Evening journal., 1917-01-24
Mr.. miller FIGHTS
FOR State Streams

Continued from First Page)
port concerns the military and naval
value OF this canal. We all know
what the Kiel Canal has been to Ger
many in this war. II it were not for
the Kiel Canal connecting the Baltic
and the North Seas, the German bat
tie fleet would not have been of any
use to that nation in this war. This
is a similar case. II 1t were in an
other nation a canal would be con-
structed for military and naval uses,
Notwithstanding any opposition to the
contrary so far as it related to its
commercial value. We see before us
a stretch of coast line the Atlantic
Coast. about three thousand miles
long. Our battle fleet not only has
to defend that coast. but 1t has to
defend the coast line Of the Gulf or
Mexico, and through the agency OF
the Panama Canal that same battle
feet is expected to defend the Pacific
coast. This nation has the greatest
vulnerable coast line of any first
class power, excepting none. It takes
a battle fleet Of great proportions to
defend Il The Panama Canal di-
vides in two the fleet that is neces-
sary. This project here il put
through will not cost when completed
to a thirty-three foot channel what
one dreadnaught or one battle cruiser
would cost.
"a geographical study Of the
Maryland and Delaware peninsula
and the Atlantic coast line of the
United States shows that this
peninsula is one OF the most vul-
nerable and suitable places for
the location Of base Of land op-
erations should our navy be
driven from the sea-"
This was demonstrated in the Wal
OF 1912 in no uncertain manner, wher
the British burned the very caplto
in which we gentlemen are now SIT
ting. I cannot in the few minutes
have call attention to all OF the points
in this report but there Is anotnel
sentence which concerns II very close
ly and which desire to quote:
! "The Civil War developed the enOr
nous value Of the present canal as
means OF transportation OF troops
supplies and prisoners. While oui
railroad facilities have greatly IN
creased since that time, 1t is easlll
conceivable that in future wars o.
internal disturbances, the proposed
shin canal would be very likely prov
an important adjunct to rail transpor
tation and. possibly, a vital factor II
the campaign should rail transporta
ton be interrupted by accidents
strikes or hostile raids.
"Mr Chairman, / maintain that Il
is a real question Of preparedness out
side of the commercial value, and it i
one that we should very seriousl,
consider at a time when we are spend
ing many hundreds OF millions o
dollars upon ships. The amount spen
TO nut this canal through would no
renresent the loss OF one battleshl
or battle cruiser, should It be lost b.
reason OF its not having the prope
means of communication between tw
of our greatest bays, the Delawar
and the Chesapeake, and aroun
/ which there are likely to be militar
and naval operations should war eve
come"
! Mir Hulbert-'Does not the argu
ment which the gentleman make
with regard 10 the question OF pre-
paredness apply likewise to the cana
, between New York and New Jersey!
Mr. NuHer-"It does, and agre
with the naval officers, who say tina
this project from Boston down shoul
be put through as a defensive meas
dre. and the gentleman knows and
know that naval officers are not prom
to advocate something for purel
commercial purposes. II Is really
defensive measure"