Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-06

ice, and If the higher officers are given
no chance whatever to exercise and
practice command. For years prior to
the Spanish war the secretaries of war
We're praised chiefly if they practiced
economy, which economy especially in
connection with the quartermaster,
commissary and medical departments,
was directly responsible for most of
the mismanagement that occurred in
the war itself. And parenthetically be
it observed that the very people who
clamored for the misdirected economy
III the first place We're foremost to de-
nounce the mismanagement loss and
/ suffering which were primarily due to
] this same misdirected economy and to
the lack of preparation it involved.
Coast Defense Needs. "a
| There should soon be an increase in
the number of men for our coast de-
lenses. These men should be of the
right type and properly trained, and
| there should therefore be an increase
of pay for certain skilled grades es-
pecially in the coast artillery. Money
should be appropriated to permit
troops to be massed in body and exer-
cised in maneuyers, particularly in
marching. Such exercise during the
summer just past has been of meal
culable benefit to the army and should
under no circumstances be discontin-
ued. II on these practice marches and
in these maneuvers elderly officers
prove unable to bear the strain they
should be retired at once, for the fact
is conclusive as to their unfitness for
war-that is, for the only purpose be-
cause of which they should be allowed
to stay in the service 1t is a real mis-
fortune to have scores of small COM
pany or regimental posts scattered
throughout the country. The army
/ should be gathered in few brigade or
division posts, and the generals should
be practiced in handling the men in
masses. Neglect to provide for all Of
this means to incur the risk Of future
disaster and disgrace.
The readiness and efficiency of both
the army and navy in dealing with the
recent sudden crisis in Cuba illustrate
afresh their value to the nation. This
readiness and efficiency would have
been very much less had it not been
for the existence of the general staff
in the army and the general board in
the navy. Both are essential to the
proper development and use of our mil
itary forces. ,atioat and ashore. The
troops that were sent to Cuba We're
handled fiawlessly. 1t was the swift
est mobilization and dispatch of troops
over sea ever accomplished by our gov
eminent. The expedition landed com
pletely equipped and ready for imme-
diate service, several of it's organiza-
j tons hardly remaining in Havana, over
night before splitting up into detach-
ments and going to their several posts.
1t was fine. demonstration of the
value and efficiency of the'general staff.
Similarly it was owing in large part
to the general board that the navy
was able at the outset to meet the Gu
ban crisis with such instant efficiency,
ship after ship appearing on the short
est notice at any threatened point,
while the marine corps in particular
4 performed Indispensable service The
army and navy war colleges are of in
calculable value to the two services,
and they cooperate with constantly in
creasing efficiency and Importance.
i SHOOTING Galleries Needed
4 The congress has most wisely pro-
vided for national board for the pro-
motion of rifle practice. Excellent re-
suits have already come from this law,
but it does not go far enough. Our
regular army is SO small that in any
great war we should have to trust
mainly to volunteers, and in such
event these volunteers should already
know how to shoot, for if soldier has
the fighting edge and ability to take
care of himself in the open his eff
! cheney on the line of battle is almost
directly proportionate to excellence in
craftsmanship. We should establish
shooting galleries in all the large pub
lie and military schools, should MAIN
tain national target ranges in different
parts of the country and should in
e cry way encourage the formation of
rifle clubs throughout all parts of the
land The little republic of Switzer-
land offers us an excellent example in
all matters connected with building up
an efficient citizen soldiery.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, Dec. 8, 1906.
ADDENJNIV