The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-22
VICTOR IN WAR TO ASSAIL !
u. S., FEAR NAVY MEN
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.


European war Is one which grew out OF
the commercial ambitions of England
and Germany He tells us that we
should read history and see that Eng
land, first, by reason of her commercial
ambitions. disposed Of the supremacy of
Holland. Then later on she disposed of
Spain, and In the present instance has
set out TO dispose of Germany. In the
same way the latter country was
known to be seeking commercial expan-
sion. and 1t was this knowledge on the
part of England that made 1t necessary
for her to counter against Germany.
THE United States, Capt. Hughes points
out, built the Panama Canal for the
same purposes Of commercial expansion,
and it behooves the United States to be
able always to maintain that as a ma
val base and the radiating point for her
commerce with the world. In order to
do this there must be navy sufficient
to hold it,
In the opinion of Capt. Hughes the
United States must look to a settlement
of the question of commercial suprem-
acy Immediately after the European
war. The struggle will begin. he says.
even before the victor disarms.
Cuba As Base of Attack.
THE plan of campaign. whoever shall
be victor, will be to establish a base of
operations against the United States
either in Porto Rico or Cuba" adds
Capt. Hughes. He points out that neither
England nor Germany would be success
fully charged. or perhaps be chargeabie
with violating neutrality. for the reason
that Cuba is generally considered a pro-
tectorate of the United States
With Cuba as a base. Capt. Hughes
thinks that the next point OF attack
would be the Panama Canal. Capt.
Hughes expresses the opinion. however.
that the Panama Canal could not Dc
taken at this time by any power.
He believes that with a superior fleet
operating against that of the United
States there will be no difficulty on the
part of the a&gressor in landing even
SO small a number as 10000 men on the
coast of the United States. with which
number the seacoast and adjacent terri
tory could be harried indefinitely.
Capt. Hughes discusses also the prob
able operations in the east. He says
pointblank that at the very first blush OF
war the United States would lose the
Philippines. but that We might hold on
for some time to Hawaii.
The conclusion of the review D that
the United States might be called upon
to face the situation ne outlines at an
early day. Capt. Hughes makes a
strong plea for specific attention to the
naval needs, and he throws out the
alarming suggestion that 1t might be too
late even now to do what should have
been done long ago.
Some of the high navy officials. who
are familiar with the workings of the |
General Naval Board. say that It has
been deeply impressed with the views Of
Capt Hughes. They say that a review |
of this Importance would scarcely have |
been prepared for the General Naval |
Board without a general belief In the I
soundness of the argument by Rear Ad- |
miral Fletcher, himself In command Of
the fleet, and the fellow officers of the
chief of staff on the big warships in that /
fleet.
1t was pointed out yesterday, in con-
nection with this exposition by Capt
that no definite action has yet
been taken to secure the 5000 men who
are wanted to man the ships afloat and
The ships that are to be finished and set
ifioat during the present year. OF this
number, 5000 are absolutely necessary
'or the warships now in active commits
sion. and 300 for vessels to be launched
his year.
Bonaparte Urges Big Navy.
Charles J. Bonaparte. who was Secre-
airy of the Navy. under President
Roosevelt in 1905. has written a letter
o Congressman Gardner in which he
dvocates a big navy. and he says in
he course of 1t: when we are threat
ned with an epidemic we use the best
now known to medical
cience. although 1t is conceivable that
etter safeguards may be devised with
n the next decade. or even within the
ex. twelve months"
The letter IS in part as follows:
TN response to your request that
end you a frank statement of my s
Jews as to an appropriate construction S
rogram for the navy. l can only say
hat. in my Judgment. the navy should
e made stronger just as soon as pos
ible and thereafter always kept strong
nough to encounter, with at least an !
quail chance of victory. the entire fleet
f any power whose hostility is a rea-
enable possibility OF the future; for ,
tactical purposes. this means to my