The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-02

army corps could be handled TO advan-
tage.
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.
both as individuals and I'm the mass The
marksmanship OF the men must receive
special attention. In the circumstances
Of modern warfare the man musssact far
more on his own individual responsibility
than ever before. and the high individual
efficiency OF the unit is Il the utmost i'm
portance. Formerly this unit was the
regiment; II Is now not the regiment. not
even the troop or company, II IL the In
dlvidual soldier Every effort must be
made 10 develop every workmanlike and
sodierly quality In both the officer and
the enlisted man
] urgently call your attention ~ the need
OF passing bin providing for general
stan and for the reorganization OF the
supply departments on the lines Of the
bill proposed by the secretary Of war last
year When the young officers enter the
army from West Point they probably stand
above their compeers In any other mill
| tary service Every effort should be
| made, by training, by reward OF merit,
| by scrutiny into their careers and capaci-
| ~. TO keep them OF the same high rela
| tive excellence throughout their careers.
! The measure providing for the reorgani-
| zation OF the militia system and for Sc
| tional Guard. which has already passed
| the house, should receive prompt atten-
| tion and action. II IL OF great import
ance that the relation OF the National
Guard TO the militia and volunteer 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 TO keep cavalry and ar
ance of duty. such horses fetch but
/ tr.fie when sold. and rather than turn
them out TO the misery awaiting them
to employ them at hight work around me
posts. and when necessary to put them
| painlessly TO death.
MANoEUvREs OF THE NAVY.
For the first time In our history naval
| manoeuvres on a large scale are being
| held under tho immediate command or
creasing attention is being paid to the
| gunnery OF the navy. but II is yet far
from what II should be. earnestly urge
tary OF the navy in the appropriation for
improving the marksmanship be granted.
| In battle the only shots that count arc
provide ample funds for practice with the
| great guns tn time OF peace. These funds
must provide not only for the purchase
prizes to encourage the gun crews, and
feeting an intelligent system under which
The There shdSa be- NC 20 sst 0e IN the work of
year additional hghtine craft We are
territory and great In population; coun-
try, moreover. which has an army dimin.
utive indeed when compared with that or
deliberately made our own certain for
eign policies. which demand the posses
sion OF a first-class navy. The isthmian
canal will greatly increase the efficiency
of our navy II the navy Is OF SUFFICIENT
size but II We have an inadequate navy,
OF superior strength The Monroe doc
trine should be treated as the cardinal
feature OF American foreign policy. but X
unless we intended TO back II up. and IL
can be backed up only by a thoroughly
sgSsns nsvs y s0qS s IKE Is sures ne spa RaG
antee OF peace.
THE INDIVIDUAL UNIT.
Each individual unit OF our navy should
be the most efficient OF its kind as re-
CARDS both material and personnel that Is
% be found in the world. j call your
special attention to the need OF providing
for the manning OF the ships. Serious
trouble threatens us II we cannot do bet
ter than we are now doing as regards Sc
curing the services OF a sufficient number
mechanics. The veteran seamen OF out
warships are OF high type as can
be found in any navy which rides the
waters OF the world; they are unsurpass-
ed I'm daring. in resolution, in readiness, In
| thorough knowledge of their profession.
They deserve every consideration that
But there are not enough OF them. IL
is no more possible to improvise crew
than 1t is possible to improvise warship.
To build the finest ship, with the dead
Hest battery, and to send IT afoat with a
raw crew, no matter how brave they were
individually. would be to insure disaster
| IL n foe OF average capacity were encoun-
tered. Neither ships nor men can be
improvised when war has begun.
We need a thousand additional ofscers
In order to propely man the ships now
provided for and under construction. The
classes at the Naval school at Annapolis
sshoula be greatly enlarged ,,,t A. the sane SANE
we need them, we should facilitate the
retirement OF those at the head OF the list
whose usefulness has become impaired
Promotion must be fostered TX the ser
vice Is to be kept efficient.
The iamentable scarcity OF officers, and
the large number of recruits and OF IN. IN
skilled men necessarily put aboard the
new vessels as they have been commits.
stoned. has thrown upon our officers, and
especially on the lieutenants and junior
grades. unusual labor ana fatigue ana has
gravely strained their powers OF endur'
ance. Nor is there sign OF any imme'
diate let-up in this strain II must con. con.
officers are graduated from Anna nolis
and until the recruits become trainea and
skillful In their duties.
In these difficulties incident upon the
| development of our war fleet the conduct
| OF all our officers has been creditable te
the service and the lieutenants anc
| Junior grades in particular have display
| ed inability and steadfast cheerfuiness
which entities them 20 the ungrudglne
| thanks of all who realize the dishearten-
| ing trials and fatigues to which they are
| OF necessity subjected
There Is not "A cloud on the horizon az
present There seems not the slghtes
| chance OF trouble With a foreign power
we most earnestly hope that this stats
Of things may continue. and the way tt
| insure It's continuance IL To provide Tor q
thorouehly efficient navy. The refusal q
maintain such n navy would invite trou
BILE. and II trouble came would insure dls
| aster Fatuous self-complacency or van
! ity. or short-sightedness in refusing t'
I prepare for danger. Is both foolish an.
| wicked I'm such a nation as ours. and pas
| experience has shown that such fatull,
| in refusing tn recognize or prepare TO
4 liz eYaRE