The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1902-12-02
MORE MONEY NEEDED FOR
DEVELOPING THE NAVY

For the first time in our history naval
m2Reuvers on p large scale are being
held under the immediate command Of
the Admiral OF the Navy. Constantly
increasing attention is being paid 10 the
gunHery Of the navy. but il is yet Jar
from what It should be- I earnestly
urge that the increase asked for by The
Secretary OF the Navy in the arpropria-
tion for improving the Workmanship
be granted In battle the only shots
that count are the shots that HIT 10 iy
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 Droiectiles. bat
for allowances for prizes 10 encourage
the gun crews. and especially tho gun
rointcrs, and for perfecting an inteH
gent system undCr which alone il is
possible 20 get good practice.
Building Up the Navy.
There should be no halt in the work
Of building up the navy. providing every
wear additional fighting craft We are
a very rich country. vast in extent Of
territory and great in population; a
country moreover, which has an army
diminutive indeed when compared with
that Of any other frst-class power. We
have deliberately made our own certain
foreign policies which demand ne pos
session of fist-class navy The 18th
miaH earai Win greatly increase she ..
nclency OF our navy 90 the navy Is Of
sufficient size; but il we have an made
quate navy. then the building OF the ca
nal would be merely giving hos age 20
sny power Of superior strength. The
Monroe Doctrine should be treated as
the cardinal feature OF American fortIgn
policy, but 70 would be worse than idle
to assert IL unless we intended 10 h1rk
it up. and it can be backed up only by a
thoroughly good navy. A good navy is
not provocative Of war. To is the
surest guaranty OF peace
Praise for the SaIormen.
Each individual unit OF our navy
should be the most efficient OF its kind
as regards 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 trouble threatens us II we can
not do better than we are now doing as
regards securing the services Of a sufH-
CieuJ number or the highest type OF
saiiOrmCH OF sea mechanics. The veteran
seameu OF our warships are Of as high
type as can De found in any navy
which rides tho waters OF the world:
they are unsurpassed in daring in reso-
luton in readiness. Gu thorough knOwl-
edge OF their profession They deserve
every consideration that can be shown
them. But there are not enough Of them.
Il is no more possible to imprOvise a
crew than IL is possible 90 innproyise
warship- To build the finest ship with
Tie deaduest battery. and 10 send 10
alOat with a 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.
More Officers Needed.
We need a thousand additional officers
in order TO properly man the ships ROW
provided for and under construction. The
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
retirement OF those at the head Of the
list whose usefulness has become I'm
paired. Promotion must be fostered il
The service is TO be kept efficient
The lameutable scarcity OF officers.
and the large number Of recruits and of
unskilled men necessarily put aboard the
new vessels as they have been commits
stoned. has thrown upon cur officers. and
especially on the Heutenauts and Junior
grades. unusual labor and fatigue and
has grayely strained their powers OF en-
DURANGO. Nor is there sign Of any imme-
date let-up in this strain. IL must con-
,iuue for some time longer until more
officers are graduated from Annapolis.
and until the recruits become trained and
skillful Ina their duties Iu these diE-
culties incident upon the development of
our war fleet the conduct Of an our Off
GERS has been crt3itable 10 the service.
and the licUtrnauts and Junior grades I'm
particular have displayed am ability and
"a stcadfast chserfuiuess which entities
them 20 the uugrudging thanks OF an
who realize the dishcartgDiug trials ana
-auEUrs 10 which they are or necessity
subjected
At Peace With the World.
There is not a cloud on the horizon at
present There seems not the slightest
chance of trouble with a foreign power
We most earnestly hope that this state OF
things may continue; and the way 20 in
sure It's continuance is TO provide for q
thoroughly efficient navy. The refusal to
such a navy would invite trou-
BILE. and If trouble came would insure
disaster. FatuOus self-complacency or
10 prepare for danger. is both foolish and