts of this count