THE AMERICAN NAVY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9213, 16 April 1908, Page 1

THE AMERICAN NAVY.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S

APPEAL

United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.

NEW YORK. April 15,

President Roosevelt, in a message, s urging Congress to provide four battleships of the largest type immediately. He remarks that China is an example of a " peace at any price " nation, while Great Britain's naval policy ought to be emulated. In regard to the •Hague Conference, should nations not agree to limit .naval armaments, arbitration would be an ineffective remedy, though it ought to be utilised to the fullest extent. While disclaiming any intention to engage in a war of con-

guest, President Roosevelt .states that {America can ill afford to relapse into a position where insult must be borne in ■ilence. If America built only two battleships a yearj it would go backward in naval rank and relative power among the great nations, which would 1 be unwise if the country fronted merely one ocean, and doubly unwise when it fronted two. Neither arbitration nor »ny other device could prevent the

gravest and most terrible wrongs to peoples who lost the capacity of selfdefence. If America desired to avoid insult, it must be able to repel it if desired. Peace must at all times be steady for war.