The Holly chieftain., 1901-12-06

tAs slightssk ae9irs 10 secure any territory
a. ths expe.ss q sny u car ssIsheors.. We
that al q NJ nay b upsiftsa tagssAss. and
~ fetcace ovsf tbs gooa fortune Of any of
thsm. ve g,adly han thslr material presper.
and alarmed II any Of them fall into indus
trial or political chaos. We DO mot wish 70
- any old world military power grow mp on
= military power ourselves. The peoples Of
the Americas can prosper best II left 70 work
our thsir own aalvation In their own way.
Fswsrfsl Navy UrgsA.
Tbs work of uphuilding the navy must .bet
STEADILY coetinaed. Whsther ws desire Il of
NOT, We must hcnceforth recognise thaA w
national rixhts. Evsn Il ssr lag were haul
ed down In the Philippines and Porto Rico.
even II We decided not to build the IsthmiAn
canal, We should need q thoroughly trained
navy Of adequate size. or else be prepared
definitely and for all time to abandon the
idea that our nation Is among those whose
sons go down to the sea In ships. Unless
our commerce is always to be carried In for
etgn bottoms. We must have war craft 70
Probably no other great nation in the
world Is so anxious for peace as We are
There Is not single civilized power which
gressveness 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 A. 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 sub
ject OF derision to whatever nation chooses
to disregard it. We desire the peace which
comes ss of right to the Just man armed: !:
not the peace granted on terms Of ignomlny
to the craven and the weakling. -
1T is not possible to improvise . navy
after war breaks out. The ships must be
In the late war with Spain the ships that
dealt the decisive blows at Manila and San
uugo had been launched from two 70 four
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.
ut was forcthought and preparation which
secured US the overwhelming triumph Of 1898.
II we fail to show forethought and prepara-
ton now, there may come time when dis
aster will betall US instead of triumph and
should this time come. the fault will rest
primarily. not upon these whom the ncci-
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. 1t is unsafe and
unwise not to provide this year for several
additional battleshirs and heavy armorcd
cruisers with auxiliary and lighter craft in
proportion: 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 pro-
vide battieshlps and cruisers AID then lay
them up. with the expectation of leaving
them unnamed until they are needed in
actual war. would be worse than folly; 1t
would be crime against the nation.
ITO send any warship against competent
enemy unless those aboard 1t have been
trained by years of actual sea service. In
cludlng 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 battieships ap-
and have been commissioned for actual serv-
ice. The remaining eight will be ready In
from two to four years, but II will take at
! to nsht them. 1t is OF vast concern that W
the time they are commissioned dool ships
are
hands Of men who know how to night with
them. The men must be trained and drilled
under a thorough and well-planned system
Of progressive Instruction, while the recruit
ng must bc carried on with still greater
vtsor.
attons. and are trained for coast service, and
in event OF war they will constitute the inner
limo 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 Navy
Department, and subject to the call Of the
Chief Executive whenever war becomes immi-
nent. 1t should be a real auxiliary to the
naval seagoing peace establishment, and Of
fer material to be drawn on at oncs for
manning our ships in time Of war: It should
be cOmDOSed OF graduates of tho Naval ACA0-
emy. graduates of the Naval Militia, ofncers
and crews Of coast-llne steamers, longshore
schoonera. nshtng vessels and steam yachts.
together with the coast population about
such centers as life saving stations and light
houses.
Need for Powerful Navy.
Tho American people must either build
and maintain an adequate navy or else make
ondary position in international Affairs, not
merely in political, but In commercial, mat
tsrs. It has been we'll said that there ir nc
surer way Of counting national disaster than
to be 'opulont, aggressive. and unArmed.'
1T 10 not necessary to increase our army
beyond its present size At this time. But II
is necessary to keep 1t at the highest point
every effort should be maes to bring the
army 70 . constantly Increasing state Of ef-
fcisucy. When on actual service NO work
save that directly In the line Of such service
should b required. The paper work in the
army. as in the navy. should BE- greatly re-
ducsd.' What 10 needed 10 proved power 9f
command and capacity to work well In the
field. Constant care II necessary to prevsnt
dry rot in the transportation and commis-
"The Congress shosid provide means whore
81 st least ! division Of regulars. and II
possible also division q national guards
man, once Z year. ~ ralf y.
m.n Il nssa.s U SH vSils hey az S mslsh,ns sS
camping, ombafktng, and disembarktnE, will