Gilpin observer., 1901-12-05

|
military power ourselves. The peoples of
the Americas can prosper best II left to work
| our their own salvation In their own way.
Powerful Navy Urged.
1.-THE work of upbuiIding 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 flag were haul
| ed down In the Philippines and Porto Rico,
even II We decided not to build the Isthmian
navy OF adequate size. or else be prepared
| definitely and for all time to abandon the
idea that our nation is among those whose
our commerce is always to be carried in for
eign bottoms. We must have war craft to
80 far from being in any way a provoca-
| tion to war. an adequate and highly trained
navy Is the best guaranty against war the
The cost of building and maintaining such
| navy represents the very lightest premium
for insuring paece which this nation can
possibly pay.
Probably no other great nation in the
| world is SO anxious for peace we are.
| There is not 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
| 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 1t as the one
sure means Of securing the peace of the
only means of making our insistence upon
the Monroe doctrine anything but a sub
,ect OF derision to whatever nation chooses
comes as of right to the just man armed;
not the peace granted on terms of ignominy
.'It is not possible to improvise 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 Mapila 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
"It 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 time when dis
aster will befall 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. 1t is unsafe and
unwise not to provide this year for several
cruisers. with auxiliary and lighter craft in
proportion; for the exact numbers and char
sry of the Navy But there is somethns n 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 actual W war you'd be worse .s than folly
TO send any warship against competent
enemy unless those aboard it have been
GLIDING 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 a large addition to the classes at
Annapolis.
Our Present Naval Force.
I'VE now have seventeen ba.tleships ap-
propriated for, of which nine completed
and have been commissioned for actual serv-
ice. The remaining eight will be ready in
sasf NV. 70 @ ,oI6 m Dus nd t w ,s ske al
to fgft them. 1t is Of vast concern that we
have krained crews ready for the vessels by
the time they are commissioned. Good ships
and good guns are simply good weapons, and
the best weapons are useless save in the
th 9r Th men VINO nnSw % S now 70 g ngnt Tsa
under q thorough and we'll planned system
of progressive instruction. while the recruit
ing must be carried on with still greater
visos.
ations. and are trained for coast service. and
in event of war they will constitute the inner
line of defense They should receive hearty
announcement 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 once for
manning our ships in time of II should
be composed of graduates Of the Naval Acad-
emy, graduates OF the Naval Militia, oficers
and crews of coast-line steamers. longshore
schooners, fishing vessels and steam yachts.
together with the coast population about
such centers as life-saving stations and light
houses.
Need for Powerful Navy.
THE American people must either build
up their minds definitely to accept a sec
ondary position in international afairs, not
merely in political. but in commercial. mat
ters. 1t has been well said that there is
surer way OF counting national disaster than
to be 'opulent. aggressive, and unarmed.'
1T is not necessary to increase our army
beyond its present size at this time. But It
is necessary to keep 1t at the highest point
Of efficiency.
army to a constantly increasing state Of ef-
iciency. When on actual service no work
save that directly in the line of such service
should be required. The paper work in the
army. as in the navy. should be greatly re-
duced. What is needed Is proved power Of
command and capacity to work well in the
field. Constant care is necessary to prevent
dry rot in the transportation and commits
sary departments.
1.-The Congress should provide means where
by 1t will be possible to have field exercises
by at least a division of regulars. and II
possible also division OF national guards
men. once year.
"only actual handling and providing for
men in masses while they marching.
camping, embarking. and disembarking will
1t be possible to train the higher officers to
perform their duties well and smoothly.
"a great debt is owing from the public to
the men Of the army and navy. They should
be so treated as to enable them to reach the
highest point of efficiency. SO that they may
be able to respond instantly to any demand
made upon them to sustain the interests of
the nation and the honor of the hag. The
individual American enlisted man Is prob
ably on the whole a more formidable fighting
man than the regular Of any other army.
Every consideration should be shown him,
and In return the highest standard OF use
fulness should be exacted from him. 1t Is
well worth while for the Congress to con
slider whether the pay Of enlisted men upon
second and subsequent enlistments should