Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-28
In a Letter by the Presi-
dent to Sec. Taft.
Uses Example to Urge Pa
triotism Upon Everybody
And 10 Emphasize the Need Of an
Efficient Army and Navy.

Roosevelt has addressed to the secre-
tary OF war. who has promulgated the
same i'll a general order, Il letter recit-
ing the achievements Of the Japanese
admiral. Togo, during the late war be-
for uhe benefit of American soldiers
and sailors the address issued by that
admiral upon the conclusion of the
wdr. The point OF the Presidents let
ter is the necessity of keeping the per-
sonnet OF the army and navy at the
highest pitch in time of peace in order
10 be prepared for war. The text OF IN.
Presidents letter is as follows:
The White House, Washington, d.
c., Feb. Il, 1906.
The Secretary OF War:
I'm the recent war in the East Ad-
miral Togo took his place among the
great sea fighters of all time. His
message to the united squadron which
he commanded, on the occasion of it,
disposal at the close of the war, is $,
noteworthy that L deem it proper to
have II inserted in a general order OF
the department.
The qualities which make formid-
able fighting man, on sea or on shore
and which therefore make Il formidable
army on navy, are the same for all ma
tons. The individual man must have
the lighting edge; there must be il
them courage, determination, individ-
udl initiative, combined with willing
less to learn and subordination of self
together with physical address in or
der that they may form the stuff out
OF which i'll the aggregate good armies
ana navies are made; but in addition
to this there must be preparedness
there must be thorough training in adj
vance. Every American officer and en-
listed man, whether serving i'll the
army or the navy should keep ever be-
fcrc his eyes the fact that he will not
be fit thoroughly to do his work in the
event of war unless in peace he has
thoroughly done the work of prepar-
lug for war. If in peace the soldier and
the sailor abandon themselves to ease
and slOth, when war comes they Will
go down before rivals who have been
less self-indulgcnt. Nor is it only the
men of the army and the navy who
should constantly remember thes
facts. In great self-gOverning repub-
lie ike ours the army and the navy
can be only SO good as the mass of the
people wish them to be. The citizens
OF our country owe it to themselves
ami to their children and their chill
dren's children that there shall be nc
chance of having the national honor
furnished, the national flag stained
with aught that is discreditable. The
men Of the army and the navy in any
great crisis such as even the most
peaceful nation may at times have &c
face, will be those upon whom the re-
SyonSibility will rest of keeping the ma
tons honor bright and unSullied. They
cannot do this if the nation does not
exercise forethCught on their behalf
We must have an adequate navy ana
an adequate army in point of size;
they must be prepared with the most
effective mechanism in the form OF
weapons and other material; above all
they must be given every chance IN
time of peace to train themselves SO
tina! they may be adopts in handling
the mechanism and be fitted in body
and in mind unhnchingiy to endure
The tremendous strain and bear the ire
mendous responsibilities of war"
The President here quotes the address
Of Admiral Togo. emitting. he says,
certain illusions having no bearing on
our conditions and concludes as fol-
lows:
Il command the above address to ev-
cry man who is or may be part of
the fighting forces of the United States,
and to every man who believes that. if
ever, unliappily, war should come, it
should be 50 conducted as to reflect
credit upon the American nation.
(Signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The portion of the address of Admiral
Togo, quoted by the President. follows:
The war of 20 months duration is
now Il thing of the past. and our unit
ed squadron. having completed its
functions, is to he herewith dispersed
But our duties as naval men are not al
all lightened for that reason To pre-
serve in perpetuity the fruits of this
war to promote to an ever greater
height of prosperity the fortunes of the
country, the navy which is respective
of peace or war, has to stand between
the empire and shocks from abroad
must always maintain it's strength al
sea and must be prepared to meet any
emergency. This strength does not
consist solely in ships and armament
it consists also in material ability to
| utilize such agents. When we under
stand that one gun scores a hundred
per cent. of hits is match for a hun
dred Of the enemies guns each of which
scores only one per cent, it becomes ev-
ident that we sailors must have re.
course before anything to the strength
which is over and above externals. The
triumphs recently won by our navy are
largely to be attributed to the habitua
training which enables us to garner the
fruit of the fighting. If then we infe,
the future from the past we recognize
that though war may cease we cannot
abandon ourselves to ease and rest A
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