The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-02

Washington. Feb. c7~.-Prcs.dent
Roosevelt has addressed 10 the
secretary Of war. who has promnl-
gated the same in a general order, a
letter reciting the achievements CT tho
japanese admiral Togo. during the
late war between Japan and Russia,
and repeating for the benefit OF Amer
lean soldiers and sailors the address
issued by that admiral upon the con-
clusion of the wal. The point Of the
presidents letter is the necessity of
keeping the personnel OF the army and
navy at the highest pitch in time OF
peace III order 10 be prepared for war.
The text Of the presidents letter is
as follows.
The White House.
Washington, ID. G., Feb. 2l,
The Secretary Of War:
In the recent var in the east,
Admiral Togo tool his place among
the great sea fighters Of all time. His
message TO the united squadron. which
he commanded, on the occasion OF its
disposal at the close OF the war, Is SO
noteworthy that | deem 1t proper to
ave it inserted in Il general order or
the department.
The qualities which make n formid-
/ able fighting man on sea or on shore,
| and which therefore make a formid-
able army or navy, are the same fnr
all nations. The individual men uusx
have the fighting edge; there must be
in them courage, determination, indi-
vidual initiative, combined with will
lingness to learn and subordination of
self, together with physical address, in
order hat they may form the stun
out Of which in the aggregate good
armies and navies are made, q In
addition to this, there must be pre-
, paredness-there must be thorough
training in advance. Every American
officer and enlisted man, whether in
the army or navy, should keep before
his eyes the fact that he will not be
fit to do his work thoroughly in tho
event OF war, unless in peace, he has
thoroughly done h work OF preparing
for war. If in peace the soldier and
the sailor abandon themselves to ease
and sloth, when wal comes they Will
go down before rivals who have been
less self-indulgent Nor is il only tho
men of the army and navy who should
constantly remember these facts. In
a great self-governing republic like
ours, the army and navy can be only
SO good as the mass OF the people
wish them 10 be. The citizens OF our
country owe it TO themselves and 10
their children, n their, children'a
children that there shall be no chance
of having the national honor tarnish-
ed, the national flag stained with
aught that is d~iscreditable. The men
OF the army and the navy, i'm any
great crisis such as even the most
peaceful nation may at times have TO
face, will be those upon whom the
especial responsibility will rest of
keeping the nations honor bright and
unsulfied. They cannot do this If
the nation does not exercise fore
thought on their behalf. We must.
have an adequate navy, and an ade-
quate army in point Of size; they
must be provided with the most ef-
fective mechanism in the world of
weapons and other material; above all
they must be given every chance in
time OF peace to train themselves %
that they may be adopts I'm handling
the mechanism, and be fitted in body
and in mind unfinchingly to endure
the tremendous strain and bear the
tremendous responsibility of war;"
The president here quotes the adj
dress Of Admiral Togo, emitting, he
says, certain illusions having no bear
Ing on our conditions, and concludes
as follows:
Il commend the above address TO
every man who is or may become a
part OF the fighting force OF the United
States. and TO every man who believes
that. If ever. unhappily. war should
come, IL should be so conducted as to
reflect credit upon the American
nation.
lSignedJ
THEODORE ROOSEVELT