THE COMMAND OF THE PACIFIC.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2482, 24 May 1909, Page 5

THE COMMAND OF THE PACIFIC.

In the course of an interview which he granted to a newspaper reporter after the return of the United States Atlantic fleet from its round-the-world tiip, Bern* Admiral Sperry gave his opinions very freely and forcibly upon the necessity for America possessing a Pacific fleet powerful enough to defy every nation, lie strongly deprecated the proposal to divide the present fleet into two portions, one for the Atlantic and one for the Pacific. “With our fleet cut in twain, he said, Cleimany could come over and smash the everlasting daylights out of us.” He went on to say that America would he a secure and peaceful nation only when her navy exceeded Great Britain’s in number of men, guns, and ships, and until that time arrived she would be in constant danger. In recent years the safety of the western coast had been threatened for the first time, and though Japan was now practically crippled as a naval power, and was fully occupied patching up her ships. Certain questions had arisen that might cause friction in the future. On both the Atlantic and the Pacific* he continued, it was virtually necessary that America should have fleets —“not threatening fleets to steam about with a chip on her shoulder, but commanding fleets, powerful enough to go out and make others run like scared wolves.” Admiral Sperry was greatly impressed by the reception the fleet met with in New Zealand Australia, “Never in my me, he said, “did I observe so much enthusiasm for a foreign flag,” and, he added, “if the United States ever got into trouble west of the Hawaiian group. Australasia wonld come running along to its aid with the speed of the wind.” The Admiral wound up with a piece of characteristic “spread-eagleism.” “Our present navy, he said, “is’ut half big enough, but with these men who have brought it round the world with me, I think 1 could take it, and make any offensive power feel that the United States was a Government that had more powder, more shot, and more men to fire them, than was ever created since the dawn of time.” Of course he co uld!

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