The times., 1897-09-12
Circulation Statement
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER y, 1897.
A Navy at La st.

A Navy at Last.
During the years which have passed
Ence a national awakening of American
common sense first forced d reluctant
Congress TO begin The construction OF d
Modern navy, dockyards and armor plants
have been busy though not to the extent
they should have been-tuming out war
ships, cruisers and gunboats. AS conse.
quence, the flag OF our country, which had
been nea,iy forgotten in foreign ports and
waters has been increasingly seen in the
Atlantic, the Pacific. and the Mediter-
ranean.
That was Wen as a beginning, but il was
time that Something more tangible and
Conclusive should De done, to demonstrate
the tactical and fighting value of the new
resource, organized and mobnized in the
form in which it must appear should its
services be required in actual warfare 1t
was the privilege and duty of Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt 10 order and super
Intend the first demonstration Of the kind.
N connection with the autumn maneuvers
Of the North Atlantic Squadron off the
Virginia Capes.
And here let it be remarked that what
ever criticisms, justly or un5ustly, may
have been aimed at tie Hon. Theodore
Roosevelt, either in his capacities as a
civil service commissioner In Washington.
or a police commissioner in New York.
the country cannot fail 10 accord him the
need or belief that, as the virile. motive
power in the Navy Department, eninentIr
he is the right man in the right place
His political or other opponents may have
objected To him in other relations, but.
IN his present position, his acknowledge
edly sturdy Americauisnl, his Constructive
and administrative force, and his personal
integrity, constitute reasons why We ali
should Ge glad that President Mckinley
has placed him where he is. There is
Urgent need FOL just such men IN the
administration Of the front which it is
our necessity, as Well as our duty, To
present to the world at this time.
Mr.. Roosevelt has been out on the Dol
phin-not for 2 junket but for business.
This In itself is a new and conlmendable
departure. What he went for was to
see tie squadron do exactly what it would
do If the fleet OF al enemy were before
St. Under Admiral Sicard, the practice
and cvolutious We're entirely up 20 the
mark Of naval science, and tie results
more than satisfactory They demonstrated
that the vessels upon which we must de
pend in case OF an emergency were sus-
ceptibIe Of easy handling: that the neavy
batteries Of or first-clsss warships can be
trusted to do their duty, and that. given
Competent command and a full connplemerr
Of men, our Navy. to the extent OF its
tonnage and battery force, is as good
as any on the bosom OF the waters. The
conclusions which Mr.. Roosevelt has given
out as result Of his inspection OF the
autumn maneCvers is Of too much in
terest 10 ignore. he says:
The trip has been in every way more than
satisfactory The target practice under
service conditions, the fleet ruaneuvers
the practice with the seHrchlight at night
In discovering and sinking drifting tar
gets, nave each and all been done in
way " hich Teflecas very high ere dit upon the
hoilllral, his captains, and their officers
ana crews The signaling. both at night
ana IN the da ytiuue, including the day sig
no. fire h..
tNcellent- The TapidltY and precision OF
the practice with the rapid fire guns. and
Inc extraordinary accuracy with which
the huge tUrrct guns were fired were
equally noteworthy.
There were several matters OF less i'm
portance, ike the successful use of carrier
pigeons, which also deserved comment. In
enofll theFe is every reason 10 be satisfied
WITH every detail OF the management of the
hnge war ships, from the coming towers 10
the engine rooms and gun turrets
his is the first time that such a SQUAD
Ton OF inodernironclads has ever been under
command OF an American admiral. In
I'e1, laa, y - We tlrSt time In peace that an
American admiral has ever comma nded a
squadron relatively so formidable com
pared with Tie warships OF other powerS.
- ldsN We are beginning 10 have navy fit
70 uphold The Interests OF our people, a navy
Whcn, though too small in size need fear
comparison with 10 other a = regards the
quality Of its ships and men.
IN praisng the propulsive activity Of
the Acting Secretary and the efficiency
OF the squadron we do not feel at liberty
70 refrain from expressing the hope that
these things are but the entering wedge
In policy Of naval extension that some
day viii put the United States upon a
plane OF equality with the greatest naval
power Of the world. Only upon such terms
can be predicatcd the future successful
expansion Of A american ideas, rights and
Commerce, and their adequate protection.
No Dodging IN Gotham.