Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-27
Panama Canals Change.

pIlns the Two meets together INTO
single fighting force.
Panama Canals Change.
Those who remember the long jour-
ney which the battleship Oregon
made around Cape Horn in the Span
ish-American war will appreciate
what a change the Panama canal
makes in the defense of the United
States and it's possessions.
Should the United States develop
unfriendly relations with European
power, the Pacific fleet can be brought
into the Atlantic in TWO weeks time,
and. of course. the Navy would have
taken advantage of pending negotia-
tons in any international rispute to
mobilize the fleet in whatever ocean
it might seem that operations would
be necessary.
Similarly. tn the event of military
operations in Mexico. the battle fleets
would be ready to cruise along the
eastern and western coasts of the
continent and render aid to the mill
tary forces, as well as prevent assist
ance by water from other powers
President Approves.
From a theoretical point of view. the
placing of large fleet in the Pacific
has been urged again and again. but II
was only upon the increase of naval
armament during the war that PreSi-
dent Wilson gave Secretary Daniels con-
sent to go ahead just as soon as the
European war ended.
OF course, there are those in the Ma
tional Capital who insist on believing
the American government is again do
ing what the late President Roosevelt
did-making display of power in the
Pacific for the benefit of all concerned.
P,pt a which theory
is based is state of unfriendly re-
tons with Japan. On the contrary. the
United States government, by agreeing
to the transfer of German rights in
Shantung to Japan. has taken a step
which has won favor in Japan.
The American peace mission has
been severely criticised at home. and
particularly on the west coast for
"bowing to Japan" in the matter of
Shantung. The American peace del
egation's position is that japan VIII
keep her word-that she will return
the territory of Shantung to China at
the appointed time.
A Question of Faith.
1t is again a question of faith in
japanese promises. and the American
government. in agreement with the
governments of Great Britain ana
France, prefers to believe in those
promises until concrete tbiutHCf vi
a broken pledge is offered.
In the meantime naval opinion
which proceeds on the theory of being
prepared for any emergency ire
spective of the status of diplomatic
relations, holds that the United
States can no longer ignore the Pacific
coast but that she must hereafter
consider the eastern and western
shores of the continent~running down
to the end of South America as terri
tory under her vigilance and patrol
One of the finest battleShips in the
world will go into the Pacific fleet.
among them the Wyoming, New York,
Arkansas, Texas. Arizona, Idaho.
Virginia. New Jersey.
Rhode Island, Georgia, Nebraska and
Vermont Besides this there will he "A
large cruiser force and torpedo boat
fotilla of 108, with fourteen subma-
rines, two submarine tenders, twelve
mine sweepers and two mine layers.
supply ships, hospital ships. powerful
tugs and radio repair vessels.
Naval officers believe that when the
Atlantic and Pacific fleets are brought
together for maneuvers. having been
trained separately, the efficiency of the
American Navy will be materially In
creased. America is at last getting a
line of defense on both sea-
coasts.
Copyright, 1919. by n. Y. Evening Post. fne.i