The times., 1898-06-04
As 10 the Naval Command.


The idea may be tolerated that, while
We have a rear admiral in Asiatic
waters who has given to the American
arms the only glory We have achieved
in a six weeks war with rotten
fourth-class power. and while we also
are compelled to give command of our
Western operations TO a captain, 1t
might be we'll to think about bringing
Admiral Dewey home and placing him
in charge of naval matters, without
the assistance of a War Board which
appears, like q four-dollar shotgun, TO
be more dangerous TO die boy armed
with il than to anybody 1else.
When the military forces under Gen.
Merritt reach Manila, and the occupa-
ton of the archipelago has been fully
accomplished, we are inclined to think
that a naval officer of less distinguish
ed rank and prominence than Admiral
Dewey will be able to attend to the
sea service in that part of the world.
Except in a subsidiary way, the task
of Philippine operations will be trans
ferred from the Navy to the Army,
and il will rest with the latter to COM
pIete the work which the hero of Ma
Mia so splendidly has begun.
When we reach that point, what is
the reason that Admiral Dewey should
not be recalled and given command of
the fleet in the Atlantic? He ranks
the division commanders, Schley,
Remey and Watson, and his command
over them would not be the commen-
tary and outrage upon their standing
and efficiency that is involved iii talk
ing a captain and putting him over
them. In offering this suggestion, we
are quite conscious that TO adopt II
would be to abolish the War Board
and TO adopt the policy of putting re-
sponsible officers in charge Of the oper-
ations for the success of which they
Will be held TO account. But we urge
that a man like Dewey, who has the
natural American tendency to act upon
his own responsibility, might be more
satisfactory to the country than an
other. who might consider himself
bound to consult the department before
venturing TO swab his decks.
When We mcdestly suggest the as
signment to chief command of Ad-
miraI Dewey we wish TO remark, and
sur language is plain" that we con-
| slider it too early to offer the slightest
reflection upon the conduct Of captain
and Acting Rear Admiral Sampson al
| San Juan. AS a matter of fact how
rn rhal.
| the British navy, such tiaseo coulo
not have been allowed to pass into op-
/ liVion. A naval court Of inquiry woulo
| have been as certain as death or the
taxes.
1t must not be supposed that The
Times is posing as the champion OF
| commodores as against captains. Fol
any personal feeling that We might b'
supposed to have in the matter, We
are cheerfully willing to see gunners
| carpenters, sailmakers or stokers pro
! moted by ''gunboat commission Il
| chief command If ii could be showI
| 10 US that the good Of the service or o
the country would be best subserveC
| by that sort of thing. we would be II
with il from the start, and the first t.
declare that naval honor and glory il
to be found through the hawser hol'
and not through Annapolis.
Modern conditions Of sea fighting al
most compel US to conclude that some
thing like technical education, ex
perience and a record in action ar,
| necessary 10 constitute a man a grea
admiral in time of war. None of thest
things is requisite, perhaps, whel
the person In control of a feet is oni!
! treated as a telephone girl at the cen
! tral station, and merely utilized as tn
| megaphone Of a directing board il
| Washington. But when a nation de
mands results of a military character
] possibly it would be as well for tn
President TO select some great soldie
| like Dewey and give him a free hand.
Much as We deprecate any operation
| during the present war which would
be open to the objection that it is hos
| tile in its character, we really thinl
| that President Mckinley would do wei
to invite Admiral Dewey home, in cas-
| he wants the war to be brought to
successful finish.
Incidentally, If he would saw tina
War Board into lumber for bureau
desks he would be putting it to a fl
and holy purpose.