Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 73, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1909 — America Should Set the Pace In Naval Matters. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

America Should Set the Pace In Naval Matters.

By Rear Admiral R.OBLEY D. EVANS, Retired. CHE twenty-six thousand ton type of battleship is the best investment our government could make, provided sixty caliber twelve inch guns are ready to go into it when it is finished. That sixty caliber twelve inch gun is the most powerful weapon in the world. There are no ships equipped with this kind of gun afloat today. .* * .* ' OUR POLICY SHOULD BE TO BUILD AHEAD OF THE OTHER NATIONS. WE SHOULD BUILD AHEAD OF EVERY OTHER COUNTRY BOTH IN GUNS AND IN SHIPS. WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE

DESIGNING SHIPS AND GUNS FOR THE OTHER FELLOWS TO BUILD UP TO. INSTEAD OF THAT WE ARE HAVING THE PACE SET FOR U 8 BY ENGLAND AND GERMANY, AND THEY ARE FORCING U 8 TO BUILD UP TO THEM. England can build her Dreadnoughts and put them into commission within a year. We should be in position to do that too. We have the best country on the earth, and we are the best people on the whole globe'. We should SET THE PACE IN NAVAL MATTERS.

WE HAVE GOT THE BEST NAVY IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, BUT IT SHOULD BE MADE BETTER.