Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-12-05
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NAVAL TRAINING.
ID Importance Emphasized More Sea.
%4 men Needed. \: .Ss
The most formidable battleship Is OF
course helpless against even a light
cruiser If the men aboard It are unable
to hit anything with their guns, and
thoroughly well handled cruisers may
count seriously in an engagement with
much superior vessels If the men
aboard the latter are ineffective,
whether from lack of training or from
any other cause. Modern warships are
most formidable mechanisms when
well handled, but they are utterly USE
less when not well handled, and they
cannot be handled at all without long
| and careful training. This training
can under no circumstance be given
when once war has broken out No
| fighting ship Of the first class should
ever be laid up save for necessary re-
pairs, and her crew should be kept
constantly exercised on the high seas,
SO that she may stand at the highest
point Of perfection. To put new and
unframed crew upon the most powerful
battleship and send it out to meet a
formidable enemy is not only to invite,
but to insure disaster and disgrace To
improvise crews at the outbreak Of a
war, so far as the serious fighting craft
are concerned, is absolutely hopeless.
II the officers and men are not thor
oughly skilled In and have not been
thoroughly trained to their duties it
would be far better to keep the ships
In port during hostilities than to send
them against formidable opponent,
| for the result could only be that they
would be either sunk or captured. The
craftsmanship Of our navy is now on
the whole in gratifying condition,
and there has been a great improve
ment In fleet practice. We need adj
dttiOnal seamen; we need a large store
| OF reserve guns; we need sufficient
money for ample target practice, am
| pie practice Of every kind at sea. We
should substitute for comparatively in
efficient types-the old third class bat
tleship Texas, the single turreted mon
itors above mentioned and indeed all
the monitors and some Of the old cruis-
ers- efficient, modern seagoing vessels.
Seagoing torpedo boat destroyers
should be substituted for some of the
smaller torpedo boats. During the
present congress there need be no adj
dihons to the aggregate number Of
| units of the navy. Our navy, though
very small relatively to the navies OF
other nations, is for the present sufi-
cient In point Of numbers for our needs,
and, while we must constantly strive
to make its efficiency higher, there need
be no additions to the total number of
ships now built and building save In
the way Of substitution as above out
| lined. recommend the report Of the
secretary Of the navy to the careful
consideration of the congress, espe-
cially with a view to the legislation
therein advocated. s5.s
Naturalization Laws.
During the past year evidence has &C
cumulated to confirm the expressions
contained In my last two annual mes
| sages as to the Importance Of revising
by appropriate legislation our system
Of natnra i,zinp aliens annoin+od. "a a.
March a commission to make ! careful
examination Of orr natnraliya linn Ia ms
and 10 suggest annronriate n 90 snres 10
avoid the notorious abuses ressnit,ne,
| from the imnrovident ~ nnlawfrI
granting Of Citizenship. This commits
sion comnosod ~ ON ofy7ca,. 80 +,,a7 a,
partment OF state. Of the flenar+men+ ~
sustice and of the Recruitment ~ com.
merce and labor has discharoad tho
dutv imnosed mon n and haa suhn,,+.
ted report which win be transmittai,
to the congress for ia cons,daration.
and hone for its fayorah Ia action
The distineuishino recommends lions
Of the commission are:
First-A federal hnrean ~ na,nrou.
5000 - 80 -. r. -. - (.