The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-03

pinos, in the aggregate very numerous,
who have accepted the new conditions
and Joined with our representative to
work with hearty good will for the well
fare of the islands.
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 sem
Tor officers are given scant chance un-
der 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 maneuvering
our army in bodies of some little size
has been begun and should be steadily
continued. Without such maneuvers 1t
is folly to expect that in the event of
hostilities with any serious foe even a
small army corps could be handled to
advantage. 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 in the mass.
The craftsmanship of the men must
receive special attention. In the cir
cumstances of modern warfare the
man must act far more on his own in
dividual responsibility than ever be-
fore, and the high individual efficien-
cy of the unit is of the utmost inn
portance. Formerly this unit was the
regiment; it is now not the regiment.
not 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 a bill providing for a
general staff and for the reorganiza-
ton of the supply departments on the
lines of the bill proposed by the Sec
rotary 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 capac-
ity, to keep them of the same high
relative excellence throughout their
careers.
The measure providing for the reor-
ganization of the militia system and
for securing the highest efficiency in
the National Guard, which has already
passed the House. should receive
prompt attention and action. 1t is of
great importance 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 artillery horses. worn-out in long
performance of duty. Such horses fetch
but trifie when sold; and rather than
turn them out to the misery awaiting
them when thus disposed of, it would
be better to employ them at light work
around the posts. and when necessary
TO put them painlessly to death.
Practice for the Navy.
For the first time in our history ma
val maneuvers on large scale are
being held under the immediate COM
mand of the Admiral of the Navy.
Constantly increasing attention is be-
ing paid to the gunnery of the navy.
but IT is vet far from what 1t should
be. l earnestly urge that the increase
asked for by the Secretary of the Navy
In the appropriation for improving the
Workmanship be granted In battle
the only shots that count are the shots
that hit. 1t is necessary to. provide am
pie funds for practice with the great
guns in time of peace. These
funds must provide not only
for the purchase of Drojectiles.
but for allowances for prizes
to encourage the gun crews,
and especially the gun pointers. and
Tor 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 eve
cry year additional fighting craft. We
are very rich country. vast in extent
or territory and great in population: a
country. moreover. which has an army
diminutiye indeed when compared with
that OF any other frst-class power. We
have deliberately made our own GER
tain foreign policies which demand the
possession OF irst-class navy. The
isthmian canal will greatly Increase the
efficiency Of our navy n the navy is Of
fuiiicient size. but " we have an in
adequate navy, then the building Of
the canal would be merely giving a
hostage 70 any power Of superior
strength, The Monroe Doctrine should
Continued on Ninth Pegs.