Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-05

: of the western hemisphere The navy of
fers us the only means of making our in
StStence upon the Monroe doctrine any
thing but a subject of derision to whatever
nation chooses to regard it. We desire the
peace which comes as Of right to the just
man armed: not the peace granted on
terms of fgnominy to the craven and the
weakling At very great length the presi-
dent discusses the need of stronger
navy.
The naval militia forces are state organ
iZatiOnS. and are trained for coast service,
and in event of war they will constitute the
inner line of defense. They should receive
hearty encouragement from the general
government. But in addition we should at
once provide for a national naval reserve,
organized and trained under the direction
of the navy department, and subject to the
call of the chief executive whenever war
becomes imminent. 1t should be a real aux
Hilary to the naval sea-going peace estab-
lishment, and offer material to be drawn
on at once for manning our ships in time
of war. 1t should be composed of gradu-
ates OF the naval militia. officers and
crews of cOast-line steamers, longshOre
schooners fishing vessels and steam yachts.
together with the coast population about
such centers as fe-savfng 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 international affairs,
not merely In political, but IN commercial
matters. 1T has been well said that there
is no surer way of counting national dis
aster than to be ''opulent, aggressive, and
unarmed."
ARMY BIG 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 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 officer
and the enlisted man, and to make it far
more difficult for mem to act together with
effect. At present the fighting must be
done in extended order, which means that
each man must act for himself and at the
same time act in combination with others
with whom he is no longer in the old
fashioned elbow-tO-elb0w touch. Under
such conditions a few men of the highest
excellence are worth more than many men
without the special skill which is only
found as the result Of special training APP
piled to men of exceptional physique and
morale. But nowadays the most valuable
fighting man and the most difficult to per-
feet is the fifieman who is also a skillful
and daring rider.
A general staff should be created. As
for the present staff and supply depart
lnents, they should be filled by details from
the line, the men so detailed returning after
awhile to their line duties. 1t is very IN
desirable to have the senior grades of the
army composed of men who have come to
fill the positions by the mere fact of
seniority. a system should be adopted by
which there shall be an elimination grade
by grade of those who, SEEM unfit to render
the best service in the next graue. Justice
to the veterans of the civil war who are
still in the army would seem to require that
IN the matter or ret1rementS they be given
by law the SaT ie privileges accorded to their
comrades in the navy. The process of
elimination of the least fit should be con-
Quoted in q manner that would render it
practically impossible to apply political or
social pressure on behalf of amy candidate,
so that each man may be Judged purely on
his own merits. Pressure for the promotion
of civil officials for political reasons is bad
enough, but It is tenTOld worse where ap-
piled on behalf of officers of the army or
navy. Every promotion and every detail
under the war department must he made
solely with regard to the good of the SER
vice and to the capacity and merit of the
man himself No pressure political social. |
or personal of any kind, will be permitted /
to exercise the least effect in any question
of promotion or detail; and if there is
reason to believe that such pressure is ex- |
ercised at the instfgation of the officer con f!
cerned, it will be held to initiate against |
him. In our army we cannot afford to have |
rewards or duties distributed save that on |
the simple ground that those who by their |
own merits are entitled to the rewards get |
them, and that those who are peculiarly fit |
to do the duties are chosen to perform |
them.
The congress should provide means where
by it will be possible to have field cxcr-
cises by at least a division of regulars, and /
if possible also a division of national !
guardsmen, once a year. These exercises /
might take the form Of field manoeuvres:
or, if on the gulf coast or the Pacific or
Atlantic seaboard, or in the region of the !
great lakes, the army corps when assem-
bled could be marched from some inland /
point to some point on the water.
there embarked, disembarked after a
couple of days journey at some other
point, and again marched inland. Only
by actual handling and providing
for men in masses while they are
marching. camping, embarking, and disem-
barking, will it be possible to train the
higher officers to perform their duties wen
and smoothly.
Much good has already come from the act
reorga mining the army, passed early in the
present year. The three prime reforms, all
Of them of inestimable value, are, first the
of four-year details from the
line for permanent appointments in the So
called staff divisions; second, the establish
ment of a corps of artillery with chief at
the head: third, the establishment of a
and minimum limit for the army.
1t would be difficult to overestimate the
in the efficiency of our army
which these three reforms making, and
have in part already effected. The reor-
provided for by the act has been
accomplished. Thorough mil
tary education must be provided, and in
addition to the regulars the advantages OF