Evening journal., 1915-10-28
Urge Greater Canal and Defenses for Lewes

ly nq close to the Atlantic seaboard,
fir M the east end Of Long Island Sound
to the Virginia Capes, could be par
ally zed, even temporarily, the tremen
dol embarrassment which would arise
to is as a nation would be so felt that
it aight properly be considered how
mu,h we would pay to be relieved Of
this embarrassment.
r he defense of this vital portion OIL
our seaboard, if ! may be said to have
a text for my speech today, is that
text and nv reason for taking it is that
here in Red Lion hundred is one of the
points where assurances can be best
given by the national government that
our national welfare shall not be threat
eued by any enemy we may have from
overseas. and right here the activities
of the government may be best and
most economically displayed in insuring
our country against disaster in case of a
foreign war.
"We have no mean navy now, and l
am glad to know, or at least to feel
assured, that we are TO have better
and stronger one. If our present navy,
or the better and stronger navy we in
tend to have, can be concentrated read
lly at any point from Naragansett Bay
70 the Virginia Capes, if we can readily
move troops I'D munitions of war for
the defence of this section of our At
lantic seaboard. if we can surely protect
the great industries Of the country in
this section, we are multiplying many
times the efficiency of our national
forces. and if we may do this, at the
same time enlarging our commercial Ia
cilities and cheaper transportation OF
the ordinary commodities in use by al
our people. it seems to me no better
line toward national preparedness can be
followed.
Value i'm Warfare.
at is a maxim of our naval and mil
fary experts that the power Of fleet
Increases in proportion to the square
" it's units, that is to say, If we had
I've warships Of given power involved
n a naval action at the mouth Of the
Delaware Bay, the chances Of success
you'd be dependent upon those five
hips alone. If a naval action at the
,apes of the Delaware was expected
ind five ships Of equal power and ef-
lciencv could be Joined to those there
gresent and engage in the same action
he combined force would not be rela-
svely twice as strong as the origi-
Ial feet, but the juncture OF the two
auadrons would raise the relative ef-
lciencv and probabilities OF success
such naval action 10 the equiva-
ent of four times the power OF the
riginal feet, Joined only by an equal
lumber Of vessels.
"I have used this simple illustra-
II. ~I,mf ii n = frr
orld be readily obtained by re-en.
brcement Of fleets when about TO
,ter into action right here at home
nut extend that possibility along tn'
dfaI stretch Of our Atlantic seaboarC
or hundreds Of miles and see VIVA
advantages protected means OF quicl
Communication would afford. We VII
hobably always have some ships II
ne Delaware Bay and always In Ches
neake Bay. We will always havl
ONE in New York harbor and Loni
sland Sound and yet an enemy IN
ading force by occupying the nm
arbor at the mouth of our bay. coul
lafeat the forces IN the Delaware
pu1d defeat the forces IN Chesapeak
lav irving to Join the feet at Ne'
fork. and II superior In power an
arbor and Long Island Sound, coul
efeat It seeking to relieve a block
de of the cities upon the Delaware o
hose lying upon the Chesapeak,
yhen Il would have no reasonabl
hance OF success against the com
ined fleets.
ITO illustrate this by simple figure
ri us suppose we had in Delawa1
-
prce-it does not matter what the
Gay be called, dreadnoughts, torpedo
oats or cruisers. In the Chess
leake bay or inside the capes Of VII
inia. say. we had ten of such uni
nd in New York harbor and vicini'
ifteen Of such units. By a sudde
escent on our coast at Lewes,
anding might be effected and hosti
,aval force Of twenty units find
satisfactory base for effective operi
Ion. The ships in the Delawal
Tould be so greatly overpowered
he proportion of 400 to 25 that ]
ction could be attempted. The shil
n the Chesapeake attempting to 10
ne New York fleet could be met
he enemy having an advantage
90 to 100. The New York feet
lfteen units would be at impossih
disadvantage in the proportion 225
100 in any naval action but if the
hips, fighting units Of our nav
ould he concentrated anywhere a.
ould together meet the enemy, o
orce would have an advantage in I
proportion of 800 to 400, practical
nsuring the success Of our oper
Ions.
"Now, here is where Delaware CT
nd our State is interested. For t
ost of one great battleship, all o
brces in the Delaware and Ches
cake bays could be combined. T
be cost of four great battleships,
ur naval forces from Narragans'
ay to the Virginia capes could
ombined and If we assume such
avail action should occur at
lace / have indicated, our chanc
{ success with four less battleshi
ban the thirty over the force Of [
wenty battleships lying at the car
the Delaware would be represent
6l6 to 400 and the money exps
ed in enabling this concentration
e made would save in the CONNER
{ this country each year about
er cent. of the investment OF
eople and be as useful in fpeaceal
lines as il would in time Of war.
Il want to see our State in its {
osed position Offering the best po
or attack by foreign foe, rece
rom the general government the ;
antages which would follow FRI