Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-09-03
Hy Admiral W. :. Henson,

N'ihpcf OF mo ShlppinE board Tor
the South Atlantic Section.
In calling the attcnciou OF the
American people to the national de-
fcusc' features of an American MGR
chant marine. l wish. at the outset.
to draw a sharp line OF distinction
between preparedness for onvnsc and
preparedness for defense. The Amer
lean government proved couclusivcly
TO the world that il has no desire
for conquest when. at the Washing
ton conference for tho limitation OF
armament a few months ago. il took
the lead in declaring a naval Holt
day and restricting the building OF
battlcships.
While we might have como further
at the time of the Washington con-
ference. We did take a long step, a
step which Is now being recognized
as the greatest move toward world
peace that has been made since the
declaration OF the armistice. None
but the most suspicious can accuse
us OF Interior motives of conquest.
We want nothing that docs no, he
long &c as our history as a nation
proves couclusivcly that aggression
is not par, of our philosophy. We
like to be Industrious. happy and
free. end va arc perfectly willing
;hat other people shall enjoy those
privileges in their own way.
We have buld"d up - republic
based on democratic ideas. 1t may
not he perfect. but it seems TO us
the best form OF government, in cx-
istencc. our torefathcrs sacrificed
much to establish il and. for my part.
II am frank to say that after looking
over conditions" existing in other
countries today. am more than ever
convinced OF their wisdom. And 1t
seems TO me that i; is our duty TO
protect ourselves and our descendants
from any possible attacks on our
( country.
should lie Prepared.
4 Nobody wants war. No man who
has been through war cares to see
another one. Ru, the millennium has
not yet been reached. and il is my
thought that America Willie. volun-
tarily dcprlviur herself TO a great
extent OF the power TO promptly make
an aggressive war. should at the
same time so equip herself as TO dis
courage any possible aggressive ma
tiou from attacking hcr. We d" not
contemplate committing robbery
against our uciShbors. but "" put
locks on the doors OF our houses TO
guard against the possibility OF our
being robbed, AS | Said above, I
consider my country a great country
and deem IL my duty and that of
every other citizen to SHOW respect
for the liberties ard advantages that
arc ours by amply protecting them.
our geographical situation is such
that We do not need "a big standing
army, for treaty that has stood n
century keeps us at peace with Can
ada. our ncighbor on the north, and
conditions are such that we do not
apprchend aggressive action toward
ua on the part OF Mexico, our neigh
Dor to the south. Hut on the east
and west we have long sea coasts
which need protection. and their prin-
cipal protection is our navy.
Now, "A navy does not lie at anchor
In port and wait until the enemy
approaches within nrinS distance OF
the coast before II assumes it's de-
fenSive duties. Those dutics involve
going out to sea- and meeting the
enemy before he has a chance TO open
fire on the home coast. II robbers at
tempt TO break in 4 house TO steal
what Is on the second floor. the mar
OF the house does not wait for them
to come upstairs lie goes down and
meets their attack Mt the front door
Needs Auxiliary Craft.
To do this he has to have pail
OF active legs to carry him So &
is with our lighting craft. They must
he supported by what are known il
naval parliance AS auxiliary craft
These include scouts. transports. col
liers. oil taukcrs. ammunition ships
aircraft carriers and various otheI
craft with specialized equipment =
certain number OF these vessels have
been specially constructed for nava
purposes and arc useless for any
thing else. They belong TO the regu
lar navy jus; as much as do battle
ships and other armored Aghtinl
craft.
Bus working with these Their,
should he number OF vessels, tn,
regular cargo boats for carrying sup
plies. passenger ships to carry troops
golfers and oil tankcrs which ar,
not specialized. and which may b,
used in valuable commercial pursuit.
during peace. And there Is whcr,
the merchant marine comes in. viii
"A healthy, wcll-dcveloped merchan
marine in operation. nation necc
not spend SO much money on IL!
actual naval auxiliary. since whel
war comes. It's merchant marine 1!
Immediately called into service e
support the navy. For many year!
America has been without that neces
sary support.
\ glance back 70 events that hay,
occurred within less than quarter
of century w Ill prove this. Whcr
the war with Spain came Wa had M
real auxiliary supnort for Tho pav,.