THE AMERICAN NAVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3184, 1 April 1911, Page 5

THE AMERICAN NAVY.

IS IT OF NO USE? In the “Atlantic Monthly” for January, Alexander G. AtcLcllan gives his own views of American naval expenditure. He; contends that the American Navy would be practically powerless against the German or the - British, eleven against the Japanese fleet. The true policy of the United States is fortification of lier principal ports and waterways! As he puts the question : Is America- justified in spending about 150,000,000-dols. vearly on her navy, when the most powerful antagonist that we can put against her cannot do damage enough to require that sum to set it right again; in one year? I think not!

He advises America to put- less money in naval ships and more in merchant ships. Tlie Alonrce doctrine may be responsible for America’s' naval expansion, but Air. AlcLellnn thinks that “if a' strong European Power chaoses to make a permanent settlement, in any of the South American Republics I can-not-very well see bow America is going to oust-'it.” He ends,by saving:— “Mailed fist's” and -huge standing armies and navies are out- of date and

are diametrically opposed to the progress of civilisation and Christianity, .-os a plain sailor who has seen all the mighty navies of the world, I say in plain language that they stand only to mock us and prove our civilisation is a sham. As a man who took an active part in the Boer War of 1900, and who saw the effect of shot and shell on life and limb, I say that our skill and ingenuity of to-day, instead of tending to elevate us, tend only to draw ns back into our ancient state of barbarism The man in America, or even in Europe, who thinks that this craze can last, or is bound to culminate in a- war, has a- poorer opinion of his fellow men than I have.