The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-04
NEW NAVY.
Wants to See it Upbult and Greatly I'M

| The message declares that the work
| of upbuilding the navy must be steadliy
| continued. He points out that II is the
! best way to secure peace to maintain
| navy of irresistible power. Inc great
| necessity for training men for the ser
vice is enlarged on, and the formation
of A national naval reserve is recommend
ed AS to the army the President is OF
opinion that it should not be increased
but should be kept up to the highest de-
gree of efficiency tie makes THESE
commentators:
| "a general staff should be created. y
for the present staff and supply depart
ments, they should be filled by oetalis
from the line, the men so detailed re-
turning after while to their line
duties 1t is very undesirable to nave
the senior grades of the army composed
of men who have come to fill the posi-
lions by the mere fact Of seniority. a
system should be adopted by which there
| shall be an elimination grade by grade
| OF those who seem unfit to render the
best service in the next grade. Justice
i to the veterans of the civil war who are
| still in the army would seem to require
| that in the matter of retirements they
| be given by law the same privileges ac-
| corded to their comrades in the navy
Fittest to Survive.
"The process OF elimination % the
|
ner that would render it practically i'm
possible to apply political or social pres
| sure on behalf of any candidate, so that
| each man may be judged purely on his
! own merits Pressure for the promotion
| of civil officials for political reasons IS
! bad enough, but it Is tenfold worse
| where applied on behalf OF officers OF
| the army or navy. Every promotion and
| every detail under the War Department
| must be made solely with regard to the
t good of the service and to the capacity
| and merit Of the man himself. NO pres
/ sure. political. social. or personal OF any
kind, will be permitted to exercise the
| least effect in any question of promotion
| or detail: and if there is reason TO be-
| lieve that such pressure is exercised at
| the instigation OF the officer concerned.
| it will be held to initiate against MIN.
In our army we cannot afford TO have
| rewards or duties distributed save on
| the simple ground that those who by
t their own merits are entitled to the re-
wards get them. and that those who are
peculiarly fit to do the duties are chosen
to perform them.
Increase OF Pay.
"A great debt is owing from the pub
| lie to the men OF the army and navy.
They should be so treated as to enable
| them to reach the highest point OF ef-
f! fciency so that they may be able to re-
! spond instantly 10 any. demand made
| upon them to sustain the interests of
| the nation and the honor of the flag.
! The individual American enlisted man IS
probably on the whole a more focmid-
| able fighting man than the regular OF
any other army. Every consideration
should be shown him. and in return the
| highest standard OF usefulness shoulo
be cxacted from him. 1t is vel! worth
| while for the Congress to consider
whether the pay OF enlisted men Upon
second and subsequent elllstments
! should not. be increased to correspond
with the increased value Of the veteran
SOLDIER
The Aiiitia.
In regard to the militia the President
has to say:
to the militia and TO the raising OF vol
unteer forces. Our militics Law is obsolete
and worthless. The organization and
armament Of the National Guard of the
several States, which are treated as
militia in the appropriations by the
Congress, should be made Identical With
those provided for the regular forces
The obligations and duties OF the Guard
in times of war should be carefully de-
fined, and a system established o. law
| under which the method OF procedure OF
raising volunteer forces should be, pre-
scribed in advance. It Is utterly lm2os-
sib!e IN the excitement and haste OF I'M
pending war to do this satisfactorily X
the arrangements have not been maze
long beforehand Provision should be
made for utilizing in the first volunteer
organizations called out the training OF
those citizens who have already had ex-
perience under arms. and especially for
the selection in advance OF the officers
of any force which may be raised: for
~ fn1 SELECTION nf he pkin
is impossible after the outbreak OF
war
Tribute to Veterans
TO the Gray and the Blue the P.esi-
dent nar. this tribute;