The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-07

regular army, but to the national guard
Of the several states, will be SO great as
to repay many times over the relatively
small expense. We should not rest
satisfied with what has been done, how
ever. The only people who are content
ed with system of promotion by mere
seniority are those who are contented
with the triumph of mediocrity over ex-
cellence. On the other hand a system
which encouraged the exercise Of social
or political sfavor1tism in promotions
would be even worse. But it would
surely be easy to devise a. method of
promotion from grade to grade in which
the opinion of the higher officers of the
service upon the candidates should be
decisive upon the standing and promo
ton Of the latter. Just such a system
now obtains at West Point. The quail
ty of each years work determines the
standing OF that years class, the man
being dropped or graduated into the
next class in the relative position which
his military superiors decide to be war
ranted by his merit In other words,
ability, energy, fidelity, and all other
similar qualities determine the rank of
a man year after year in West Point
and his standing in the army when he
graduates from West Point; but from
that time on, all effort to find which
man is best or worst, and reward or
punish him accordingly, is abandoned;
no brilliancy, no amount of hard work,
no eagerness in the performance of
duty, can advance him, and no slack
ness or Indifference that falls short of a
court-martial offense can retard him.
Until this system is changed we can
not hope that our officers will be of as
high grade as we have a right to ex-
pect, considering the material upon
which we draw. Moreover, when a man
renders such service as Captain Perish
ing rendered last spring in the Moro
campaign, it ought to be possible to re-
ward him without at 5umDln2 him
to the grade of brigadier general.
The Navy.
Shortly after the enunciation of that
famous principle of American foreign
policy now known as the Monroe Doc
trine," President Monroe, in a special
message to congress on January 80,
1924, spoke as follows: THE navy is
the arm from which our government
will always derive most aid in support
Of our rights. Every power en-
gagged in war will know the strength of
our naval power, the number of our
ships of each class, their condition, and
the promptitude with which we may
bring them into service, and will pay
due consideration to that argument"
1 heartily congratulate the congress
upon the steady progress in building
up the American navy. We can not af-
ford a let-up in this great work. To
stand still means to go back. There
should be no cessation in addiNg to the
effective units of the fighting strength
of the fleet. Meanwhile the navy depart
ment and the officers of the navy are
doing well their part by providing con-
slant service at sea under conditions
akin to those of actual warfare. Our
officers and enlisted men are learning to
handle the battle ships, cruisers, and
torpedo boats with high efficiency in
fleet and squadron formations, and the
standard craftsmanship is being stead
lily raised. The best work ashore is in
naval officer is to exercise command at
sea.
The establishment of a naval base in
the Philippines ought not to be longer
postponed. Such a base is desirable in
time of peace;s in time of war it would
be indispensable, and its lack would be
ruinous. Without it our fleet would be
helpless. Our naval experts are agreed
that Subig Bay is the proper place for
the purpose. The national interests re-
quire that the work of fertilization and
development of a naval station at Subig
Bay be begun at an early date; for I'M
der the best conditions it is a work
which will consume much time.
It is eminentiy desirable, however,
that there should be provided a naval
general staff on lines similar to those
of the general staff lately created for
the army. Within the navy department
itself the needs of the service have
brought about system under which
the duties of a general staff are par
TALLY performed; for the bureau of
navigation has under its direction the
war college, the office of naval intelli-
gence, and the board of inspection, and
has been in close touch with the gem
eral board of the navy. But though
under the excellent officers at their
head, these boards and bureaus do
good work, they have not the authority
of a general staff, and have not -sufd-
cient scope to insure a proper readiness
for emergencies. We need the estab
lishment by law of a body of trained
officers, who shall exercise a systematic
control of the military affairs of the
navy, and be authorized advisers of the
secretary concerning it.