The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-08

in the benefit. The government should as soon as possible secure suitable perm : nent camp sites for military maneu efs in the various sections 4of the country. The sefvice thereby rend red not only to the regular army. but to the Natl nal Guard of the several States, VIII pc go great as to repay many times over the relatively small expense We should n3t rest satisfied with what has been aone. however. The only ople whl are cons tented with a. system ot om " rn oy mere seniority are those wno aa,ocslty ats vgrs over excellence, On the other hand sye- tenn which encouraged the exercise oI so- cial or political fav0ritsm In pro notions would be even " yrse. But 1t would sure iv be easy to devise a method of promo tion from grace to grade m WHOA the opinion of the higher officers or the ger. vice upon the candidates should be decis. i've upon the stand ng and proaOti n or the latter. Just such a system now ob- taius at West Point. The qua tty or eaen years work determines the standing Q. that years class. ths man being dropped C,r graduated into the next class In the relative position which his military su- periors decide to be ~arranted by ms merit In otAer woi ds aSiiity, enc gy. fidelity and al other similar qoansies s- 1s year in West Point. and his st nding IT the army when he graduates rom west Peint: but from that time on, enort 70 find which man ts best or worst, ana re- ward or punish him according y. is aban- doned; no brhiiancy, no amount or naro work, no eagerness in the performance oI duty, can advance him, ana no siackness or indifference that falls short or a court. martial offense can retard him. Until this system Is changed we can not nope that our ofiioers will be of as hign grade as we have right to expect, consieerlng the material upon which we draw. More over, when a man renders such service as Captain Pershing rendered .ast spring m the Moro campaign. 1t ought to pc vssi- ble to reward him without at once JulnpI- Ja,lI ing him to the FSs fTsa1N Navy. Gr D[ls''isr general
 Shortly after the enunciation of that famous principle of Amer can foreign policy now known as the Monroe Doe, tine" PIesiAent Monroe, m a do Spesaa' 1aSa spoke as follows: "The navy Is the arm from which our government will always derive most aid in support Of our -, rights Every power engaged In war VIII know the strength of our naval power. the number of our ships of each ass. tneir condition. and the p. omptitude with wnlcn. we may bring them Into service. ana VI pay due consideration to that argument
 I heartily congratulate the Congress up-. on the steady progress In baiidiny up the Ame. ican navy. We can not an Ild a iet-up in this great ToFE: ao o sIahS bs sI1, m cessation in add ng to the effe tive units of the lighting # ength of the Lee Mean while the Navy Departm nit an the 0. .4- ceTg or the navy are QOlNk WNll NtAc RdAf by providing constant service at sea un. der conditions akin to those of actual warfare. Our officers and enlisted men are learning to handle the p.-ttseships. cruisers and torpedo boats with high effi- ciency in fleet and squadron formations, and the standard of marksmanship is be- ing steadily raised. The best " rk re is Indispensable, but the highest duty of a naval officer is to exercise command at
 The establishment of naval base in the Philippines ought not to be longer time of peace; in time of WIT 1t would be Indispensable and It's lack would be q I1- ous. Without it our fleet would be help iess. Our naval experts are agreed that Subig Bay Is the pr per p a-e for . purpose. The national interests require t1at the work of 1ortifcation and devel- opment of naval station at S1big B v be beRin at an early da e; r un CT the best conditions 1t Is a work which Will consume much time.
 It is eminently desirable, however that there should be provided a naval general stan on lines simi ar to th SC of the gem e. al sGaff lately crea ed for the army. Within the Navy Dep -rtment itself the needs of the service have br fought about a system under which the duties of a gen. eral staff are partially performed; for the bureau of navigation has under it's dirGc- ti5n the War College, the O ice of aval Int lllgence. and tbe Board of Inspection, and has been in close touch with tls Gen der the ex client oqfcers at their end these boards and bur aus do good woek, they have not the authority of gen raj stan, and have not sufticieat scope To in- sure a proper readiness for em rge cl S. We need the estab ishment by law of a body of tra ned officers who sh II eNer- else a systematic contr1l of the m li-ary affairs of the navy. and be authorized ad- visers of the Secretary eonee ming it.
 IstnmIan Cznal.
 By the act of June g 1902 the Congress authorized the President t0 enter into treaty with Colombia for the building of the canal aero the Isthmus Of Panama; 1t being provided that In the event of fail- ure to secure su h treaty after he Iap e of reasonable time. recourse should be
 (continued On Page Five.Y