Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-08
President Wilson Addresses Congress
National Defense and Other Timely Matters


one gunboat. one ammunition ship and
one repair ship.
The secretary OF the navy is asking
also for the Immediate addition TO the
personnel Of the navy OF 1900 sailors,
$500 apprentice seamen and 800 marines.
This increase would be sufficient to care
for the ships which are to be completed
within the fiscal year. 1871 and also for
the number Of men which must be put
in training to man the ships which will
be completed early in 1918. II Is also
necessary that the number OF midshipmen
at the Naval academy at Annapolis
should be increased by at least 800. In
order that the force Of officers should
be more rapidly added TO: and authority
lis asked to appoint. for engineering
duties only. approved graduates of en-
cheering colleges. and for service in the
aviation corps a certain number OF men
taken from civil life.
III this full program should be
carried out we should have built or build
ing IN 1921. according TO the estimates
OF survival and standards OF classiti-
cation followed by the General Board OF
Department. an effective navy consisting
OF twenty-seven battlships. Of the frs
nut biA D6AAtt NThlbtFHt NWNhNg ~
tleshps Of the second line, ten armofod
cruisers. thirteen scout cruisers, five first
class cruisers. three second class cruisers,
ten third class cruisers, los DESTROYER
eighteen fleet submarines. l57 coast sub
marines, six monitors. twenty gunooats
four supply ships. fifteen fuel ships. four
transports, three tenders to torpedo yes
sels eight vessels of special types ana
two ammunition ships. This would be
navy fitted to our needs and worthy
OF our traditions.
Merchant Marine f. Needed.
But armies and instruments Of war are
only part Of what has to be considered II
we are to consider the supreme matter
of national self-sufficiency 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. a very pressing question
OF trade and shipping involved In this
great problem OF national adequacy. II
ia necessary for many weighty reasons
Of national efficiency and development
that we should have a great merchant
marine. The great merchant fleet we
once used to make us rich. that great
Rohs VI hAuEhg WIN untd W tdti y
our flag into every sea, and who were
the pride and often the bulwark of the
nation. we have almost driven out of
existence by inexcusable neglect and in
difference and by hopelessly blind and
provincial policy Of so-called economic
protection. 1t Is high time we repaired
our mistake and resumed our CONNER
cial Independence on the seas
For II Is a question of independence.
II other nations go TO war or seek 10
| hamper each others commerce, our mer-
| chants. It seems, are at their mercy. to
| do with as they please. We must use
their ships. and use them as they de-
termlnc. We have not ships enough of
our own. We cannot handle our own
commerce on the seas Our independence
| is provincial. and Is only on land and
within our own borders. We are not
! likly to be permitted to use even tho
ships of other nations In rivalry of their
own trade, and are without means to ex-
| tend our commerce even where the doors
are wide open and our goods desired.
Such a situation Is not TO be endured.
| II Is OF capital Importance not only that
the United States should be It's own
carrier on the seas and enjoy the
economic independence which only an
adequate merchant marine would give II,
| but also that the American hemisphere
as a whole should enjoy a like inde-
pendence and self-sufficiency, IL Il is not
to be drawn into the tangie Of European
affairs. Without such Independence the
whole question OF our political unity and
self-determlnation is very seriously
clouded and complicated indeed.
Moreover. we can develop no true or
effective American policy without ships
| of our own-not ships OF war, but ships
of peace, carrying goods and carrying
much more; creating friendships and
rendering indispensable services to all in
terests on this side the water. They
must move constantly back and forth be
tween Americas. They are the only
shuttles that can weave the delicats
fabric OF sympathy. comprehension
confidence. and mutual dependence II
which we wish TO ciothe our policy Of
America for Americans.
Must E~ip Private Capital.
The task OF building up an adequate
merchant marine for America privat,
capital must ultimately undertake ans
achieve. as II has undertaken anS
achieved every other like task amongs
us In the past. with admirable enterprise
intelligence, and vigor; and II seems e
me manifest dictate OF wisdom tina
we should promptly remove every lega
obstacle that may stand In the way Of
this much to be desired revival OF ou
old Independence and should facilitate II
every possible way the building. pur
chase and American registration OF ships
But capital cannot accomplish this grea
task OF a sudden. II must embark upoI
II by degrees. as the opportunities Of
trade develop. Something must be dom
at once; done to open routes and develop
opportunities where they are as yet un
developed done 10 open the arteries Of
trade where the currents have not We
learned 10 run-especially between tn,
two American continents. where the,
are, singularly enough, yet to be created