Navies

Lieutenant-Commander Key encloses a copy of the current issue of the “Proceedings of the United States Naval Institute.” Key hopes that President Roosevelt finds the time to read the articles by Commander Stanton, Lieutenant McLean, and Key. The article by Commander Rittenhouse, however, is so “purely academic” that Key does not think it has value. Key has written his article in the hopes of stirring up some interest in his plan regarding the naval committees and the public press. The weaknesses pointed out in the plan are not exaggerated, and Key believes the correction is essential if the United States is to have “an efficient fighting Navy.” He adds that he knows Roosevelt realizes this, but the inaction by Congress is discouraging.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-13

Ambassador Meyer writes to President Roosevelt comparing the situation in Russia to events in France during the French Revolution. Meyer goes into detail about the current political crisis in Russia, mentioning the need for reform, the need for improved conditions for the military, and the public opinion of the czar. Meyer describes the shutting down of newspaper offices, the imprisonment of editors, and strikes that could take place. He suggests that an American military attache could be of great help to him, as communication and media in St. Petersburg are not reliable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-20

Former Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton forwards an article to President Roosevelt that he thinks will be of interest, “The Growth of Navies” by James Bryce.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-12

This report conveys the court decision that the Japanese contraband on the steamer Arabia will be confiscated, but the ship itself and all the other goods on it will be set free.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-27

Ambassador Meyer encloses a translation of a Russian newspaper article concerning the question of peace or war between Russia and Japan. Meyer summarizes other articles concerning the growth of British and German navies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-10

John Callan O’Laughlin reports on the movements of Russian admiral Zinoviĭ Petrovich Rozhestvenskiĭ’s fleet in the China Sea. He believes that these movements show that Russia is not yet ready to take the first steps toward peace with Japan. Russian Ambassador Arthur Paul Nicholas Cassini has also stated that currently there is not a chance for peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-09

Ambassador Sternburg informs President Roosevelt that German Emperor William II will send an expert for the new Isthmian Canal Commission. Sternburg also encloses a clipping that provides an update about the “Morocco affair,” which suggests that the Kaiser is bluffing about his concerns in Morocco to cover his plan to absorb the Netherlands. Finally, Sternburg expresses surprise at the success of Russian Admiral Zinoviĭ Petrovich Rozhestvenskiĭ in reaching Singapore.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-09

Freiherr von Sterburg writes to President Roosevelt and encloses a German newspaper clipping regarding German navy policy and referring to some of Roosevelt’s ideas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-02

German Ambassador Sternburg sends President Roosevelt some photographs of the Russian battleship T︠S︡esarevich he received from China. Sternburg remarks that the common opinion is that the officers of the ship behaved like cowards, because the vital points of the ship were not damaged, and it still held plenty of ammunition. A report that Germany was going to lessen the importance of battleships in their naval program as a result of what they learned by observing battles in the Russo-Japanese War is false, according to Sternburg, and instead believes that battleships are valued more highly than ever before although the guns they are armed with will continue to change.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-29

Secretary of the Navy Morton will be glad to acquire and read the article on the Japanese Navy. He will be pleased to talk to President Roosevelt about Roosevelt’s sons and suggests that he should “make one of them a railroad man.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-18

Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1892 to December 1898. Notable events include the death of Elliott Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt is appointed New York City Police Commissioner, his tenure as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the Spanish-American War, and Roosevelt’s gubernatorial campaign.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1985

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt apprises President McKinley of what ships are available to send to Hawaii, given Japan’s dispatch of their protected cruiser, Naniwa. He discusses each ship’s strengths, weaknesses, and firepower.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-04-22

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt shares with Stoney that he just returned from a three-day visit with a squadron of iron-clad ships. He wishes every “Doubting Thomas” could see them; then, there would be no difficulty in building an adequate navy. Stoney’s current station is interesting, and Roosevelt asks to be kept informed. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-09-10

President Roosevelt confides to George Otto Trevelyan that he believes his administration has compiled a good record of legislation in his five years as president. Roosevelt contends that he must continually navigate between those who believe he is a radical and has not done enough and reactionaries who believe he has stretched the powers of government too far. Roosevelt also writes that he would like to see measures enacted to support arbitration of international disputes and limit naval forces, but not if it means abandoning “free peoples” and weakening the British and American navies.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1906-08-18

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Chase Untermeyer examines the evolution of the office of Assistant Secretary of the Navy from the time it was held by Theodore Roosevelt until Untermeyer’s entry into the role in 1984. Untermeyer also provides a biography of Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman and asserts that Roosevelt would have approved of his career and policies. Untermeyer praises the work of President Ronald Reagan and Lehman in enlarging the U.S. Navy, and he quotes Roosevelt to draw a parallel between the world of 1897 and that of 1979-1980.

A photograph of Untermeyer appears on the first page of the article.

The major article of this issue of the Pacific Marine Review deals with the Anglo-Arbitration Treaty, with editor Harold B. Jayne arguing that there is not a great reason to tie the United States to Great Britain through an arbitration treaty, as it would provide few benefits. Other articles deal briefly with the development of the Canadian navy, and the Mexican revolution.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06

The article describes an early rotating gun battery invented by Theodore R. Timby and exhibited in 1843. It outlines the design and mechanics of the circular, steam-powered fort and argues for Timby’s recognition as the true inventor of the naval turret system.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-08

Gustav J. Karger reviews and praises President William H. Taft’s various achievements during the two years of his administration. By placing “the cause of the people above all other considers,” Karger finds Taft has reached the “heights of constructive statesmanship.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-30

Uncle Sam holds a “Democratic platform” sandbags: “reduction of Navy,” “smaller Army,” “elimination of gold plank,” “anti-expansion,” “trust deals,” “disfranchisement,” and “free trade.” “Sound money” sand comes out of the “elimination of gold plank” sandbag.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-06

President Roosevelt stands in front of several pictures of himself, the “trusts,” and the Republican elephant with the title, “in the same frame & same game.” A picture of “Fairy Bank” is below. Roosevelt stands on the “Constitution” and “Declaration of Independence” and wears a “big stick” saber and “Baron Littauer’s brand” gloves. Two ultimatums are in his belt. To his left is his “letter of acceptance” that includes a number of statements, “signed — ‘we’ per ‘I.'”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-24