The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-08

in the Moro campaign, 1t ought to 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 January 30, 1924,
spoke as follows: "The navy is the arm
from which our government Wiki always
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.
/ heartily congratulate the Congress
upon the steady progress in building up
the American navy. We cannot afford
let-up in this great work To stand still
means to go back. There should be no
cessation in adding to the effective units
cf the fighting strength of the fleet. Mean
while the Navy Department and the Off
crs CT the navy are doing well their part
by providing constant service at sea under
conditions akin to those of actual war
fare Our officers and enlisted mel
learning to hands the battle Ships
isers and torpedo boats with high
cheney in feet and squadron formal
and the standard of craftsmanship
ching steadily raised. The best
ashore is indispensable, but the hig
duty of naval officer is to exercise
mand at sea.
The establishment of a naval base
the Philippines ought not to be lor
postponed Such a base is desirable
time of peace; in time of war it wo
be indispensable. and its lack would
ruinous Without it our feet would
helpless. Our naval experts are agreed
that Subig Bay is the proper place for
the purpose The national interests re-
Guire that the work of fertilization and
development of naval station at Subig
Bay be begun at an early date; for under
the best conditions it is a work which
will consume much time.
1t is eminently desirable, however, that
there should be provided a naval general
staff on lines similar to those of the gen
aral 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 partially performed; for
the Bureau of Navigation has under its
direction the War College, the Office of
Naval intelligence, and the Board of In
spection, and has been in close touch with
the General 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 sufficient scope
Tn insure nrnDpr raadipacc for or,aroon-
cies. We need the establishment by law
of body of trained officers, who shall
exercise a systematic control of the mill
tary affairs of the navy, and be author
lied advisers of the secretary concerning
=.
ISTHMIAN CANAL.
By the act of June %, 1902. the Congress
authorized the President to enter into
treaty with Colombia for the building OF
the canal across the Isthmus of Panama
it being provided in the event of allure
to secure such treaty after the lapse OF
reasonable time, recourse should be had
to building a canal through Nicaragut
1t has not been necessary to consider TINS
alternative, as l am enabled to lay before
the Senate a treaty providing Tor the
building of the canal across the lsthinuS
of Panama. This was the route Whlch
commended itself to the deliberate JUG
ment of the Congress, and we can now
acquire by treaty the right to construct
the canal over this route. The questloh
now, therefore. is rot by which route the
isthmian canal shall be built, lot tEaC
question has been definitely ana nreFp-
cably decided The question IS SIMPLY
whether or not we shall have an 18th
milan canal.
When the Congress directed that we
l. Continued on Page six9