Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-12-06

trial 81 political chaos W. do mot wish =
So any old world military power grow UP on
this continent, or to be compelled to become
sbn Xm.ric.s c can prosper best Il LETT T. work
our their own salvation In their own way.
Powerful Navy Urged.
.'The work Of upbuilding the navy must be
steadily continued. Whether We desire It Or
not. We must henceforth recognize that We
Cd down in the Philippines and Porto Rico.
:. ness @
navy OF adequate size. or else be prepared
definitely and for all time to abandon the
sons 70 down to the sea In ships. Unless
our commerce in always to be carried In Tors
eign bottoms. We must have war craft 10
$50 far from being in any way provoca-
ton to war. an adequate and highly trained
navy Is the best guaranty against war. .ne
The cost Of building and maintaining such q
navy represents the very lightest premium
for insuring .paece which this nation can
probably no other great nation in the
world is so anxious for peace as we are.
has anything whatever to fear from ag-
gressiyeness on our part. All we want is
peace; and toward this end we wish to be
rights in return, to Insure fair treatment to
us commercially, and to guarantee the safety
Of the American people ,,. !, ~. Mon.
roe doctrine and to insist upon it as the one
sure means Of securing the peace OF me me
Western hemisphere. the navy onsps VS. nnnn
the Monroe doctrine anything put SUD-
ject of derision to whatever nation chooses
to disregard it. We desire the peace when
comes as of right to the just man armed:
not the peace granted on terms OF lgnomlny
to the craven and the weakling.
after war breaks out. The ships must be
built and the men trained long In advance:
In the late war with Spain the snips ina snae
dealt the decisive blows at Manila and San
tiago had been launched from two to four
teen years, and they we're able to do as they
d because sn res and The had
through long years of practice at sea learned
how to do their duty. 10,
secured us the overwhelming triumph OF 1898.
II we fail to show forethought and prepare
ton now, there may come time When dls,
aster will befaIl US instead of triumph: ana
should this time come, the fault wiir rest
primarily not upon those whom the accl.
dent Of events puts in supreme command 1a;,a al
the moment, but upon those VINO nave ialieo
to prepare in advance
There should be no cessation In the work
OF mot e ppovda . year for
cruisers, with auxiliary and lighter Graf. in
acter refer YOU to the report of the secre-
tary Of the Navy. But there is something we
need even more than additional ships. ana
this is additional officers and men. TO pro-
vide battleships and cruisers and then lay
them UP, with the expectation OF leaving
them unnamed until they are re. ne ss,sa IN !,
would be a crime against the nation
ITO send any warship against 9, competent
enemy unless uni those . anoaIo sea service in
GLIDING incessant gunnery practice, wou!a De
to invite not merely disaster, but the Dltter,
1fo%i4 low En11r
additional seamen and one thousand addi-
tional marines should be provided; ana an
increase in the officers should be PROVIDED
by making large addition to the classes at
Annapolis.
Our Present Naval Force.
1--WE now have seventeen battleships ap,
propriated for, of which nine are completed
and have been commissioned for actual serv-
ice. The remaining eight will be ready In
from two to four years, but 1t VIII take a al
to Tight them. 1t is Of vast concern that we
have trained crews ready for the vessels by
the time they are commissioned. Good ships
and good guns are simply good weapons. and
the best weapons are useless save IN the
hands of men who know how to hght with
them. The men must be trained and drilled
under a thorough and well-planned system
of progressive instruction, while the recruit
ing must be carried on with still greater
vigor ,,,.,o .oroo. .ra state orpan,-
ations. and are trained for coast service, and
in event Of they will abea
encouragement from the general government
but in addition should at once pro-
and trained under the direction Of the Navy
Department, and subject to the call OF the
Chief Executive whenever war becomes mimi
naval seagoing peace establishment and Of
fer material to be drawn on at once Tor
manning our ships in time OF war; II snou!o
be composed OF graduates Of the Naval Acad-
envy, graduates OF the Naval Militia. officers
and crews OF coast-line steamers. longshore
schooners n,hins vessels ana sssam abou
such centers as life-saving stations and light
houses.
Need for Powerful Navy.
.'The American people must either build
and maintain an adequate navy or else make
up their minds definitely to accept sec.
merely in political: but in commercial mat
ters. It has been we'll said that there is no
surer way Of counting national disaster than
to be 'opulent. aggressive. and unarmed
ut 10 not necessary to increase our army
beyond its present size at this time. But 1t
is necessary to keep it at the highest point
every effort should be made to bring the
army to a constantly increasing state OF ef-
save ss that directly in the line Of such service
should be required. The paper work In the
army. in the navy. should be greatly re.
command and capacity to work well in the
field Constant care is necessary to prevent
dry rot in the transportation and commits
sary departments.
.The Congress should provide means where
by it will be possible to have field exercises
by at least division of regulars. and II
possible also division OF national guards
men, once year.
..Only actual handling and providing for
men in masses while they are marching.
camping, embarking, and dise,nbarking, will
it be possible to train the higher officers to
perform their duties well and smoothly.
"A great debt is owing from the public to
the men of the army and navy. They should
be so treated as to enable them to reach the
highest point of efficiency, so that they may
be able to respond instantly to any demand
the nation and the honor of the flag. The
individual American enlisted man is prob
man than the regular of any other army.
Every consideration should be shown him,
and in return the highest standard OF use
fitness should be exacted from him. 1t is
I-oll tba Congress to