Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-02
CONC, GUERNSEY
MAKES EARNEST
DEFENSE PLEA
Declares Cities from Eastport
to Galveston Are Inadequately
Defended at Present Time
Urges Greater Navy

Washington, D. c., June 1-Repre-
sentative Guernsey yesterday made an
earnest plea for better naval prepar-
edness and referred to the conditions
along the New England coast and es-
pecially from Portland to PASSPORT, as
being entirely Inadequate to defend
the country in case or INVASION Inc
debate on the naval bill continued up
to the hour of adjournment, Whlch
was early in the afternoon, owing 10
the Memorial day observation called
for by Republican Floor Leader Mann.
Mr.. Guernsey said Mr.. Chairman,
last Saturday | listened with intense
interest to the statement or the as
tinguished chairman of the naval al
fairs committee (Mr. PudGetD, ana
particularly to that part OF ms state
nent in which he said that, IN MS
npinion. 800, 100000 was sufficient IN
the way of an increased appropriation
for the building up of the navy at one
session of Congress. | admit that IS
large sum. and perhaps it is sufflclent'
turn out to be the most critical times
in the history of this country. was
the limit set for the increased build
inc plan of the navy measured by tne
,ecessities of the nation in this crls-
is. or was the amount arhltrarllv ar
rived at? | wondered how that sum
was arrived at I hardly believed II
was fxed bv the distinguished chair
man himself. OF course, it was not
set by the minority of the committee
on naval affairs. | doubt II 1t was
named by the committee as "hole'
Was the limit placed by the Democrat
10 caucus or by Woodrow wilson at
the White House? l am forced TO the
conclusion at least that the limit Oh
the amount for the upbuildlng OF the
American navy was made prior 10 ''le
preparation of the bill.
when it came to the questloh ol
the allotment of this sum OF SlVo,oo"'
o0o it was found necessary, IL can
Judge anything by the statements 'hat
have been made here, to apply the en-
tire amount to the building OF battle
Cruisers in order to balance up the
navy of the United States properly,
thai IS establish proper proportions In
its fighting equipment
"Rattle cruisers are undoubtedly nee
essarv. and l do not question the judg-
ment of the gentlemen of the majority
for providing for their constructions
but it. seems to me that 1t is a SAD
mistake that in fixing the limit at $780,
600 600 it left nothing with which to
build battleships
"The cities along our coast, from
Eastport and Portland in Maine to Gal
weston in Texas are nadequately de-
Tended at the present time. BattleshlpS
are floating forts, and in time of war
those cities along the seaboard, with
the billions of property in them, would
almost wholly be dependent on battle
ships for their defense. Who is there
that is ready to advocate here the aban-
donment of the construction of battle
ships for their defense. Who is there
that is ready to advocate here the aban-
donment of the construction of battle
ships? They are the great fighting units
of the navy and will continue to fill an
important place. The chairman of this,
committee upeS ilot question iHtll ciI
cheney or importance. The British Isles
are surrounded by water. There has
been within easy reach of the British
Isles during the present great European
war for now nearly two years a hos
tile navy, the second navy of the world,
and yet not a particle of territory of
the British Isles has been touched by
the German navy for the very reason.
| believe, that their coasts are guarded
by the great battleships of the English
navy ready to defend her ports. The
very knowledge that these great ships
are on duty has been sufficient to pro-
tect the interests of the English peo-
pie. | believe it would be a great mis-
take to disregard the recommends ton
of this minority and not provide for
two battieships at this time, because if
we fail to do so our battleship line will
go down, as we are not providing in
this measure to keep it up to its pres
ent STRENGTH