Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1901-12-04

the slightest desire to secure any territory
at the expense OF any Of our neighbors We
wish 70 work with them hand in hand, so
that all OF us may be upifted together. and
We rejoice over the good fortune OF any OF
them. we gladly haii their material prosper
ity and political stability, and are concerned
and alarmed II any OF them fall into indus
trial or political chaos. We do not wish TO
see any old world military power grow up on
this continent, or to be compelled to become
a military power ourselves. The peoples OF
the Americas can prosper best II left TO work
our their own saly9tion in their own WIZ
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
have international duties no less than inter
national rights. Even II our hag we're haul
ed down In the Philippines and Porto Rico
even n we decided not to build the lsthmian
canal. we should need a thoroughly trained
navy OF adequate size, or else be prepared
definitely and for all time to abandon the
idea that our nation " among those whose
go down to the sea in ships. Unless
our commerce Is always to be carried In for
eign bottoms. we must have war craft TO
protect IL.
Probably no other great nation in the
world Is so anxious for peace as We are.
There is not a single civilized power which
has anything whatever TO fear from ag-
gressiveness on our part. All we want Is
peace: and toward this end we wish to be
able TO secure the same respect for our
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 Mon
roe doctrine and to insist upon II 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 a sub
iect OF derlsion to whatever nation chooses
20 disregard II. We desire the peace which
comes as Of right to the just man armed;
not the peace granted terms of lgnominy
20 the craven and the weakng.
"A NOT 10 40 IA
after war breaks out. The ships must be
built and the men trained long in advance.
In the late war with Spain the ships that
dealt the decisive blows at Manila and San
tiago had been launched from two to four
teen years. and they were 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.
1T was forethought and preparation which
secured us the overwhelming triumph OF 1898
II we fail to show forethought and prepara-
tion now. there may come n time when DIS
aster will befal us instead OF triumph and
should this time come. the fault will rest
primarily, not upon those whom the acci-
dent 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. II is unsafe and
unwise not to provide this year for several
additional battleshlps and heavy armored
cruisers, with auxiliary and lighter craft in
proportion: for the exact numbers and char
acter l reteT you 10 tue report OF the oetIt-
tary OF the Navy. But there is something we
need even more than additional ships. and
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 needed in
actual war would be worse than folly; II
would be a crime against the nation.
ITO send any warship against a competent
enemy. unless those aboard II have been
trained by years Of actual sea service. in
cluding incessant gunnery practice. would be
to invite not merely disaster. but the bitter
est shame and humiliation. Four thousand
additional seamen and one thousand addi-
tional marines should be provided and an
Increase in the officers should be provided
by making large addition to the classes at
Annapolis.
Our Present Naval Force.
I'VE 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 II viii take al
least that time to recruit and train the men
to fight tho n. 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 useless save in the
hands OF men who know how TO fight with
them. The men must be trained and drilled
under thorough and well-planned system
of progressive instruction, while the recruit
ing must be carried on with still greater
vigor.
THE naval militia forces are state organi.
in event of war they will constitute the innei
line OF defense. They should receive hearty
encouragement from the general government
But In addition we should at once pro
vide for National Naval Reserve, organized
and trained under the direction OF the Nav,
Department, and subject to the call OF tho
Chief Executive whenever war becomes immi
nent. II should be real auxiliary to the
naval seagong peace establishment, and Of
fer material to be drawn on at once fol
manning our ships In time OF war. II shoulC
be composed of graduates of the Naval Aead
envy, graduates OF the Naval Militia, ofnceri
and crews of coast-lne steamers. longshor'
schooners fishing vessels and steam yachts
together with the coast population abou
such centers as life-saving stations and light
houses.
Need for Powerful Navy.
THE American people must either built
and maintain an adequate navy or else max,
up their minds definitely to accept a sec
ondary position in international affairs. no
merely in political, but In commercial, mat
ters. II has been well said that there is M
surer way OF courting national disaster thar
to be 'opulent aggressive, and unarmed.'
1T is not necessary to increase our arm!
beyond its present size at this time. But 1
is necessary TO keep II at the highest poin
OF efficiency.
army to constantly increasing state Of ef
q, nciency. when actual service no worl
save that directly In the line of such servic
should be required. The paper work In tn
army as In the navy. should be greatly re
duced. What is needed is proved power o
command and capacity to work we'll In tn
hcld. Constant care is necessary to proven
dry rot In the transportation and commits
sary departments.
"The Congress should provide means whore
by II will be possible to have field exercise
by at least a division OF regulars, and
possible also division OF national guards
men, once year.
''Only actual handling and providing 10
men In masses while they are marching
camping, embarking. nd dsembarking vii
II be possible to train the higher officers
perform their duties well and smoothly.
militia Laws Obsolete.
Action should be taken In reference to tn
militia and to the raising OF volunteer forces
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