Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-12-12
THE ARMY AND THE NAVY.
Secretary Roots Recommendation for Gen.
erai Staff Favored.

erai Staff Favored.
The Army has been reduced to the
minimum allowed by law. 1t is very
small for the size of the Nation, and
most certainly should be kept at the
highest point OF efficiency. The SEN
ior officers are given scant chance,
under ordinary conditions, to exercise
commands commensurate with their
rank, under circumstances which
would fit them to do their duty in
time of actual war. A system OF
maueuvaring our Army in bodies OF
some little size has been begun and
should be steadily continued. With.
out snch maneuvers it is folly to ex-
pect that in the event of hostilities
with any serious foe even q small
Army corps could be handled to ad.
vantage. Both our officers and en-
listed men are such that we can take
hearty pride in them. No better ma
terial can be found. But they must
be thoroughly trained, both as indi.
viduals and in the mass. The marks.
manship of the men must receive
special attention. In the circum-
stances of modern warfare the man
must act far more on his own indi-
vidual responsibility than ever be.
lore, and the high individual efficiency
OF the unit is OF the utmost import.
snce. Formerly this unit was the
regiment; it is now not the regiment.
nor even the troop or company; it is
the individual soldier. Every effort
must be made to develop every work.
manlike and soldierly quality in both
the officer and the enlisted man.
I urgently call your attention to the
need Of passing bill providing for q
general staff and for reorganization
of the supply departments on the
lines OF the bill proposed by the Secre-
tary OF War last year. When the
young officers enter the Army from
West Point they probably stand above
their compeers in any other military
service. Every effort should be made,
by training. by reward Of merit. by
scrutiny into their careers and ca.
pacity, TO keep them Of the same high
relative excellence throughout their
careers.
The measure providing for the re-
organization of the militia system and
for securing the highest efficiency in
the National Guard, which has al.
ready passed the Honse, should re-
ceive prompt attention and action.
It is of great importance that the re-.
lation 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 practical and efficient system
should be adopted.
Provision should be made to enable
the Secretary Of War to keep cavalry
and artillery horses, worn-out in long
performance OF duty. Such horses
fetch but q tri6e when sold; and
rather than turn them out to the
misery awaiting them when thus dis
posed of, it would be better to employ
them at light work around the posts,
and when necessary to put them pain
lessly to death.
Needs Of the Navy.
For the first time in our history
naval maneuvers on large scale are
being held under the immediate com.
mand Of the Admiral OF the Navy.
Constantly increasing attention is
being paid to the gunnery of the
Navy, but it is yet far from what it
should be. I earnestly urge that the
increase asked for by the Secretary of
the Navy in the appropriation for i'm.
proving the Workmanship be granted.
In battle the only shots that count are
the shots that hit. 1t is necessary to
provide ample funds for practice with
the great guns in time of peace. These
funds must provide not only for the
purchase of projectiles, but for al
lowances for prizes to encourage the
gun crews, and especially the gun
pointers, and for perfecting an in-
telligent system under which alone it
is possible to get good practice.
There should be no halt in the work
OF building up the Navy, providing