Weekly journal-miner., 1915-09-15
300 SUBMARINES COST
 LESS THAN WEEK OF WAR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11.-"With- out a greatly increased number of submarines for our navy the present movement for military preparedness in this country will appear to the other nations of the world as inettec- tive and absurd" according to a state ment of the National Defense League.
 This, in brief, is the substance ot information which will be given Pres ident Wilson within the next few days in connection with his effort to ascertain all things needed to put this country in a state of better pre- paredness for war. Primarily, the de- mand for a big increase in subma- rines comes from the navy officers and naval experts, but it IS signiti- cant that this request is backed up by army officers of high rank. Par ticularly among the coast artillery and the coast fertilization experts is there a strong demand for submarines.
 The explanation of this lies in the fact that there are at various points on the shores of the United States portions of the sea which can be pro- tected only by submarines. This IS because Notifications are not built so that the guns may sweep these waters, and the currents are so swift and ungovernable that mines can not be placed in them with any hope of definite results.
 There has come about, therefore. the unusual spectacle of a group of army officers joining navy officers in the demand for better submarine pro tection. That this will have a pro found effect on the president in the preparation of his recommendations to congress in behalf of greater pre- paredness is accepted as certain in Washington.
 A big American submarine building company, according to reports re- ceived here today, is operating in Canada so successfully that, as soon as the submarines are completed for the Allies, they are put into the water and sent across the Atlantic under their own power with full war equipment and ready to meet the en- emy. The building in Canada, which is devoted to assembling boats of the Holland type, is made necessary because of the international law against building them in the United States and then sending them to the Allies.
 A submarine costs about half a million dollars. Three hundred sub marines flying the Stars and Stripes would cost less than week of actual war, the authorities estimate, and, since a submarine can destroy any battleship that floats, flotilla of 300 of the undersea craft would be an unfailing insurance against invasion by foreign foe at any time.
 The president will be told that now is the time to engage the talent and resources of the American submarine companies so that not all of their output can be sent to foreign coun- tries.
 The National Defense league, which will hold a great conference on na- tional defenses in Washington, Oc- tober AZ, immediately following the Grand Army of the Republic encamp- ment, has for year consistently advo- cated large appropriations for sub marines. Some of the officers of the league declare that the United States should have not less than 300 of the undersea boats.
 "With 300 modern submarines the United States could defy the world to successfully land troops on Amer ican soil"
 This statement was made recently by Lieut. C. R. Morrison, chief aide on the staff of Rear Admiral Grant, commander of the Atlantic submarine flotilla and considered the most fore most expert on undersea craft.
 There Is not foreign nation, or even combination of nations that  could successfully land sufficient troops on American soil to combat even our present army" declared Lieutenant Morrison.