Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-12-03

year When the young officers enter the
army from West Point. they probably
military service Every effort should be
made by training. by reward OF merit by
scrutiny into their careers and capacity.
excellence throughout their careers
The measure providing Ter the rcorgan-
nation Of the militia system and for Sc
curing the highest efficiency In the nation
81 guard which has already passed tho
house. should receive prompt attention
me s rs ss n ss 60 ' tn.
militia and rolunteer forces OF the United
States should be defined 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 10 keep cavalry and ar
Anca OF duty. Such horses fetch but a
rine when Sold and rather than turn
them out 70 the misery awaiting them
when thus disposed Of II would be better
10 employ them at light work around the
posts and when necessary 10 put them
peiniessiy to death.
Fer the iirst time in our history naval
maneuyers on large scale are being held
under the Immediate command OF the adj
attention is being paid TO the gunrery OF
/ the navy. but Il In yet far from what IL
Snoald be- ! earnestly urge that the in
navy IN ths aonrogrisssos ,or ,,;,,r =, inc
the Workmanship be granted. In battle
the only shots that count are the shots
funds for practice with the great guns in
time OF peace. These funds must provide
not only for the purchase Of proJectiles.
age the gun crews. and especially The unasJ gun
pointers. and for perfecting an intelligent
system under which alone II Is possible TO
There should be no halt in the work OF
building up the navy. providing every
/ year additional aghting craft. We are q
! tory and great In population. a country.
moreover, which has an army dlninutiye
indeed when compared with that OF any
other nrst class power. We have deliber-
atefy made our own certain foreign poll
cies which demand the possession OF
nrst class navy. The tsthmian canal will
greatly Increase the efficIency OF our navy
4 u the navy IL OF sufficient size. but II we
have an Inadequate navy then the build
Ing OF the canal would be merely giving a
/ hostage to any power OF superior strength
l The Monroe doctrine should be treated az
/ the cardinal feature of American foreign
I policy, but II would be worse than idle
l TO assert II unless we intended to back IL
UP. and IL can be backed up only by a
thoroughly good navy. A good navy -
Each Individual unit Of our navy should
| be the most efficient OF its kind as regards
| both material and personnel that Is to be
| found In the world / cali your special
attention to the need OF providing for the
manning Of the ships. Serious trouble
| threatens us II we cannot do better than
| we are now doing regards securing the
| services OF a sufficient number of the high
| est type OF snilormen. OF mechanics
| The veteran seamen Of our warships are
| OF aa high a type as can be found In any
navy which rides the waters Of the world
/ They are unsurpassed in daring. in reso-
luton. In readiness. In thorough kuowi-
edge Of their profession. They deserve ev-
| cry consideration that can be shown them.
But there are not enough OF them. 1t Is
no more possible TO improvise crew than
| 4 y possible 20 improvtsa a warship, To
s sn,,d me nn.st snip WITH the t deadlsst
| crew. no matter how brave they were In
| dividuaily. would be 10 insure disaster II a
| Zoe OF average capacity were encountered.
| Neither ships nor men can be improvised
| when war has begun.
We need thousand additional officers
| in order ia properly man the ships now
| provided for and under construction. The
\ classes at the naval school at Annapolis
/ should be greatly enlarged. AT the same
time that we thus add the officers where
we need them. we should facilitate the re-
uremsnt OF those at the head OF the Hist
whose usefulness has become impaired.
| Promotion must be fostered II the service
Is 10 be kept efficient.
The lamentabie scarcity Of officers and
the large number OF recruits and OF IN
new vessels they have been commits
stoned has thrown upon our officers. and
| especially on the tieutenants and Junior
! grades unusual labor and fatigue and has
| ErRvely strained their powers Of endur-
| ance. Nor is there sign OF any immediate
/ lstup in this strain IL must continue for
some time longer until more officers are
/ graduated from Annapolis and until the
/ recruits become trained and skiliful In
| their duties. In these difficulties incident
| upon the development OF our war feet the
| conduct OF ali our officers has been cred
liable to the service and the heutenants
| and Junior grades IN particular nave as
| played an ability and steadfast cheer
4 tainrss which entitle them 20 the ungrudgtng
thank. Of all who realize the dshesrtsning trials
| and iatgues to which they are OF necessity sub
| iscsed.
There is not a cloud on the horizon at present.
II -. IL 49, Ia
/ with foreign power. We most earnestly hope
/ that this state OF things may continue. and the
wHy to insure It's continuance is TO provide for
\ thoroughly efficient navy. The refusal TO main.
| tain such a navy would invite trouble. and II
troubis would insure disaster. Fatuous self
| complaeency vanity or shortsightedness in re
| tusng to prepare Tor danger Is both foolish and
wicked in such nation As ours, and past expert
snee has shown that such faulty IN refusing 10
/ recognize prrpsre for any crisis In advance ia
/ usually xuccrcded By 4 mad panic Of hysterical
| fear once the crisis has actually arrived.
| The striking increase 10 the revenues OF the
postaaics department Rhovs clearly the prosperity
/ Of people aud the increasing activity OF the
| business Of the country.
| The receipts Of the po@;ofhce department for
/ the fiscal year ending June 80 last amounted to
Si2i sts 0t7 20. increase OF siD.&d, s53s1 over
the preceding year. the largest increase known in
| Of this increase will best appear from the tact
that the entire postal receipts for the year ls0O
/ amounted to hut ss.5iSO6I.
Rural irve delivery service Ia no longer In the
| experimental stage. II has become hxed policy.
The results following its introduction have fully
Justified the congress In the large appropriations
| made for Its establishment and extension. The
average yearly increase in postotice receipts In
| the rural districts Of the country IS about per
\ cent. We are able. by actual results, to
| sho~ that where rural Tree delivery service has
been established 20 such an extent to enable
| US TO make comparisons the yearly increase has
been upward Of 10 per cent.
On Nov. !, iS12. lis5o rural free delivery
routes had been established and In operation,
| covering about third OF the territory Of the
| United States available for rural free delivery
service. There now awaiting the action Of
| the department petitions and applications for the
establishment Of l0.74s additional routes This
| shows conolusyely the want which the establish
ment Of the service has met and the need Of fur.
| Their extending II rapidly a. pcssibls. IL 10
justl hed both by the financial results and by the
practical bene6ts to rural population; u
| brinxs the men who live on the suii into cose
relations with the active business world; u keepz
the farmer In daily touch with the markets. It Is
. potential educational iorcc; ii enhances the
value Of farm property, makes tarm life TAR
pieasanter and less isolated. and will do much 10
\ check the undesirable current from country TO
city. D.
II 10 to he hoped that the congress will make