Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-05

1t is not possible to improvise navy
after war breaks out. The ships must
be built and the men trained long in ad-
vance. Some auxiliary vessels can be
turned into makeshifts which will do in
default of any better for the minor work,
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
fighting force of the navy when pitted
against an equal opponent will be found
almost exclusively in the warships that
have been regularly built and in the OIL
GERS and men who through years Of faith
full performance of sea duty have been
trained to handle their formidable but
complex and delicate weapons with the
highest efficiency. In the late war with
Spain the ships that dealt the decisive
blows at Manila and Santiago had been
launched from two to fourteen years and
they We're able to do as they did because
the men in the coming towers, the gun
turrets and the engine rooms had through
long years of practice at sea learned how
to do their duty.
Our present navy was begun in 1882 At
that period our navy consisted of a collec-
ton of antiquated wooden ships already
almost as out of place against modern
war vessels as the galleys of Alcibiades
Tromp and Blake. Nor at that time did
we nave men fit to handle modern man
of-war. Under the wise legislation of the
congress and the successful administra-
ton of a succession of patriotic secreta-
rics of the navy belonging to both politi-
cal parties the work of upbulding the
navy went on, and ships equal to any in
the world Of their kind were continually
added, and. what was even more impor-
tant, these ships We're exercised at sea
singly and in squadrons until the men
aboard them were able to get the best
possible service out of them. The result
was seen in the short war with Spain,
which was decided with such rapidity be-
cause of the infinitely greater prepared
ness of our navy than of the Spanish
navy.
The Part Played by Congress.
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 than an equal
need of praise belongs to those without
whom neither blow could have been
struck. The congressman who voted for
years in advance the money to lay down
the ships. IN build the guns to buy /. =
armor plate, the department officials and
the business men and wageworkers who
furnished what the congress had author
lied. the secretaries of the navy who
asked for and expended the appropria-
tons and finally the officers who in fair
weather and foul on actual sea service
trained and disciplined the crews of the
ships when there was no war in sight-all
are entitled to Il full share in the glory of
Manila and Santiago and the respect ac-
corded by every true American to those
who wrought such signal triumph for our
country. 1t was forethought and prepara-
Nfff, .
triumph of 1898, If we fail to show fore
thought and preparation now, there may
come a time when disaster will befal 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 prepare
in advance
There should be no cessation in the
work of completing our navy. So far in
genuity has been wholly unable to devise
Il substitute for the great war craft whose
hammering guns beat out the mastery of
the high seas. 1t is unsafe and unwise not
to provide this year for several additional
hattleshipS and heavy armored cruisers
with auxiliary and lighter craft in pro-
portion. For the exact numbers and char
acter refer you to the report of the secre-
tary of the navy. But there is something
we need even more than additional ships,
and this is additional officers and men. To
provide battleships and cruisers and then
lay them up. with the expectation of leav-
Ing them unnamed until they are needed
10 actual war. would be worse than folly
u would be crime against the nation.
More Men Required.
To send any warship against a compe-
tent enemy unless those aboard it have
been trained by years of actual sea serv-
ice. including incessant gunnery practice,
would be to invite not merely disaster,
but the bitterest shame and humiliation.
-Four thousand additional seamen and
thousand additional marines should be
provided. and an increase in the officers
should be provided by making large adj
dition to the classes at Annapolis. There
is one small matter which should be men
toned in connection with Annapolis. tt =
pretentious and unmeaning title of naval
cadet" should be abolished: the title of
'midshipman. full of historic associa-
ton. should be restored.
Even in time of peace warship should
be used until it wears out. for only can
1t be kept fit to respond to any emergen-
cy. The officers and men alike should be
kept as much as possible on blue water,
for 1t is there only they can learn their
duties as they should be learned. The big
vessels should be Unanswered in squad
rons containing not merely bettleships,
but the necessary proportion of cruisers
and scouts. The torpedo boats should be
handled by the younger officers in such
manner as Will best fit the latter TO take
responsibility and meet the emergencies
of actual warfare
Every detail ashore which can be per-
formed by a civilian should be so per-
formed. the officer being kept for his spe-
ciai duty in the sea service Above all.
gunnery practice should be unceasing 1t
is important to have our navy of ade-
quate size. but it is even more impor-
tant that, ship for ship. it should equal
in efficiency any navy in the world.
This is possible only with highly drilled
crews and officers and this in turn i'm
peratively demands continuous and pro-
sressive instruction in target practice,
ship handling, squadron tactics and gen.
eral discipline. Our ships must be assem-
bled in squadrons actively cruising away
from harbors and never long at anchor
The resulting wear upon engines and
hulls must be endured. A battleship worn
out in long training of officers and men is
we'll paid for by the results while. on the
other hand. 10 matter in how excellent
condition it is useless if the crew be not
expert.
The Necessity of Drill.
We now have seventeen battleships APP
propriated for. of which nine are complet-