The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-18

We won beosuse the people had walked up
TO the fact that In the navy we have the
beet type Of ships and that II is most foolish
to hit soft. Don't hit at all II you can help
II, but nevur hit soft"
PreSident Roosevelt said that another
obstacle which had to be overcome In the
upbuildinR Of the navy was that set up by
persons who said that It was all a mani
lestatlon Of jingoism, who declare that there
Is no reason why this country ever should
haveG war. One Congressman, the President
said, gave as an argument against an in
creased navy that ne would much prefer
arbitration to war.
80 do l. the President continued, but
suppose the other man won't arbitTate?'
what we need, he added, Els TO provide
for the personnel Of the new ships. hurry
their building and see to II that there is the
highest eficiency In handling them
As regards the army the President said
that be was very sorry indeed that Con-
Rress had failed TO provide for field man
Cnuvres In the future.
cit Is said the President, sthe greatest
mana-uvres for the Regular army. We
have a small Re ulsr army. Its not sdvis-
able or necessary for us to have a large
one. Il Ia advisable and necessary, how
ever that II should be kept efficient a. a
whole. firmly believe that with an even
chance the oficers and enlisted men in our
army offer material quite as good az in
any army in the world And il is because
believe this that think II a crime not 10
give the Officers and enlisted men an equal
chance"
The President concluded:
Study the Revolutionary War, study
the War Of 1912, study the Mexican War not
only from the standpoint Of its victories,
but also from the standpoint Of its defeats
and see to II that In our policy we carry
out the policies that won victories and
avoid those that brought defeats.
Let me reiterate, lspeak In the interest
OF peace. ] ask for an efficient army and
navy, this for country that will not stop
building the Isthmian Canal that will not
surrender its Island possessions. Then take
such a step as will make your hold on those
possessions effective and not empty bluster.
So Il Ia also in civic ahairs. Study what
was done In the past by men who made
errors no less than what was done by those
who won tfiumphs.-
Rear Admiral COEhlan spoke after Presi-
dent Roosevelt had left and some Of the
diners thought he rOfuted a remark made
by the President about the number Of battle
ships. Rear Admiral Coghlan said In part:
The President took all the wind out OF my
sails. However let me begin with the old
adAge, In time Of peace prepare for war
J so. sP9sS Of e5S St sG59 bS syy
only twenty seven ships by next Spring,
when the new ones are completed and only
sixteen arc first clasi battleships, 20 defend
the country. We shall also have some
NNVlNN kItnolN0 glhAuIlHt DhN Nuuuo NhlnoN
be called battleships.
In 1908 We will need some 5000 en-
listed men In the navy and we will have
10 Try 70 get the best men. We must be
prepared. Our losses In the Spanish war,
though few, we're the result Of unprepared-
ness. We have had good results indeed,
but we can't be sure that those results will
always follow. We must build up our navy
uniformly and rapidly. Our personnel ia
improving veTy rapidly and at present Ia
equal II not superior TO any navy We know
Of. You hear a good deal about assertions
from the navy. Let me say that Lust year
les than 3 per cent. deserted AMI those
were mostly from tho eervants' depart
ment, chiefly foreigners, Of whom WI hope
10 get nd. Now % per cent. OF all enlisted
men are American born.
Let me conclude that the navy as the
President Haid, Is not built 70 make war
with, but 10 insure peace
Other speakers vert Gen. Frederick
Dent Grant and Justice j. Franklin Fort Of
New Jersey.