The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-12-06

| Powerful Navy Urged.
"The work OF upbulldlng the navy must be
| steadily continued. Whether We desire II OF
| not, we must henceforth recognize that VIC
have international duties no less than inter
national rights. Even II our nag were haul
ed down In the Philippines and Porto tico'
even II wo decided not to build the lsthmlnn
canal we should need thoroughly trained
navy OF adequate size. or else be prepared
definitely and for all time to abandon inc
idea that our nation Is among those whose
sons go down to the seq in ships. Unless
our commerce is always to be carried In for
eign bottoms, we must have war craft 10
protect 1t.
80 far from being in any way q nrovoca.
ton to war an adequate and highly tralneu
navy is the best guaranty against war, the
cheapest and most effective peace insurance.
The cost of building and maintaining sueh n
navy represents the very llghtest premium
for insurlng paecc which this nation can
possibly pay
Probably no other great nation In the
world is so anxious for peace as we are.
There Is not single civilized power wh'ch
has anything whatever to fear from ag-
gressiveness on our part All we want ~
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 saie'y
of the American people.
"Our people intend TO abide by the Mon
roe doctrine and to insist upon II as tho one
sure means of securing tho peace OF the
Western hemisphere. Tho navy offers us the
only means of making our insistence upon
the Monroe doctrine anything Dut a SUD
ject of derislon TO whatever nation chooses
TO disregard II. We desire the peace whlch
comes as of right 10 the just man armed;
not the peace granted on terms OF ignominy
to the craven and the weakling.
at is not possible TO improyse "a navy
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 10 -FOUR
teen years, and they were able TO do as they
did because the men In the coming towers,
the gun turrets and tho engine-rooms had
through long years of practice at sea learned
how to do their duty
1T was forethought and preparation wien
secured us the overwhelming triumph OF 1898
If we fail to show forethousht and prspara-
ton now, there may come time whon as,
aster will befall us instead of triumph; ana
should this time come, the fault VIII rest
not upon those whom the accl-
dent of events puts in supreme command az
the moment, but upon those who nave falleu
to prepare in advance.
There should he cessation in the work
of completing our navy. II is UNSAFE ana
unwise not to provide this year for several
additional battleships and heavy arnoreu
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
vide battleshlps 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; IT
would be crime against the nation.
ITO send any warshp against a competent
enemy unless those aboard II nave been
trained by years of actual sea service, IN
,ludng incessant Gunnery practice, would be
10 invite not merely disaster, but the bitter
est shame and humiliation. Four thousand
additional seamen and one thousand add
onal marines should he provided; and an
Increase in the officers should be provided
ny making large addition to the classes at
Annapolis.
Our Present Naval Force.
We now have seventeen battIeships ap,,
,ropriated for, of which nine are completed
md have been commissioned for actual scrV-
ce The remaining eight will be ready in
rom two to four years, but II will take at
east that time to recruit and train the men
o fight them. II is of vast concern that we
nave trained crews ready for the vessels by
he time they are commissioned. Good ships
and good guns are simply good weapons. and
he best weapons are useless save in the
lands of men who know how 70 night win
hem. The men must be trained and drilled
lnder thorough and well-panned system
II progressive instruction. while the recruit
ng must be carried on with still greater
igor
THE naval milita forces are state organi-
tions. and are trained for coast service, and
Il event of war they will constitute the inner
inc OF defense, They should receive hearty
from the general government
But in addition we should at once pro
'ide for a National Naval Reserve, organized
nd trained under the direction of the Navy
department., and subject to the call OF the
;hief Executive whenever war becomes imml-
lent. 1t should be n real auxiliary TO the
laval seagong peace establishment, and Of
err material to be drawn on at once for
manning our ships in time of war: 1t should
e composed of graduates of the Naval Acad-
my graduates OF the Naval Militia, officers
nd crews OF coast-line steamers, longshore
chooners, fishing vessels and steam yachts,
ogether with the coast population about
UGH centers rs e-saying stations and light
ouses.
Need for Powerful Navy.
THE American people must either build
nd maintain an adequate navy or else make
lp their minds definitely to accept sec
ndary position in international affairs, not
merely in political, but in commercial, mat
ers. 1t has been well said that there is no
urer way of counting national disaster than
o be opulent, aggressive. and unarmed.
1t is not necessary TO increase our army
,eyond it's present size at this time. But it
5 necessary to keep it at the highest point
II efficiency.
Every effort should be made to bring the
rmy to a constantly increasing state of eff
lciency. When on actual service no work
ave that directly in tho line of such service
hould be required. The paper work in the
lrmy as in the navy. should be greatly re-
luced. What is needed is proved power of
Command and capacity to work well in the
leld Constant care is necessary to prevent
Try rot in the transportation and commits
AIRY departments
THE Congress should provide means where
~ it will be possible to have field exercises
W at least a division of regulars, and II
possible also a division of national guards
men, once a year.
only actual handling and providing for
men in masses while they are marching,
amping embarking, and disembarking, will
{ be possible to train the higher officers to
perform their duties we'll and smoothly
"A great debt is owing from the public to
he men of the army and navy. They should
10 so treated as TO enable them to reach the
highest point of efficiency, so that they may
,e able TO respond instantly to any demand
made upon them to sustain the interests of
he nation and the honor of the flag. The |
American enlisted man is prob
IDLY on the whole n more formidable fighting
nan than the regular Of any other army.
every consideration should be shown him,
md in return the highest standard OF use
illness should be eNacted from him. II is
,ider whether the pay of enlisted men upon
,econd and subsequent enlstments should
lot be increased to correspond with the in
,reased value OF the veteran soldier.
Militia Laws Obsolete.
Action should be taken in reference to the
militia and to the raising OF volunteer forces.
Dur militia law is obsolete and worthless.
rhe ganization and armament OF the Ma |
ional Guard of the several states. which are
reated as militia in the appropriations by