The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-03
TRUSTS THE LEADING FEATURE OF PRESIDENTS !

circumstances which would fit them to
do thsir duty in time of. actual war. A
system of manoeuvering our army in
bodies Of some lite size has been begun
and should be steadily continued. With
OFT such manoeuvers it is folly to ex
pect that in the event of hostilites with
any serious foe even a small army corps
could be handled to advantage. Both
our officers and enlisted men are such
that we can take hearty pride in them.
No better material can be found. But
they must be thoroughly trained, botn
as individuals and in the mass. The
craftsmanship OF the men must receive
special attention. In the circumstances
Of modern warfare the man must act
far more on his individual responsibility
than ever before. and the high ndiEi-
dual efficiency Of the unit is of the ut
most Importance. Formerly this unit
was tho regiment; it is now not the regi-
ment, not even the troop or company;
it is the individual soldier. Every effort
must be made to develop every work
manlike and solderly quality in both the
officer and the enlisted man.
l urgently call your attention to the
need of passing a. bill providing for Il
general staff and for the reorganlza ton
Of the supply departments on the lines
War last year. When the young Off
GERS enter the army from West Point
they probably stand above the compeers
in any other military service. Every
effort should be made, by training, by
reward Of merit, by scrutiny into their
careers and capacity. to keep them of
the same high relative excellence
throughout their careers.
The measure providing for the reor-
ganza ton Of the military system and
fer securing the highest efficiency in the
National Guard, which has already
passed the House. should receive prompt
attention and action. 1t is Of great i'm
rcrtance that the relation Of the Ma
t;cnal Guard to the militia and volunteer
forces of the United States shou d be de-
fined and that in place of our present
obsolete laws a, practical and efficient
system should be adopted.
Provision should be made to enable the
Secretary OF War to keep cavalry and
artillery horses, wornout in long per-
formance OF duty. Such horses fetch
hut a trihe when sold; and rather than
turn them out to the misery awaiting
them when thus disposed Of it would
be better to employ them at light work
around the posts and when necessary
to put them painlessly to death.
Tells About the Naval ManGuVerS
For the first time in our history naval
manoeuvers on a large scale are being
f.eid under the immediate command Of
the admiral of the navy. Constantly In
cleasing attention is being paid to the
s;uInely of the navy, but it is yet far
from what it should be- | earnestly urge
that the increase asked for by the Sec
rotary of the Navy in the appropria-
ton for improving the craftsmanship be
granted. In battle the only shots that
count are the shots that hit. It is ne
cessary to provide amp.c funds for pI7lc-
tice with the great guns in time of peace.
These funds must provide not only for
the purchase of projectiles, but for al
lcwances for prizes TO encourage the gun
crews. and especially the gun pointers.
and for perfecting an intelligent sys-
ten under which alone it is possible TO
get good practice.
There should be no halt In the work
OF building up the navy, providing every
year additional fighting craft. We are
a very rich country vast in extent OF
territory and great in popu alton; a coun
Try moreover, which has an army
dIminutve indeed when compared with
that of any other first class power. we
have dalbera tely made our own certain
foreign policies which demand tie pos
Sc sion CT a f!rst-tlass navy. The is h
MAN canal will greatly Increase the eff
clency of our navy il the navy is Of
sufficient size; but if We have an made
quate navy. then the building of the
canal would be merely giving a hostage
10 any power of superior strength. The
Monroe doctrine should be treated as the
cardinal feature of American foreign
policy; but it would be worse than Idle
to assert it unless we intended to back
it up and il can be backed up only by
d thoroughly good navy. good navy
is not a provocative of war. II is the
surest guaranty of peace.
Each individual unit of orr navy should
be the most efficient Of its hInu as ro
CARDS both material and. personnel that
is to be found in the world. | call your
special attenllan to the need Of provid
ing for the manning OF the ships. Seri-
Gus trouble threatens us IL we cannot
do better than we are now doing as re-
CARDS securing the services of a sufficient
number of the highest type of saltoTmeI
of sea mechanics. The veteran seamen
of our warships are of as high a type
as can be found in any navy which rides
the waters OF the world, they are I'M
surpassed in daring, in resolution, in
readiness, in thorough knowledge OF
their profession. They deserve every con-
-deration that can be shown them. But
there are not enough of them. It is no
more possible to inprovise crew than
it is possible to improvise a warship.
To build the finest ship, with the dead
lest battery, and to send it afloat with
a raw crew, no matter how brave they
We're individually. would be to insure
disaster ii a foe OF average capacity were
encountered. Neither ships nor men can
be improvised when war has begun.
We need a thousand additional Off
GERS in order to properly man the ships
now provided for and under ruction.
The classes at the Naval Sch An
napo!is should be greatly enlarg :. At
the same time that we thus add the ofEi-
GERS where we need them, we should ia
cilitate the retirement of those at the
head Of the list whose usefulness has
become impaired. Promotion must be
fostered if the service is TO be kept eff
cient.
There's Scarcity OF Officers.
The lamentable scarcity of officers. and
the large number of recruits and of I'M
skilled men necessarily put aboard the
new vessels as they have been commits
stoned has thrown upon our officers and