Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-12-10


secure suitable permanent camp sites
for military maneuvers in the various
sections OF the country, The service
thereby rendered not only 20 the reg
ular army. but to the national guard
of the several states, will be so great
as to repay many lines over the rela-
lively small expense. We should not
rest satisfied with what has been done.
however The only people who are
contented with n system Of promotion
by mere. seniority are those who are
contented with the triumph OF meiio-
Gritty over excellence. On the other
hand a system which encouraged the
exercise OF social or political favorit-
ism In promotions would he even
worse. But 1t would surely be easy
10 devise method of promotion from
grade to grade in which the opinion
of the higher officers OF the service
upon the candidates should be dccis-
i've upon the standing and promotion
of the latter. Just such a system now
obtains al West Point The quality
of each years work determines the
standing of that years class. the man
being dropped or graduated into the
next class in the relative position
which his military superiors decide TO
be warranted by his merit In other
words, ability. energy. fidelity. and all
other similar qualities determine the
rank of 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 worse, and
reward or punish him accordingly, is
abandoned; no briiliancy, no amount
of hard work, no eagerness in the per-
formance 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 can not hope that our of
ficers will be of as high grade as we
have a right to expect. considering the
material upon which we draw More
over. when a man renders such SER
vice as Captain Pershing rendered last
spring in the Moro campaign, it ought
to be possible to reward him without
at once jumping him to the grade OF
brigadiergeneral.
The Navy.
Shortly after the enunciation of that
famous principle of American foreign
policy now known as the Monroe doc
trine." President Monroe. in a special
message to congress on January 80,
1924, spoke as follows: THE navy is
the arm which our government will
always derive most aid in support of
our rights. Every power
engaged in war will know .ne
strength of our naval power, the num-
Der 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 can not
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 of the fighting
strength OF the fleet. Meanwhile the
navy department and the officers of
The navy are doing well their part 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 battle
ships, cruisers. and torpedo boats with
high efficiency in fleet and squadron
formations and the standard OF marks
manship is being steadily raised. The
best work ashore is Indispensable, but
the highest duty of naval officer is
to exercise command at sea.
The establishment of naval base
in the Philippines ought not to be
longer postponed. Such base is de
sirable in time of peace; in time OF
war IL would be indispensable, and its
lack would be ruinous. Without it
our fleet would be helpless. Our ma
val experts are agreed that Subig bay
is the proper place for the purpose.
The national interests require that
the work OF fertilization and develop
ment of a naval station at Subig bay
be begun at an early date: for under
the best conditions II 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 general staff lately created for
the army. within the navy depart
ment Itself the needs of the service
have brought about system under
which the duties of general staff are
partially performed, for the bureau
OF navigation has under its direction
the war college. the Office of naval in
telligence and the board of inspection,
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 au-
thority of a general staff. and have
not sufficient scope to insure proper
readiness for emergencies. We need
the establishment by law ct a body
of trained officers. who shall exercise
systematic control of the military
| affairs of the navy, and be authorized
| advisers of the secretary concerning
it.
lsthmian Canal.
By the act of June 2S. 1902, the con-
gress authorized the President to en-
ter into treaty with Colombia for the
4