The Somerset reporter., 1902-12-04

Provision should be made to enable the
secretary OF war to keep cavalry and ar
tillery horses worn out in long perform
trffie when sold. and rather than turn
them out 60 the misery awaiting them
to employ them at light work a around 01t the
posts and when necessary to put them
painlessly to death.
For the first time in our history naval
maneuvers on a large scale are being held
under the immediate command of the ed-
miral of the navy. Constantly increasing
the naUn IS T. the FROM Whs IT
asked TIE usss has Of the
the marksmanskip Be- sTant .Sl IN S~ttis
che only shots that count are the shots
that hit. 1t Is necessary to provide ample
time Of peace These funds must provide
not only for the purchase of projectiles,
but for allowances for prizes to encour-
pointers, and for perfecting an Intelligent
system under which alone 1t Is possible to
get good practice.
There should be no halt in the work of
building up the navy. providing every
year additional fghting craft We are
very rich country, vast in extent Of terri
moreover which has an army diminutive
Indeed when compared with that of any
other first class power. We have deliber-
ately made our own certain foreign poll
cies which demand the possession OF a
first class navy The isthmian canal will
greatly increase the efficiency of our navy
II the navy Is of sufficient size, but If we
have an inadequate navy then the build
Ing OF the canal would be merely giving a
Monroe 9 s bs
the cardinal feature of American foreign
policy, but 1t would be worse than Idle
to assert It unless we intended to back it
thoroughly good navy. A good navy is
not provocative OF war. II Is the surest
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 If we cannot do better than
we are now doing as regards securing the
services of a sufficient number Of the high
est type of sailormen. of mechanics
The veteran seamen of our warships
or as nigh type as can be found In any
navy which rides the waters of the world
They are unsurpassed In daring in reso-
luton, IN readiness, in Thorough knowl-
cry consideration that can be shown them.
But there are not enough of them. 1t is
no more possible to improvise a crew than
It Is possible to improvise a warship. To
battery, and to send 1T afioat with a raw
crew, no matter how brave they were in
divfdually would be to insure disaster IL
foe OF average capacity were encountered.
Neither ships nor men can be improvised
when war has begun.
We need thousand additional officers
In order to properly man the ships now
provided for and under construction The
classes at the naval school at Annapolis
should be grea tlY enlarged. At the samn
time that thus add the officers where
we need them, we should facilitate the re
trement 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 ameutable scarcity of officers and
the large number OF recruits and ff
skilled men necessarily put abo1rd the
new vessels theY have beea commits
stoned has thrown upon our officers md
especially on the lieutenants and Junior
grades, unusual labor and fatigue and has
gravely strained ther powers OF eudur-
ance. Nor is there sign of any immediate
some time longer until more officers are
graduated from ANN polls and until the
recruits become trained and ski!liul in
their duties In these difficulties incident
conduct of all our otl.rers has bcru cred
liable to tho service. and the leuteuaHts
and junior grades In particular have dis
played an ability aui a steadfast cheer
fulness which ,u;itle IL m to the ungrudEiug
thanks Of all who raaii. the disheartening trials
and fau2ucs Go which uev are OF necessity sub
jected
There is not cloud en- the horizon at pr, sent.
There seems not the slta test chance Of trouble
with forcgn power ae most earnestly hope
that this state Of thin may continue. aud the
way 10 insura It's cout5aa4uce IS L. provide for a
thoroughly efficient n5## The refusal 90 main
tain such a navy Waad invite trouble, and il
trouble came would insure disaster Fatuous self
complaeency vanity ar shortsightfdne>> in re
fusing to prIatr far Danger is bot. foolish and
wicked In such a uatsaH is ours, an past expert
enoe has shown TINT sHzH faulty in refusME 10
recognize OF prepare f#r any crisis in advance Is
usually succeeded u mad panic # hyslcrical
fear the crisis has actually arrived
The striking Iucrea- 10 the revenues Of the
postoiiite dppar mont clearly tie prosperity
OF our people and TIE iHoreasing ACTIVITY OF the