Willmar tribune., 1902-12-03

provised during a war or upon the
threshold of war. Much money
was then expended for the purchase
of ships. Many Of them served use
full auxiliary purposes, but it may
we'll be doubted whether they added
materially to the fighting efficiency
of OUT fleet. The time best suited to
the development and perfection of
our navy is the time when there is
neither war noT threat of war Hap
PLY the present is such time, and it
permits dispassionate consideration
of the future. The country approves,
with hardly a dissenting voice, the
policy of strengthening our power
upon the sea. What would have been
an adequate navy some years ago is
totally inadequate for the perform
ance of tire duties growing out of our
new possessions in the Pacific and
Atlantic and the determination Of
congress to construct a canal across:
the isthmus. If, then, the policy Of
Strengthening our power upon the
sea to the point where it can respond
to the, national needs be not aban-
doned, the navy has manifold needs.
There must be additional naval and
coaling stations; more si1ips, fighting.
! and auxiliary; and an increase Of Off
, GERS and men. In all of these re-
spects congress in the past has dealt,
with the navy wisely and generously,
! and Z doubt not that in the future it
will as accurately register the will, of
the people.
Need, of More 0aicers>
The most Imperative need of the
navy to-day is of additional oficens-
I do not everstate' this need. IT. i'm
vixes the instant attention of CEN
gress. The administration of the. de-
partmepa is embarrassed almost daily
by the lack Of officers below COM
mand rank. This condition has, been
approa ching for years, and was clearly
apprehended and stated by my pre-
decessor in Office. It is acute. to-day.
and, when the ships already author~
lied are completed, it will be- desper-
ate unless there is early ACTION.
Enlisted Men.
The number of enlisted rsen in the
nasal service On June 30, 1882, was, 1.-
439. Of these 5000 we're la;adsme1s for
training and apprentices. All meRnow
enlisted are required to be either citi-
zens or 10 have declared their inten-
tion to become sach. Eighty-nlne per
cent. Of the enlisted force are now citi-
zens, and 76 per cent. are native boEn.
Increase of ships>
After most careful! consideration,
believe it to be my daty to recom1aen end
continuance without interruption of
the increase of ships. The precise type
Of ships authorized must, of course,
/ like the uthorization itself, be re-
terred to the wisdom of congress, to
) whose committees recommendation
: in detail may be made. Differences OF
opinion exist among naval authorities
: but all agree that not less than two
battleships should be among the mum
| Der authorized. Whether the other.
! should be of the armored-cruiser typ
i. or of the unarmored cruiser and gun
boat type which have proved SO useful
: may well be left for future discussion
:. The Marine Corps.
L take pleasure in making refer
; | ence to the prompt response of tn
marine corps on more than one oe
= casion during the year to urgent de
|! mands Of the service. In one IL
: stance, upon telegraphic instrut
$ tions, a battalion. fully organ
s lied, armed and equipped with SUI
= plies Of a all !: kinds, including arms, an
= =. muniticn, rations, tents, camp equil
= page, implements, etc, was assen
q bled at League Island, Pa, ready fe
=. embarkation within 70 hours aft,
e the receipt at headquarters Of tt
8 order, and "a lours before the e:
s piration Of the time fixed therei
This IS in keeping with; the tradition
al readiness Of the organizatio
1s answer at the shortest notice cal
s. made upon it for active duty. .