The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-12-19

mar lrzrii.- lEriu Ct the men rl-sr re-
celre sractal attention. In the CIR
cunlstances OF modern warfare the man
must act Ter more on bis own indiFic-
ual resi- possibility than ever before and
+ the high Individual efficiency OF the
uniI 81 IL the utmost importance
I Formerly this unit was the regiment
I IL 81 nov not the regiment. not even
the troop OF company IL is the individ-
7 ual soldier Every effort must b MADE
! 20 develop every worimanlike and sol
the enlisted man
/ I urgently can your attention 10 the
I need 81 passing a bin providing for a
4 general stan and FOR the reorganiza-
I ton Of the supply departments on the
1 lines OF the bin proposed by the secre-
/ tary OF war last year When the young
I Officers enter the army from West
/ Point EheE probably stand above their
/ compeers in any other military service
I Every effort should be made. by train
4 Ing BY reward OF merit. by scrutiny
keep them OF the same high relative
excel lcDce throughout their careers
I The measure providing Tor the reor-
Z E2nlZcricu OF the militia system and
\ Tor securing the highest efficiency I'm
I the national guard. which has already
I passed the House. should receive
prompt attention and action IL is OF
I great Importance that the relation OF
me national guard 20 the mfli-ia and
I volunteer forces Of the United States
I should be defined. and that fn place
1 Of our present obsolete laws "a practical
I and efficient system should be adopted.
4 Provision should be made 10 enable
I the secretary OF war 10 keep cavalry
I and artillery horses. worn ont in Ions
I performance OF DUTY such horses
fetch but triie when sold and rather
/ than turn them out 20 the misery
I awaiting them when thus disposed OF.
I ~ would be better % employ them al
I light work around the posts. and when
necessary 10 put them painlessly 10
death
THE NAVY AND ITS NEEDS.
For the nrst time In our history rs
| val n1aneuvers On q large scale are be-
I ms held under the immediate com
I ulanu OF the admiral OF the navy Con-
I stalitly Increasing attention IS being
Iaiu TO the gunnery OF the navy bur
u - yet Tar from what BE- should be-
l 4 earnestly urge that the increase asked
Tor by the secretary Of the navy il the
I appropriation for improving the
mar EsIuanship be granted In battle
tho only shots that count are the shots
/ llaL nlL IL IS necessary 20 provide
ample funds fC- practice with the great
guns I'm time OF peace These funds
must provide not only for the purchase
OF projeCtiies but for allowances for
prizes 20 encourage the EUn crews. and
especially the gun pointers. and for
p-rfecIiDE AN Intelligent system under
which alone IL IS possible 10 get good
practice
There should be no hat IN the work
o. building up the navy, providing ev-
cry year additional fighting craft. We
are a very rich country. vast IN extent
o. territory and great IN population; q
country. moreover which has an army
csrninutive indeed when compared with
that OF any other first class power. We
have deliberately made our own Ger
tGin foreign policies which demand the
possession e frst-eiass navy
The isrhmiar canal viii greatly in
crease the efficiency Of our navy az the
navy ls OF sufficient size but II we
have am Inadequate navy. then the
building of the canal would be merely
/ EivsuE "a hostage 10 any power OF SUI
peraor strength The Monroe Doc
Irlle should be treated as the cardinal
feature OF American foreign policy.
but DO would be worse than idle TO as
zerI it unless we intended 10 back fl
uu- and 10 can he backed up only By "a
thoroughly good navy. A good navy Is
mo- q provocative Of war II is the
surest guaranty OF peace
Each individual unit OF our navy
should be the most efficient Of its
kind as regards both material and per-
sonnet that is 20 be found in the world
] / call your special attention 20 the
the ships Serious trouble threatens
US III we can not do better than we
are now doing rs regards securing the
services Of n sufficient number OF the
highest type OF sailormen. OF sea me-
chauicS- The veteran seamen Of our
war ships are OF as high "a tyne as can
be found in any navy which rides the
I waters Of the world they are uuEur-
/ passed in daring i'm resolution. in read
iness, I'm thorough knowledge OF their
l profession. They deserve every con-
siuFration that can be shown them
] E-z- there are not enough Of them II
/ IS no more possible 20 improvise q
/ crew than IL IS possible 10 improvise .
war ship To build the finest ship.
: with the deadliest battery and 20 send
l 10 afiOar with n raw crew. no matter
how brave they were individually.
would be 20 insure disaster II a foe OF
average capacity were encountered
Neither ships nor men can be irnpro-
j Eised when war has begun
/ We need a thousand additional off,
] Gers i'm order 90 properly man the ships
now provided for and under Construc-
4 uon- The classes at the naval school
I At Annapolis should be greatly en-
larEed- At the same time that we thus
ait the officers where we need them.
we should facilitate the retirment Of
those at the head OF the list whose
/ usefulness has become IMPAIRED Pro
I motion must be foste-es- ~ the service
/ is 20 be kept eficieu--
I The lamentable lily Of officers.
and the large numbe- n recruits and
I or EnEktlled men necessarily put aDoeir q
tho new vessels as they have been com
4 rnissioned. has thrown upon our ON
/ GERS. and especially on the lieutenants
and Junior grades. unusual labor and
Z fssfiEue and has graTely strained their
UuV-ers Of endurance Nor IS there
. sign Of any immediate Iet-uD i'm this
strain. II must continue FOR some time
IoHcer. until more officers are grad
ua-ed from Annapolis and until the re-
p + Cruits become trained and sEillful in
TIER duties In these difficulties incl
dcuf upon the DEVELOPMENT OF our war
G-fE the conduct Of all our officers has
been creditable 20 the service. and the
I li-uteuauts and Junior grades In par
tiCUiar have displayed an ability and a
erea dfast cheerfuiuess which entitle7
; tl-er1 20 the uuErudgiuE thanks OF al
who realize the dishcaEtening trials and
! ( fariEues 20 which they are OF neces-
, siJv subjected
There is not a cloud on the hOri-
. zou ut present. There seems not the
slightest chance Of trouble with for
] eigu power We most earnestly hope
/ tia. this state Of things may contin-e
I ALL the way 20 insure its continuance
Z f. &c provide for thoroughly efficient
navy The refusal 20 maintain such q
I navy would invite trouble and IL trou-
= I bic came would insure disaster Fat
1 10 Us self-complacency or vanity. OF
= shr -sightedness in refusing 20 pre-
| re.rc for danger. is both foolish and
I / EEs-Eed I'm such nation as ours and
{ 1 pzst experience has shown that sucf
fatuitv I'm refusing 70 recognize or pre-
= I pare for any crisis in advance IS usual
D ~ succeeded by mad panic OF hys-
/ terical fear once the crisis has actually
| arrived
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