Bismarck daily tribune., 1903-12-07
who are contented with system Of pro-

mOtlOn Dy mere seniority are tuOSc W III
are contented with the triumph Of me
diocrity over excellence. On the Othel
hand. system which encouraged thu
exercise of social or political favorit
ism in promotions would be even worse
But it would surely he easy to devise
method of promotion from grade Il
grade in which the opinion of the high
er officers of the service upon the can
didates should be decisive upon the
| standing and promotion of the latter
Just such system now obtains al
West Point. The quality of each years
work determines the standing of tha
years class. the man being dropped oi
| graduated into the next class in tn,
relative position which his military su
periors decide to be warranted by hi.
merit. In other words. ability energy
fidelity and all other similar qualities
determine the rank of n man year aft
er year in West Point and his standing
in the army when he graduates from
West Point. but from that time on al
| effort TO find which man is best OF
worst. and reward or punish him ac-
cordingly. is abandoned No briliian'
cy. no amount of hard work. no eager
ness in the performance of duty. can
advance him. and no slacknesS or in
difference that falls short of a court
martial ofense can retari him. Until
this system is changed we cannot hope
that our officers VIII he of as high
grade as we have a right TO expect,
considering the material upon which
we draw. Moreover. when man rem
ders such service as Captain Pershing
rendered last spring in the Moro cam
paign il ought 10 be possible TO reward
him without at once jumping 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 special
message to congress on Jan. 80. 1924.
spoke as follows: The navy is the arm
from which our government will al
ways derive most aid in support of
our rights. Every power engaged
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"
l heartily congratulate the congress
upon the steady progress in building
up the American navy. We cannot
afford 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 de-
partment and the officers Of the navy
are doing we'll their part by providing
constant service at sea under condi-
tons akin to those of actual warfare.
Our officers and enlisted men are
learning to handle the battleships,
cruisers and torpedo boats with high
efficiency in fleet and squadron forma-
uons. and the standard of marksman-
ship is being steadily raised. The best
work ashore is Indispensable, but the
highest duty of naval officer is to ex-
ercise command at sea.
The establishment of q naval base in
the Philippines ought not to be longer
postponed. Such base is desirable in
time of peace; 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 fOrtification and
development of naval station at Su
big bay be begun at an early date, fol
lnder the best conditions it is work
which will consume much time.
1t is eminently desirable, however
that there should be provided nava
general staff on lines similar to thos.
of the general staff lately created fol
the army. Within the navy depart
ment itself the needs of the service
have brought about system under
which the duties of general staff ars
partially performed, for the bureau OF
navigation has under it's direction thu
war college, the office of naval intelli
| gence and the board Of inspection an(
has been in close touch with the gen
eral board of the navy. But thougl
under the excellent officers at theil
head these boards and bureaus do goot
work they have not the authority of :
general staff and have not sufficien
scope to insure proper readiness fol
emergencies. We need the establish
ment by law Of a body of trained Off
GERS who shall exercise systematl.
control of the military affairs of tn,
navy and be authorized advisers Of tn,
secretary concerning it.
lsthmian Canal.
BY the act of June %, 1902, the con
gress authorized the president to ente
into treaty with Colombia for tn,
building of the canal across the 18th
mus of Panama. it being provided tha
in the event of failure to secure sucl
treaty after the lapse OF reasonabl,
time recourse should be had to buildin;
canal through Nicaragua. 1t has no
been necessary to consider this alter
native. as l am enabled to lay before
the senate a treaty lsJvoing for tn,
building Of the canal across the 18th