The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1901-12-03

the crews OF the ships when there
was no war In sight-an are entitled
20 a full share IN the glory OF Man
liza and Santiago. and the respect
accorded by every true American 20
those who wrought such signal
triumph for our country. II was
forethouEht and preparation which
secured VA the overwhelming
triumph OF iSps,. II we fail 20 show
there may come n tlns when ilsaes
ter win oefan ua lnatead OF triumph:
and should thia time come, the fault
VIII rent primarily, not upon those
whom tho accident OF events puts
IN supreme command az the mo-
mont, but upon those who have fails
ed 10 prepare In advance,
More Big Battleshlps.
There should be no cessation In
the work OF completing our navy.
80 tar ingenuity has been wholly
unanie 10 devise n substitute for the
ktSAt war craft whose hammering
Kuna beat out the mastery OF the
hikh seas. u IL unsafe and unwlse
not 10 provide this year Tor several
additional battle ehipa and hoavy
armored cruisers. with auxiliary and
lighter craft IN proportion. Tor tho
exact numbers and character 1 re-
Ter you to the report OF the aecre-
tAry OF the navy, but there rs
something We need even moro than
additional rhlpa, ard this Ia addi-
tlonAl officers and men. To provide
battle ships and cruisers and then
lay them 40, with the expectation
~ leaving thcm unnamed until
( they are needed ia actual war.
Z FrnanfA h. -
be crime against tho nation.
To send any warnhip against a
competent enemy unless those
aboard Il hava been trained by
years OF actual sea service, includ-
inE tnccNsAnt gunnagy practice.
would DO 90 invite NOT merely dis
nsscr, but the bitterest shame aud
I humiliation. tonr thousand Rdai-
( tlonal eeAfnen and one thousand ad-
oitiunal marines shgssiI b. rTeN ,ned.
and an increase IN tbs officers
ahoutc nc provided ~ makiag a
large addition % the Ass ~
{ Annapolis. There - one small mat
[ ter which should be mentioned VA
connection wsth Annapolis. The pre-
teut,ous and unu3caulgg title a
naval cadet should - abolished,
the title % "mldanigman." fun ~
hist1iic association, ahould BE- ro-
stored.
Even in time o. peace warrhlp
should be used until IL wears out.
for only SO can X be kept NJ 10 re-
npond to any emergency. The ON
GERS and men alike should be kept
as much as possible on blue water.
for u - there only they can learn
their duties IS they should b. learn
ed. Tho big vessels should be man
A f..t
merely battle ahlus. but the neccs-
sary proportion of cruisers aud
scouts. The torpedo boats should be
handled by the younger officers IN
such manner m VIII beat nj the iaG-
ter 70 take responsibility and meet
the emergencies of actual warfagc.
Practice With Guns.
Every detail ashore which can bs
performed by CIVILIAN should be
so performed. the officer being kept
for his special duty In the sea ser
vice. Above all. gunnrry practice
should BE- unceusing. IL II import
ant 20 have our navy % adequate
size. hut u In even more import
ant that ship for ship II should equal
In efficiency any navy In tho world.
This Ii possible only with highly
drilled crews and CHEERS. and thia
IN turn inperafiweiy demands con-
tinuors and progressive instruction
In target practice. ship handling.
squadron tactics and general diHclp-
iinf. Our SHIPS must be assembled
/ In squadrons actively cruising away
frena haxbors and never long at
anchor. The resulting wear upon
engines and bulls musf be sndufed.
a battle ship worn out n long train.
lnx 81 officers ard fuen II well paid
for NY thA results. while. on the
ether hand. no matter In how cx-
celient condition. II u useless II tho
crew Dc not expert
We now have seventeen battle
ehirn appropriated for, OF which
nine are completed and have been
commissioned for actual service.
The remaining eight win be ready
IN from two 20 four years. but ~
will take a. least tFtat tins TO re-
crult ard train the men % light
them. IL II ~ vast concern that We
have trained crews ready for thu
vessels ~ the ttn4e they aEs COM
misHioned. Good ahips and good
guns are simply good weapons. and
I the best weapons ara useless cave
/ ia the hands Of fnsn who know how
TO night with them. The men must
be trainer and drilled under a thor
ouxh and well planned system %
progressive Instruction. while the
recruiting must he carried on with
sfill greater viHur. Every effort
must be made 10 sxait tho main
function OF the ofIicsr-tbe command
Of men. The leading graduates Of
the naval academy should bo as
signed 70 the combatant branches,
the ilne and marines.
Greater Naval Efficiency.
Many OF the essentials Of success
are already recognized by the gem
eral board, when. az the central
Office Of growing stan. IL moving
steadily toward a proper war efii-
cheney and q proper efficiency Of the
whole navy. under tha secretary.
This general board. ~ fostering tho
creation OF a general stan, il pro-
vfding for She official and then the
general recognition OF our altered
conditions as n nation and 81 the
true meaning Of n great war fleet.
which meaning II, first, the best
men. and, second. the best ships.
The naval militia forces are state
organizations and are trained for
coast service. and ia event OF war
they win constitute the inner line
o. defense. They should receive
hearty encouragement from tho Eea-
eral government.
But IN addition we should at once
provide for national naval re-
serve, organized and trained under
the direction Of the navy depart
ment, and subject to the call of the
chief executive whenever war be-
comes Imminent. II should be a
real auxiliary to the naval sea-Roing
peace establishment. and offer ma
terial TO be drawn on at once for
manning our ships in time Of war.
IL should be composed Of graduates
Of the naval academy. graduates OF
tho naval militia. officers and crews
of coast line steamers. louKahors
schoonern. fishing vessels and steam
yachts, together with the coast pop
ulntlon about such centera as life-
saving stations and lighthouses.
The American people muet either
build and maintain an adequate
navy or else make up their minds
definitely to accept a secondary pos