Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-08

/ ship and one repair ship.
The Secretary of the Navy is ask
Ins also for the Immediate addition to
/ tho personnel of the navy OF 900
sailors. 100 apprentice Scamcn, and
900 marines. This increase would be
sufficient TO care for the ships which
are 10 be completed within the fiscal
year 1917 and also for the number of
men which must hc put in training 10
man the ships which will bc compile cd
I early III 1918. II is also necessary that
the number Of midshirmcn at the
Naval Academy NJ Annapolis should be
Increased by at least 300 in order that
the force of officers should be more
raridiy added to: and authority is
asked to appoint. for engineering du-
ties only. approved graduates OF en-
gineernr colleges. and for service in
the aviation corps a certain number of
men taken from civil life.
WHAT PROGRAM MEANS
II COUNTRY ADOPTS TT
If this full program should be car
ricd out wc should have huilt or build
ing in 1921, accOrding to the estimates
OF survival and standards Of ciassiiicn-
ton followed by the general board Of
the department. AN effective navy con-
SiSiinS OF twcnty-Scvcn hattlcShipS Of
the first line, six battle cruisers TWEEN
ty-fiNc bait "Ships OF the second line
I ten armorcd cruisers, thirteen scout
cruisers, five first class cruisers. three
sccclG-class cruisers, ten third-class
cruisers, los dcstroycrs, eighteen fleet
submarines. 49, coast submarines, six
monitors, twenty runhoats four sup
ply ships fifteen fuel ships, four trans
ports. three tenders 10 torpedo vessels.
eight vessels OF special types. and two
ammunition ships. This would be Il
navy to our needs and worthy OF our
traditions.
E,It armies and Instruments Of war
are only part Of what has to be con-
S.dcrcd If VIC are to consider the SUI
rrcuo matter OF national sclf-suifi :
! cheney and security in all its aspects.
There are other grca; matters which
, vii! he thrust upon our attention
whether We will or not. There IS, foi
example, "a very pressing question OF
trade and shipping INVOLVED in this
great problem OF national adequacy.
/ II Is necessary for many wcighty rca-
/ sons Of national efficiency and dcvcl-
opmcnt that should have "A great
/ merchant marine. The great merchant
I ficct wc once used to make Us rich.
that great body Of sturdy sailors who
! used 10 carry our i!aE into every sea.
AND "ho We're the pride and often the
/ bu!Wa"k OF the nation, we have al
most driven ont OF existence by in
/ "Xcusahlc neglect and Indifference and
~ hopclessly blind and provincial
policy of so-cullcd economic protcc-
ton. Il is high time VIC repaired our
mistake ana resumed our commercial
! Independence on the seas.
| For IL is a question OF indepe ndencr
! II other nations go To wa seek
to hamper each others commerce. our
merchants. il seems. arc at their
mercy, to do with as they please. We
/ must use their ships and use them AS
I they determine. We have not ships
enough OF our own. We cannot ham
die our own commerce on the seas.
/ our indcp"udcnc. is provincial and is
I only on land and within our own Dor
; dcrs. We are not likely to be per-
mitted 10 use evan the ships of other
! nations III rivalry Of their own trade,
; ANA are without means to extend our
commerce even where the doors are
| wide open and our goods desired. Such
Il situation is not to be endured 1t is
of capital Importance not only that
J tho tnitcl states should be its own
carrier on III" seas and enjoy the eco
| nomic Independence which only an
adequate merchant marine would give
! IL. but also that the American hcmis-
! phcrc as a whole should enjoy like
! independence aud self Efficiency. if II
, is not to hc drawn into the tamglc of
European affairs. Without such indie
pcndcncr tho whole question Of our
political unity and self determination
Is very seriously clcudcd and cnmpli-
Gated indeed.
{ MUST HAVE SHIPS pT PEACE
As WELL. As SHIPS on WAR
, Moreover. we can develop no true
/ ar "n"rtir" American policy without
ships Of our oHn no, ships of war,
but SHIPS of peace, carrying goods and
carr yiug much morc--crcatin friend
ships ana rendering Indispensable ser
vices to all interests on this side the
water. They must move constantly
back and forth between the Americas.
They arr the only shuttlcs that can
wcaE" TN" d"lccat" fabric Of sympathy,
/ comprehension. confidence and mutual
dcpcnd"n"" In which We wish To clothc
oar policy or America for Americans.
TN" task .! huilding mp an ADEQUATE
merchant marine for Amcric. private
""pi,:! must ultimately undcrtakc and
achieve, as IT las undertaken and
achieved every other like task
amongst us IN TIA" past with admira
bio enterprise, intelligence aud vigor:
and II seems to M" - manifest dictate
=. Of wisdom that wc should promptly
r"'n"y" every legal obstacle that may
siand 49, ia" way Of this much to be-
d"sirch revival uf our old in,icpcndcncc
ana "noUid facilitate in every possiblc
way It's" building. purchase and Amer
icnn registration OF ships But capi-
tai cannot accomplish this great task
Of "a sudden. II must embark uDon II
by degrees. as tho opportunities OF
4 trade fi,.S.tUD