Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-12-09

MISSOURI VI
lwherher they responded to such a call to
service or not. 1t would depend upon the
patriotic spirit of the employers of the
country whether they made it possible for
the younger men in their employ to re-
spond under favorable conditions or not.
i, for one. do not doubt the patriotic de-
those who give them employment-those
for whose benefit and protection they
would IN fact enlist. I would look for
ward to the success of such an experiment
with entire confidence.
!, AZ least 90 much by way OF prepara-
LION TOT detense seems to me to be abso.
iuteiy Imperative now. We can not do
New Naval Plan.
The program which will be laid before
you by the secretary of the navy Is SIM
shortening of the time within which plans
long matured shall be carried out; but
1t does make. definite and explicit pro-
tees on naval affairs and disclosed in the
debates of the two houses, but nowhere
to me very u clear thst aaoSss It viii be to the
advantage of the country for the con-
gress to adopt comprehensive. plan for
putting the navy upon final footing / OF +
plan to completion within the next five
years. We have always looked to the
navy nav Ct the country as as our first and chief +
to be our manifest course of prudence to
pc strong on the seas. Year by year we
have been Sereatng navy which ths
Of the maritime nations. We should now
definitely determine how we shall COM
plete what we have begun, and how soon.
Ntap p,rn 1,o LOTT lrafn 1yfNyy
templates the construction within five
10 scout cruisers; so destroyers, Is
four gnnboats, one hospital ship, two
ammunition ships, two fuel oil ships
sbst ana one 5s reRar nhsr shp It is ba sa
first year provide for the construction
of two batleships. two battle cruisers.
three scout cruisers, Is destroyers. five
two gunboats, and one hospital ship; the
second year. two batleships, one scout
cruiser. 10 destroyers four fleet subma-
and one fuel oil ship; the third year. two
cruisers. five destroyers two fleet sub
fourth 1i tbs year, two battieships, two battle
cruisers. two scout cruisers, 10 destroyers,
two fleet submarines. Is coast subma..
rines one Is ship and one f1el
ships, one battle cruiser, two scout cruis-
ers, 10 destroyers. two fleet submarines.
Is coast submarines. one gunboat, one am
muntion ship. and one repair snip.
More Men Needed.
The secretary of the navy is asking also
for the immediate addition to the per-
sonnel of the navy of 800 sailors. 2500
increase would be sufficient to care for
the ships which are to be completed with
IN the fiscal year 1917, and also for the
training to man the ships which WIN be
completed early in 1918. It Is also neces.
sary that the number of midshipmen at
ine aaya By at sast 800 in order that the
force OF officers should be more rapidly
| added to; and authority is asked to ap-
point. for engineering duties only; ap-
and for service IN the aviation corps g
certain number of men taken from civil
life; ., ~ ,o,,,, :, ;. 49,,
out. we should have built or building in
| 1921, according to the estimates OF sur
vival and standards OF ciassiiication M iol- o.
ment, an effective navy consisting Of y
battleships, Of the first line, SIX battle At L
first class cruisers. three second ~ class
cruisers. 10 third class cruisers. los de,
lstroXers. 1s xleet gubmarines; lba coas1
ssss III ssir asssp s.isps fos
| transports, three tenders to torpedo YES.
sells. eight vessels OF spscsisai ps,s types types. a. ana
| navy fitted to our needs and worthy OF
our traditions
U. S. Merchant Marine.
| But armies and instruments of war arc
only part of what has to be considered y
| we are to consider the supreme matter oi
national self-sufficiency and security II
all its aspects. There are other gree
matters which will be thrust upon our at
| tention whether we will or not. There is
1 fcr nreSS1nE question o.
| trade and shipping involved In this grca
problem of national adequacy: 1t is neces
for many weighty reasons of national eff
have great merchant marine. The .grea
merchant fleet we once used to make III
rich, that great body Of sturdy sailor.
i and who were the pride and often the
bulwark Of the nation, we have almost
driven out Of existence by Inexcusablt
4 essly blind and provincial policy of SO
| called economic protection. 1t is higl
| time we repaired our mistake and resumed
our commercial independence on the seas
Why Ships Are Needed.
4 For it is a question of Independence 4
other nations go to war or seek to ham
per each others commerce, our merchants
/, it seems, are at their mercy. to do VIII
as they please; We mus must use their ships n;
have not ships enough of our own. w,
/ cannot handle our own commerce on tn,
seas. Our INDEPENDENCE Is provincial, ant
ders. We are not likely to be. permitted
to use even the ships of other nations ii
rivalry of their own trade, and are with
where the doors are wide open and ou
goods desired. Such situation is not t,
be endured. 1t is Of capital Importance
not only that the United States shoult
| be its own carrier on the seas and enjo.
the economic independence which only al
adequate merchant marine would give 1t
but also that the American hemisphere
as whole should enjoy like indepen
drawn into the tangle of European affairs
Without such Independence the who'll
question Of our political unity and sci
and complicated indeed.
| Moreover. we can develop no true or eff
| fective American policy without ships o
peace, carrying goods and carrying mucl
more; creating friendships and rendcr.n,
indispensable services TO all interests o,
this side of the water. They must NOV,
| Americas. They are the only snuttle
that can weave the delicate fabric o
sympathy. comprehension, confidence. ant
/ mutual dependence In which we wish t.
clothe our policy of America for Ameri
| cans.
Remove the Obstacles.
The task of building up an adequate
merchant marine for America private cap
ital must. ultimately undertake ant
achieve, as 1t has undertaken and achieve,
every other like task amongst US in th
past. with admirable. enterprise, intelli
I gence. and vigor; and 1t seems to me
manifest dictate OF wisdom that we shoult
promptly remove every legal obstacle tina
may stand ravins in the way Of this much to
and should facilitate in every poss: Ill
way the building. purchase. and AmeriSal
registration OF ships. But capital canno
4 accomplish this great task OF sudden
, 1t mus, embark upon 1t by degrees. as tn
opportunities of trade develop. Somethin!
tmust be done at once; done to open routes
as yet undeveioped; done to open tn.
arteries OF trade where the currents hav'