Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
ROOT MAKES ADDRESS
Speaks of Need of Army for More
Extended Training.
ROOSEVELT ATTENDS THE EXERCISES
Is Beginning of Project Long Foster
ed by the President and Secretary
Root-M1itary Instruction to Be
Under One Supervision.

Washington, Feb. 21.-In the pres
ence Of an asesmblage of distinguished
people including the President, mem
bers of the cabinet and congress, JUS
tees of the supreme court, representa-
tives of foreign powers and others
eminent in the life of the nation, the
corner stone Of the Army War college
was laid here today with impressive
military ceremonies. The site Sc
lected for the new building is on
the reservation of the Washington
Barracks
Beginning of Project.
Today's ceremonies marked the be-
ginning of the project which has been
fostered by the President, Secretary
Root, and others interested in the adj
vancement and thorough training of
the United States army. About 1000
troops, representing the various
branches of the war service took part
in the exercises. The ceremonies in
cident to the laying of the corner stone
were impressive. After the invocation
by Rt. Rev. Henry U. Satterlee, Presi-
dent Roosevelt was introduced by Gen
eral Gillespie, chief of engineers.
RooseveIt's Address.
The President said in part: ut
should be a matter of pride and con-
graduation to every American citizen
interested in the welfare of his coun-
try that today we lay the foundation
stone of the building, the erection of
which signalizes the long stride for
ward in securing greater efficiency in
the United States army. The step is
less important than that marked by
the enactment of the law to create
general staff, but it is step supple
menting the passage of that act and
rounding it out and rendering it Of far
wider and deeper use and fullness.
Way to Invite Disaster.
st has we'll been said that the sur
est way to invite national disaster is
for a nation to be opulent, aggressive
and unarmed. A nation that is rich,
that is so high spirited as to be some
what careless of giving offense and
yet restraints itself from that prepar-
edness which is absolutely necessary
if efficiency in war is ever to be shcsrn
such nation is laying deep founda-
ton for humiliation and disaster.
"As a people, whether we will or
not, we have reached stage when we
must play a great part in the world.
1t is not open to us to decide whether
or not we shall play it. All we have
to decide is whether we shall play it
well or i'll. The part is before us, and
we have to play it.
Forced to High Place.
'"This nation has by the mere trend
of events been forced into the position
of world power during the past few
years. 1t has responsibilities resting
upon it here in the occident and in the
orient as we'll.
''It cannot bear these responsible
ties Alright unless its voice is potent
for peace and justice, and Its voice can
be potent for peace and justice only
on condition of it's being thoroughly
understood that we ask peace, not in
the spirit of weakling and craven
but with the assured self-confidence
OF just man armed"
Secretary Root Speaks.
| At the close of the Presidents brie1
| speech Secretary of War Root was in
troduced and made the principal ad
dress of the ceremonies. The secreta
RVS address was devoted mainly tt
an explanation of the reason for thu
founding of the institution, togethel
with a resume of its aims, purposes
and method of government.
He declared that it was founded no
to promote war but to preserve tn
peace by the intelligent and adequat
preparation of the officers and mel
of the army to repel any hostile ae
gression.
Needed Better Training.
Sat the close of the Spanish-Amer
can war; he said, sit became eviden
that the separate institutions of mil
Il tary instruction had reached a poin
where their efficiency and the result
81 of their work could be best utilize
4 by bringing them into a closer relatio
as parts of general system of mil
n tary education; that the benefciarie
q of this institution could best be ser'
d ed by placing it under the inspectio
u and supervision of a single co-ordina
a ing and controlling body and by sui
Il plementing their work with pc!
a graduate course. which would carr
& their best men onward along lines (
n research and thought, by which I'll
"A experience and theory would cor
u bine to making skillful commander
" for the armies. Such system as I'll
y army is now putting in force as rapi
Il ly as possible
81 Major General S. NJ b. Young, pre-
So ident of the war college, also spoke
M
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