An item reported that the American president Roosevelt (1) again publically stated that in his opinion the US Navy needed to be strengthened. He believed that the USA should have or a first rank fleet or otherwise no fleet. A first rank navy was the best precaution for peace. Although Roosevelt hoped that the USA was never be involved in a war and that everything was to be done to prevent a war, was a war just acceptable if the USA had a fleet strong enough to beat the opponent. For this purpose was a fleet needed which could search for and then destroy an enemy. Fortress were suitable for coastal defence, for that purpose was no fleet needed.
Note
1. Theodore Roosevelt (27 October 1858 New York, USA-6 January 1919 Oyster Bay, New York, USA), historian, author, assistant secretary of the navy 19 April 1897-10 May 1898, vice president of the USA 4 March 1901-14 September 1901 and president of the USA 14 September 1901-4 March 1909.
