The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-08
OUR ARMY AND NAVY.
Recon- mend ations Looking to Better
uent of Both Services Are Made.


The effect of the laws providing a gen
eral staff for the army and for the more
effective use of the national guard has
been excellent. Great Improvement has
been made IN the efficiency OF our army
In recent years. Such schools as those
ERECTED at Fort I.eayenworth and Fort
Riley and the institution of fall maneuver
work accomplish satisfactory results
The good effect OF these maneuverS upon
the national guard IS marked, and ample
appropriation should be made to enable
the guardsmen of the several states to
share in the benefit. The government
should as soon as possible secure suitable
permanent camp sites for military man
euvers in the various sections of the
rountry. The service thereby rendered
not only to the regular army, but TO the
national guard Of the several states will
be SO great as to repay many times over
the relatively small expense. We should
not rest satisfied with what has been
done. however The only people who are
contented with a system of promotion
by mere seniority are those who are con-
tented with the triumph Of mediocrity
over excellence. On the other hand q
system which encouraged the exercise OF
social or political favoritism in promo
tons would be even worse. But it would
surely be easy to devise q method or
promotion from grade to grade in which
the opinion of the higher officers of the
service upon the candidates should be
decisive upon the standing and promotion
Of the latter. Just such a system now
each years work determines the stand
Ing of that years class. the man being
dropped or graduated into the next class
In the relative position which his mill
tary superiors decide to be warranted by
his merit. In other words, ability, ener-
BY. fidelity, and all other similar qualities
determine the rank Of a man year after
year in West Point, and his standing in
the army when he graduates from West
Point; but from that time on. all effort
to find which man is best or worst. and
reward or punish him accordingly is
abandoned; no brillancy, no amount of
hard work, no eagerness in the perform
ance Of duty, can advance him. and no
slackness or indifference that falls short
of a court-martial offense can retard him.
Until this system is changed we cannot
hope that our officers VIII be of as high
grade as we have a right to expect con-
siGering the material upon which we
draw. Moreover, when a man renders
such service as Capt. PershinE rem iered
last spring in the Moro campaign. il
ought 10 be possible to reward him with
out at once jumping him 10 the grade of
briSadier general.
The Navy.
Shortly after the enunciation OF that IA
nous principle of American foreign policy
now known as the Monroe Doctrine"
President Monroe, in special message to
congress on January 80. 1924, spoke as fol-
lows: The navy is the arm from which
our government Will 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
3ring them into service and VIII pay due
consideration TO that argument"
heartily congratulate the congress upon
the steady progress in building up the
American navy. We cannot afford n let-up
in this great work. To stand still means
20 go back. There should be no cessation
sn adding 10 the effective units of the fight
ing strength of the feet. Meanwhile the
navy depa rtment and the officers OF the
navy are doing well their part by proViG-
ing constant service at sea under conditions
akin TO those Of actual warfare. Our Off
GERS and enlisted men are learning TO ham
die the battleships cruisers and torpedo
boats with high efficiency in fleet and
squadron formations and the standard OF
The best work ashore is Indispensable.
but the highest duty of a naval officer is
to exercise command at sea
The establishment OF a naval base in the
philippines ought not TO be longer posi-
poned Such base is desirable in time OF
peace: in time of war it would be indis-
pensable. and its lack would be ruinous
Without II our fleet would be helpless. Our
naval experts are agreed that Subig bay
Is the proper place Tor the purpose The
national interests require that the work
of fertilization and development of & naval
station at Subig bay be begun at an early
sate; for under the best conditions L IS a
work which viii consume much time
IL IS eminently desirable however that
there should be provided a naval general
stan on lines similar TO those of the general
staff lately created for the army Within
the navy department itself the needs Of
the service have brought about a system
under which the duties OF a general stan
are partially performed: for the bureau of
navigation has under its direction the war
college, the Office of naval intelligence and
the board Of inspection. and has been in
close touch with the general board of the
navy. But though under the excellent Off
GERS at their head. these boards and bureaus
90 good work. they have not the auth ority
~of a general STAFF. and have not sufficient
scope 20 insure a proper readiness for
emergencies. We need the establishment
by law OF a body of trained officers who
shall exercise a systematic control OF the
military affairs Of the navy. and be author
tzed advisers OF the SecreLary concerning it