New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-22
WAR COLLEGE FOR ARMY
ITS CORNERSTONE Laid.
President on Nations S Responsible
hes- Root and Young Abo Speak
GsT TELEGRAPH TO TIE ra1BrvE.1 ]


Of the programme and the absence of any Of the
usual ceremonies attending military affair the
earnestness and seriousness OF the words with
which President Roosevelt ADDRESSING himself
not to his audience but to the nation. character
lied the responsibilities of world iowar laid on
this country by the trend Of recent years lent
significance and imp~essiveuess to the ceremony
of laying the cornerstone of the War Col
lege to-day. World power was the keynote OF
the brief address, riarked by Girectness Of the
carefully weighed sentences in which the Presi-
ent expressed his own conception OF the impor-
tance and necessity of military preparedness to
avert disaster and disgrace in war and add
strength 10 the nations influence for peace.
Notwithstanding th, many runlors that the
President suffering from throat troubl.
there not the slightest evidence of weak
ness in the resonant voice in which he set forth
his message to the nation and the army
Equally impressive were the words of comment
on present and future efficiency in the army
contributed by Secretary Root. who congratu-
lated Congress and the nation the passage Os
the General Staff AMI Militia bills and nIustrat-
ed previous difficulties in the pathway OF the
army removed by them
AS military show. the exercises lacked the
glory of color that usually attends such cere-
monies Here and there the gorgeous uniforms
of the military and naval attaches of foreign
governments added dash Of brilliant coIorjng.
but, for the most part the audience. small in
numbers because of the incIement weather.
lacked any striking evidence of martial charac-
ter, despite the fact that it numbered many os
the most distinguished general officers Of the
army.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
The exercises were brief Welcomed by a na-
tional salute and escorted by a squadron of cav
airy. the President reached the stand shortly
hofo
Immediately after the arrival Of the Presidents
party. General Gillespie. the chief Of engineers.
who had charge of the exercises called on
Bishop Satterlee for the invocation after which
he presented the President, who said
Ladies and Gentlemen: 1t should be a matter OF
pride ana GongFatuiafIon & to every American citizen
day We lay the foundation stone OF building the
in Is, securing @ the he efficiency Of the United states
the enactment of the law TO create general sra az
but step supplementing the passage Of the act.
far deeper usefulness.
One word first TO the nation. and then another
well been said tnat the surest way 70 invite na-
that is rich that IS so high spirited as ~ be
trains from n that Preparedness which is absolutely
such patton is laying deep the foundation for
will or not we have reached the stage when we
open p pay m "a gFe5 ee part r the @ w9rd L is rot
it. All we have to decide is whether we shan nisv
play It. All that it Ps rests IS }er Us to- to DO is nsSg 20 ss2 "
ina mat we MI Eih Play play It well lApPlausel fhts 9atou
position of world power during the last few years
occident and in the orsnt as WPI We It n be @
n % aTlght unless ITS y2ee IS pc
potent for peace and justice only condition oS
not in the spirit Of the wsakng s and the raven
but with the assured self-confdenoe Of the Just
So much for the lesson T. be learned by our peo..
R hs f59 b9idns fas IS gar in which the erection Of
Now word to the officers and enlisted men or
messed a notable awakening in our people TO the
an3ns = as 81 nIT bcG tB S5 PfoP PBat aF the
p6ron one as naV Il has ~ bG 40 p w rsd IN T ya manly n IN
after the war has begun i is too Iate for Us 20
War begins and vst5rv w cSm n ui II on 4 Ba Rs bsH
terms
During the session of Congress that is now closing
footing of eff1ciencvLtha ffrSr ioHr strfdS t9Eas
on the lines marked out by Washington himself
ten wears vas dfsregarded bv our peopie 4nd
again, the f1rst long stride has been taken toward
The Todernzat tio ,o7yari increasing the efciensy
devised by General Sherman over quarter &C
care to work out necessary reforms Thev don't
come in jump All kinds Of 25strucsions Of de-
struCtions of careessness. have 10 be with and
overcome. but at last they are overcome if only a
backing the reform. And now these great steps
securing the increased efficiency of the army. and
il rests with the army itself to profit by what has
IN modern that The efficiency Of the unit cf
man is going t. be the prime factor IN deciding to
fate of fought fields The exercises OF the barracks
and the parade ground do not make per cent oe
the soldiers real work. and DO rot count for ;
per in his real efficiency. They verv
done but they. count for but the smallest part In
the qualities the Of which makes the army
and alike must be trained % the highest poips
M Tb % forrAs Of ~ mere iruism sav fbat il tbsv ars
trained the theory without the crOWning OF prac
have the training ard the theory. too They must
have that training. or they can never reach thu
army OF the United states is and desirsbs
that il should be other than a small army rel
atively 10 the population of the country but We
have a right to expect that that small army shal,
pIausel. and have the most absolute faith thac
that it will attain it in no small part because oe
the wise and Jealous use it will make of the op-
building loud and continuous applause9
General Gillespie next introduced Secretary
Root paying high tribute 10 his share in ths
work of establishing the new college. Secretary
Root said:
Not TO promote war. but to preserve peace by
intelligent and adequate preparation to repel as
gressiOn. this institution is founded II IS SrowtI
and not "a departure IL Is natural and
necessary development Of the views with which
General Grant established the artillery school &C
Fortress Monroe. General sherman established tbs
infantry and cavalry school az t4Et % LeSven~9r,o. We N
pIication for cavalry and light artillery az Fore
school or dpphcatloh SSHuvt ~ -
fence and army medical sccooi We're aiterWard
calIv suspended during the war with Spain and IN
the Philippines. When che time came Tor their Pc
merely resG91Fet0n jSa 9gS Sian we're apSsnlad Iy
of Dlfr arr nufE