Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-23

casion for disclaimers to the United
States of any Intention to seize the
territory of Venezuela, recognizing in
the most unmistakable way the
rights OF the United States expressed
in the declaration OF that traditional
policy
IN the meantime. mindful that
moral powers Unsupported BY physical
strength do. not always avail against
selflshness and aggression, we have
ben augmenting the forces which com
mand respect.
We have brought our navy to a
high state OF efficiency. and have ex-
ercised both army and navy in the
methods Of seaeoast defense. The
joint army and navy board has been
bringing the two services together in
good understanding and the common
study Of the strategy, the. preparation
and the cooperation which will make
them effective in time Of need Our
ships have been exercised in foot and
squadron movements, have been i'm
proved in craftsmanship and mobility,
and have been constantly tested by use.
Since the last national convention
met we have completed and added to
our, navy five, battleships, four cruis-
ers, four monitors, thirty-four torpedo
1850 W VS. etiia WI pSdO pOdlS, Wf1lle
we have put under construction thir-
teen. battleships and thirteen cruisers
-Four years ago our army numbered
over 100000 men-regulars and volun-
teerS, seVenty-ffve per cent Of them
In the Philippines and China. Under
the operation of statutes limiting the
period of service, it was about to lapse
back into its old and Insufficient NUM-
Der of 27900; and its old and INSULT
mi 10, ~.
control of permanent staff departments
at Washington, with the same divi-
sions of counsel and lack Of co-ordin-
ating and directing power at the head,
that led to confusion and scandal in
the war with Spain. During the past
four years the lessons taught by that
war have received practical effect.
The teachings of Sherman and Of Up
ton have been. recalled and respected.
Congress has fixed a maximum of the
army at 100000, and a minimum Of
10000, so that maintaining only the
minimum in peace, as we now do,
when the war threatens the President
may begin preparation by filling the
ranks to the maximum, without wait
ing until after war has begun, as he
had to wait In 1893. Permanent staff
appointments have been changed to
details from the line. with conlptil-
sorry returns at fixed Intervals to SER
vice with troops. SO that the require
ments Of, the field and the camp rath-
er than the requirements of the office
desk shall control the departments Of
administration and supply A corps
organization has been provided for our
artillery, with chief of artillery at
the head, so that there may be intel
ligent use Of our costly seacoast de-
lenses. Under the act of February
II, 1908, a general staff has been es-
tablished, organized to suit American
conditions and requirements and ade-
quate for the performance Of the long
neglected but all-important duties or
directing military education and train
Ing, and applying the most advanced
principles of military science to that
necessary preparation for war which
Is the surest safeguard Of peace. The
command Of the army now rests where
It IS placed by the constitution-in the
President. His power is exercised
pledged by the conditions and tenure
Of his office to confidence and loyalty
to his commander. Thus civilian con
troll Of the military arm, upon which
we must always insist, is. reconciled
with that military efficiency which can
be obtained only under the direction
of the trained military expert.
New Military Laws.
-Four years ago we were living un.
der an obsolete militia law more than
q century DID,, which Washington ana
Jefferson and Madison, and almost ev-
cry president since their time, had de-
clared to be worthless. We presented
the curious spectacle Of a people de-
pending upon a citizen soldiery for
protection again aggression, and maxi
ing practically no provision whatever
for training its citizens in the use of
warlike weapons or in the elementary
duties Of the soldier. The mandate Of
the constitution which REQUIRED con-
gress to provide for organizing, arm
ing and disciplining the militia had
been left unexecuted. In default Of
national provisions, bodies of state
troops, created for local purposes and
supported at local expense, had grown
up throughout the Union. Their feel
ings toward the regular army were
rather of distrust and dislike than Of
coinradeship. Their arms, equipment,
discipline, organization. and methods
of obtaining and accounting for sup
plies were varied and inconsistent:
They We're unsuited to become part
of any homogeneous force, and their
relations to the army of the United
States We're underlined and conjectural.
BY the militia act of January 20, 1903,
congress performed its duty under the
Leaving these bodies
still to perform their duties to the
states, 1t made them the organized
militia Of the United States. 1t pro-
vided for their conformity In arnla-
sment, organization and discipline to
the army of the United States; It pro
vided the ways i'll which, either strlct-
:ly as militia or as volunteers, they
Should become an active part of the
army when called upon; it. provided
for their training, instruction and ex-
.ercise conjointly with the regular
army; it imposed upon the regular
army the duty of promoting their eff
cheney in many ways. In recognition
OF the service to the nation which
these citizen soldiers would be COM
petent to render. the nation assumed
its share of the burden of their arma.
ment, their supply and their training
The workings of this system have al
ready demonstrated, not only that we
can have citizens outside of the regu-
lar army trained for duty in war, but
that we can have body Of volunteer
officers ready for service between
whom and the officers of the regular
army have been created by intimate
association and mutual helpfulness
those relations Of confidence and es
TEEN without Which no army can be
ln