The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-03

hard thinking are in order. A battle OF
land or water means that somebody ha!
been working out a plan. These various
plans in time have evolved rules ant
maxims, based on certain principles tina
prove of more or less value as guides To-
future action. What these rules are, how
best to apply them, when they can b,
safely violated-these and such as thes'
are vital topics with which the war col
lege deals. All that is intellectual in the
makeup of the officer responds gladly tt
the prospect OF an exercise thus invigorat-
ing and broadening.
I'm war. as in every other struggle, the
test of success is that the commander
works out the largest results possible with
the instrument put into his hands. He
| that waits that he may have something
better to go ahead with never wins a
battle. The effective force to be get out
| of a ship depends on the man who handles
| her. These, to be sure, are but common
| place observations; but. nevertheless, the
| idea they embody ought ever to be present
| to the mind of an officer fit for command.
Obviously the naval profession lies open
/ to very much the same Influences that
operate in other professions.
If there be a leading factor that ac-
counts for the marvellous changes in the
latter half Of the century now fastening
to close, we shall recognize it in the
multiform facilities that have come into
being for Recommendation People
sometimes say that the world is smaller
than it used to be. The truth is that, while
distances seem smaller the world is larger
than ever before.
In the slow and painstaking process
of training officers of the Navy. can we
hope to escape the workings of this law?
Observe | refrain from expressing an opin-
ion. | merely submit the enquiry whether
it be the part of wisdom to attempt to
run counter to the workings of what clear
ly is the trend of development in the
higher walks of business. OF science, and
OF the learned professions.
There can be no lowering OF the STAN
dard. MatchIess as is the record of past
achievement the captain of the future
must subject himself TO a test even more
rigid. He shall evince more ardor than
Paul Jones; more skill than Hull; more
daring than Decatur; more firmness than
Farragut.
You will observe thus far we have had
in mind the commander of a single ship
only. A course of training to fit the officer
for this responsible post is begun at the
Naval Academy. and continued after
graduation for every day that he is OIL
duty.
But the aim of the Naval War College
is to lead him onward and upward, that
he may grasp the full meaning of the
problem how to bring many ships together
into TIE squadron. or the fleet and then
how 10 deal with them thus combined and
unified
Such is the lofty theme to which you
here would dedicate the thoughts of your
roble profession. Nor is it tco much TO
rope of those who resort hither that each
in turn will find flnself inspired with the
determination to elk along the far east
orn uplands meditating and remembering
Therefore it is that we bid a hearty
rodspeed TO your work here. Mr.. Pres1-
dent, may you, and those associated with
you, enjoy the rich reward of seeing that
work fruitful of the best results to the
service and to the country
At the conclusion OF Assistant Secretary
Fackett's address a reception was held in
the library. This afternoon Mr. Hackett
was taken for spin on the torpedo boat