Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-03
Build Up the Navy.

Build Up the Navy.
The work of upbuilding the navy must
) be steadily continued. No one point OF
our policy, foreign or domestic, is more
important than this to the honor AND
material welfare, and above all to the
peace, of our nation in the future
: Whether we desire it or not, we mus,
henceforth recognize that we have In
ternational duties no less than interna-
tional rights. Even If our flag were
hauled down in the Philippines and Porte
Rico, even il we decided not to build the
isthmian canal, we should need q thor
oughly trained navy of adequate size, OF
else be prepared definitely and for all
time to abandon the idea that our ma
ton is among those whose sons go down
to the sea in ships. Unless our commerce
is always to be carried in foreign bot
toms, we must have war craft to pro-
tect it.
Inasmuch, however, as the American
people have no thought of abandoning
the path upon which they have entered,
and especially in view Of the fact that
4 the building of the isthmian canal Is
fast becoming one of the matters which
the whole people are united in demand
ing. it is imperative that our navy
!. should be put and kept in the highest
state of efficiency, and should be made
to answer to our growing needs. So far
from being in any way a provocation to
war; an adequate and highly trained
navy is the best guaranty against war,
the cheapest and most effective peace
insurance. The cost of building and
maintaining such navy represents the
very lightest premium for insuring
peace which this nation can possibly
pay.
Probably no other great nation in the
/ W orld is SO anxious for peace as we are.
i There is not single civilized power
which has anything whatever to fear
/ from aggressiveness on our part. All we
want is peace; and toward this end we
wish to be able to secure the same re-
spect for our rights from others which
we are eager and anxious to extend to
their rights in return, to insure fair
treatment to us commercially, and to
guarantee the safety Of the American
people.
Our people intend to abide by the
j Monroe doctrine and to insist upon 1t as
the one sure means Of securing the peace
of the western hemisphere. The navy
offers us the only means OF making our
insistence upon the Monroe doctrine
anything but subject of derision to
whatever nation chooses to disregard It,
/ We desire the peace which comes as OF
right to the Just man armed; not the
peace granted on terms OF ignominy to
the craven and the weakling.
4 To send any warship against COM
petent enemy unless those aboard 1t
have been trained by years Of actual sea
service, 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 an in
crease in the officers should be provided
by making a large addition to the class
es at Annapolis. There is one small
matter which should be mentioned in
connection with Annapolis. The preten-
! tious and unmeaning title Of naval ca
Diet" should be abolished: the title Of
''midshipman," full of historic associa-
4 ton, should be restored.
| Even in time Of peace warship
should be used until 1t wears out, for
only so can 1t be kept At to respond to
any emergency. The officers and men
alike should be kept as much as possible
| on blue water, for it is there only they
lean learn their duties az they should be
Learned. The big vessels. should be ma
neuvered in squadrons containing not
merely battleships, 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.
But in addition we should at once pro-
| vide for a national navy reserve, organ
I lied and trained under the direction of
1.-The navy department., and subject to the
call of the chief executive whenever war
becomes imminent. IT should be real
auxiliary to the naval a-going peace
establishment. and offer material to be
drawn on at once for manning our ships
In time OF war. 1t should be composed
of graduates Of the naval academy,
graduates of the naval militia, officers
and crews of coast-line steamers, long
shore schooners fishing vessels and
steam yachts, together with the coast
population about such centers as life
saving stations and lighthouses.
The American people must either
build and maintain an adequate navy or
| else make UP their minds definitely to
| accept secondary position in interna-
tional affairs, not merely in political.
but in commercial, matters. 1t has been
well said that there is no surer way Of
counting national disaster than to be
"opulent, aggressive and unarmed.''
Army Is Large Enough.
1t is not necessary to increase our
army beyond its present size at this
time. But it is necessary to keep it at
the highest point OF efficiency. The In
divdiual units who as officers and en-
listed men compose this army are. we
have good reason to believe. at least as
efficient as those OF any other army in
the entire world. It Is our duty to see
that their training is of kind to in
sure the highest possible expression Of
power to these units when acting in
combination.
The conditions Of modern war are
such as to make an infinitely heavier
demand than ever before upon the indi-
vidual character and capacity of the Of
ticer and the enlisted man, and to make
il far more difficult for men to act to-
gether with effect. AT present the fight
III q must be done in extended order,