The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-03
DENT R00seve/fs Message ia Congress.

and proportion of raw men can, be
mixed with the highly trained, their
shortcomings being made good by the
skill OF their fellows; but the efficient
nghtins force OF the navy, when pitted
against An equal opponent, Will be found
almost exclusively I'm the warshps that
have been regularly built and in the onl-
GERS and men who through years OF faitn-
| trained 10 handle their formidable but
complex and delicate weapons with the
highest efficiency.
that dealt the decisive blows at Manila
and Santiago had been launched from two
| 70 fourteen years. and they were able 70
do as they did because the men III the
coming towers, the gun turrets ana the
engine rooms had through long years or
practice at sea learned how~o DO their
duty. -
Our present navy was begun in 1852 AZ
that period our navy consisted OF col
lection OF antiauated wooden ships. al
| ready almost a : out Of place against mod
ern war vessels as the galieys OF Alcl-
binades and Hamilcar--certainly as the
ships Of Tromp and Blake. Nor at that
| time did we have men fit 10 handle
modern man-of-war.
| Under the wise legislation OF the con-
| eress and the successful administration
| OF a succession of patriotic secretaries OF
| the navy. belonging 10 both political par
| ties. the work OF upbuilding the navy
| world OF their kind were continually
| added; and what was even more impor-
tant these ships were exercised at sea
| singly and I'm sduadrons until the men
| aboard them were able 10 get the pest
| possible service out OF them.
| The result was seen in the snort war
| with Spain, which was decided with such
rapidity because OF the infinitely greater
preparedness Of our navy than OF the
| spanish navy.
SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
| While awarding the fullest honor to the
| men who actually commanded and man
| ned the ships which destroyed the Span
| ish sea forces in the Philippines and In
| Cuba. we must not forget that an equal
| need of praise belongs 10 those whom
| neither blow could have been struck. The
| congressman who voted years I'm advance
| the money 10 lay down the ships, 10
| build the guns 10 buy the armor-plate;
| the department officials and the business
| men and wage-workers who furnlshed
| what the congress had authorized; the
| secretaries OF the navy who asked for and
| expended the appropriations, and hnaily
| the officers who. in fair weather and foul,
| on actual sea service. trained and dis
| ciplined the crews OF the ships when there
| was no war I'm sight-sll are entitled 10
| fun share I'm the glory OF Manila and San
| tiago, and the respect accorded by every
| true American to those who wrought such
] signal triumph for our country.
IL was forethought and preparation
| which secured us the overwhelming tri-
| umph OF 1895. II We fail TO show fore
| thought and preparation now, there may
| come a time when disaster will befall us
| instead OF triumph: and should this time
| come, the fault will rest primarily, not
| upon those whom the accident OF events
puts in supreme command at the moment.
| but upon those who have failed TO pre-
pare In advance.
I! There should he no cessation I'm the
| work OF completing our navy. So far in
| genuity has been wholly unable TO devise
I supstfttrte for tho great war craft ~Aese
| hammering guns beat out the mastery or
l the high seas. Ii Is unsafe and unwise not
| 10 provide this year for several addition
| al batteships and heavy armored cruis-
ers. with auxiliary and lighter craft In
| proportion: for the exact numbers and
character refer you TO the report OF the
| secretary OF the navy. But there IL some
| thing we need even more than additional
| ships and this IL additional officers and
| men. To provide battleships and cruisers
and then lay them UP. with the expecta-
| tIon OF leaving them unnamed until they
| are needed in actual war. would be worse
| than folly: IL would be crime against the
| Nation.
| To send any war ship against compe-
| tent enemy unless those aboard IL have
| been trained by years OF actual sea SER
| vice. including incessant gunnery practice,
! would be TO invite not merely disaster.
| but the bitterest shame and humiliation.
| Four thousand additional seamen and one
\ thousand additional marines should be
| provided: and Van increase I'm the officers
| should be provided by making a large ad-
| dition to the classes at Annapolis. There
| In ore small matter which should be men,
/ toned I'm connection with Annapolis. The
/ pretentious and unmeaning title OF ma
val cadet" should be abolished; the title
| OF ''midshipman," full OF historic associa-
l tion. should be restored.
| Even I'm time OF peace warship should
| he used until ii wears out, for only so can
| il be kept III TO respond TO any emergency.
| The officers and men alike should be
| kept as much as possible on blue water,
/ for Il is there only they can learn their
/ duties as they should be learned. The big
vessels should he maneuvred i'm squadrons
| containing not merely battleshlps, but the
| necessary proportion OF cruisers and
4 scouts The torpedo boats should be han
| died by the younger officers in such ma n
| ncr as will best fit the latter TO take re-
| sponsibility and meet the emergencies OF
| actual warfare.
| Every detail ashore which can be per-
| formed by a civilian should be 40 per-
| formed the officer being kept for his
| special duty I'm the sea service. Above all.
1 eunnery practice should be unceasing. II
| IL important to have our navy or ade-
I duHtp sizr. hut II r. even mere important
| that ship for ship II should equal IN eff
cheney any navy i'm tho world This Is pos
| sible only with highly drilled crews and
| officers. and this i'm turn imperatively de-
| msnds continuous and progressive In
| struction I'm target practice, ship handling.
| squadron tactics. and general discipline.
| Our ships must he assembled In squad
| rons actively cruising away from har-
| bors and never long az anchor The result
| ing wear upon engines and hulls must he
| endured: a battleship worn out I'm long
| training or officers and men Is we'll paid
| for by the results while. on the other
| hand. no matter in how excellent condi-
+, tion. Il H. useless n the crew be not cx-
| pert
GOOD MEN NEEDED
| We now have seventeen battleships ap-
| rrorriated for Of which nine are complet-
| ed pd ha 20 heen commissioned for actual