The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-02

very rich country. vast in extent of ter
ritory and great in population; a country,
indeed when compared with that of any
other first-class power. We have delib-
erately made our own certain foreign
policies which demand the possession of
a frst-elass navy The isthmian canal
will greatly increase the efficiency of our
navy If the navy is of sufficient size; but
if We have an Inadequate navy, then the
building of the canal would be merely
giving a hostage to any power of superior
strength. The Monroe doctrine should be
treated as the cardinal feature of Ameri-
can foreign policy, but it would be worse
to back it up, and it can be backed up
only by a thoroughly good navy A good
navy is not provocative of war. 1t is
MAN THE SHIPS.
Each individual unit of our navy should
be the most efficient of its kind as re-
CARDS both material and personnel that
is to be found in the world. I call your
special attention to the need of providing
for the manning of the ships Serious Irou-
Bile threatens us if we can not do better
than we are now doing as regards secur-
ing the services of sufficient number OF
the highest type of sailormen, Of sea me-
chanicS. The veteran Seamen of our war
ships are of as high type as can be
found in any navy which rides the waters
of the world they are unsurpassed in
daring, in resolutions in readiness, in thor
ough knowledge of their profession. They
deserve every consideration that can be
shown them. But there are not enough
of them. 1t is no more possible to i'm
prONlSe crew Jlan II is possible TO I'M
provise = war ship To build the finest
ship, with the deadliest battery. and to
send it afioat with raw crew, no matter
how brave they were Individually would
be to insure disaster if a foe of average
capacity were encountered Neither ships
nor men can be improvised when war has
begun.
We need a thousand additional officers
in order to properly man the ships now
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-
tirement of those at the head of the list
whose usefulness has become impaired
Promotion must be fostered if the service
is to be kept efficient
The lamentable scarcity of officers and
the large number of recruits and of I'M
new vessels as they have been commis--
stoned, has thrown upon our officers. and
especially on the Iieutenants and junior
grades, unusual labor and fatigue and
has gravely strained their powers of en-
durance. Nor is there sign of any i'm
mediate let-up in this strain. 1t must
continue for some time longer, until more
officers are graduated from Annapolis.
and until the recruits become trained and
skillful in their duties. In these diff
cuities incident upon the development of
our war fleet the conduct of all our Off
GERS has been creditable to the service,
and the lieutenants and junior grades in
particular have displayed an ability and
a steadfast cheerfulness which entities
them to the unerudsing thanks of all who
realize the disheartening trials and IA
tigues to which they are of necessity sub
jected.
There is not a cloud the horizon at
present. There seems not the slightest
chance of trouble with foreign power:
we most earnestly hope that this state of
things may continue; and the way to in
sure its continuance is to nrovide for
thoroughly efficient navy. The refusal TO
maintain such a navy would invite frcll-
BILE. and if trouble came would insure dis
aster. Fatuous self-complacencv or van
ity. or short-sightedness in refusing to pre-
pare for danger. is both foolish and wick
ed in such nation ours: and past ex-
perience has shown that such faulty in
refusing to recognize prepare for any
crisis in advance is usually succeeded by
mad panic of hysterical fear once the
crisis has actually arrived