New Britain herald., 1916-03-29
SPECIALISTS ARE
 NEED OF NAVY
Sec. Roosevelt Would Develop
 Engineers and AViators

Washington, March 29-Develop- aviation and other lines in the navy was urged today by Assistant Secre- tary Roosevelt of the navy depart ment before the house naval com mittee. He opposed securing Spe- cialists from scientific schools, stat ing that Annapolis Academy train ing for all naval officers was essen- tial. He said he did not know whether Secretary Daniels agreed with him on this matter.
 MT. Roosevelt went on record against exclusive government maru- fracture of war munitions.
 1T believe in government manu- facture to a certain extent" he said.
 MT Roosevelt said private manu- lecturers should be encouraged to develop a good submarine engine, with government experts also work ing to that end.
 New Naval Base
 Establishment of new and in vulnerable naval base on Culebru Island, near Porto Rico, another than at Guantanamo, Cuba, was sa!d by MT. Roosevelt to be needed.
 Our scouting line should extend from Newfoundland to Bermuda and the Windward Ises," he said eX- blaming sentiment for a base on Culebra. He stated that it would take several guns and five thousand men to guard such a base.
 we believe the enemy would probably make an initial attack in the West Indies. We are vulnerable down there to quick attack; more so than along the Atlantic coast. If an enemy came over here they would have to have some base. There are only three locations for bases, Canada or Newfoundland, Bermuda, or an island in the West Indies.'
 To an assertion that battleshps have played a minor part in the Eu- ropean war, Mir. Roosevelt said:
 "Dreadnoughts have won the great est victory of the war and not fired shot. They have accomplished what they were built to accomplish to keep the other mans fleet off the seas.
 "If we had enough dreadnought;s we'd win blood1ess victory in case of war;
 L. s. Richer and Weaker.
 Today the United States is richer and weaker than ever in it's history, in comparison with other powers, Mir. Roosevelt said, explaining that the nation has great potential resources but a 'handful of an army and navy weaker than several powers for immediate defense.
 That there is a possibility at least of this nation becoming involved in war with a victor in Europe waS as serted by Mir. Roosevelt. He pie tured disaster in a war with a fleet twice as strong, expressing belief that the United States fleet would be wiped out, the Panama Canal and United States possessions lost and the nation bottled up' and open to invasion.
 Might Fight Victors.
 In reply to a suggestion that Euro pean belligerents will be exhausted at the close of the war and be little in clined to continue arming, Mr. Roose- velt said:
 Tt is entirely problematical, but, judging by history, the best guess is that they will continue. We cannot tell yet if the war is going to result | in draw, with everybody weak, down ] and out. If victory for either side l results, history shows the victor will have enormous resources. If there 1 is a victorious side there is a prob 1 ability or a possibility that we might 1 get mixed up with that victorious side 1 Today we have great potential re- l sources, but nothing to withstand an 1 mm ediate shock