The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-04
PRESIDENT PROUD OF THE NAVY
Tells OF HIS Experience on Battleships
Missouri and Louisiana.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The enthusiasm
OF President Roosevelt over the American
Navy is shown In a letter he has written to
Secretary OF the Navy Bonaparte, a portion
Of which was made public at the Navy De-
partment to-day. When the President re-
turned from Panama, whittier he went On
the battleship Louisiana, he said he was
greatly impressed with the navy, and his
letter shows il. He also dwells upon his
visit TO the battleship Missouri last sum-
mer, and speaks of the wonderful shooting
with the big guns. The portion OF the
letter as made public follows:
Last summer 1 visited the Missouri to see
the ship actually at target practice. As l
wanted to go over the ship and to take dinner
with the ships crew. and as my time was
limited. / did not see the full practice under
battle conditions, where very remarkable
results have been achieved. But did see
practice, which was not only unheard Of
but would have been thought absolutely
impossible as lately as five years ago, We
! steamed past a target. II feet high and FL
feet broad. at a distance OF about a mile,
Not a shot missed the target. During the
period Of firing we averaged with each 8 inch
gun nine and one-half hits a minute: with
each IL inch gun one hit in about fifty seconds.
On board the Missouri ] took dinner at the
mess Of the men and I saw the bill of fare
ana SOTlbIlIltS tAhullHtu the IOOu " Nv
men every day that l was on the Louisiana
or the West Virginia. A specimen bill Of
fare, neither better nor worse than the aver
age and chosen at random. is as follows:
U. s. s. LOUISIANA, Nov. IS, 1908
MENU.
Breakfast-Baked beans, tomato catsup; bread.
butter. coffee.
Dmner-Roast beef. brown gravy: string beans.
sweet potatoes; cottage pudding. vanilla sauce:
bread, coffee.
Supper-Cold boiled ham; canned peaches:
bread. butter, tee.
This bill Of fare was prepared in accordance
with the new navy ration as enacted into law
at the last session Of Congress.
] also dined on the Louisiana at tho chief
petty officers mess. ! inspected all three
ships most infinitely and | cannot speak too
highly OF the arrangements for the comfort
and clea nliness Of the men.
The exceptional men among the enlisted
men can become commissioned officers.
There Is an opening for a dozen such every
year. Last year there were eight appointed,
Since this method OF appointment OF officers
was begun about five years ago some twenty
five have been thus appointed.
Not only have I been immensely impressed
during the somewhat intimate association |
have had with the enlisted men on the Louisi-
ana, West Virginia and Missouri. with their
fine character and physique. with their ability
in their profession and with their attitude as
self-respectipg American citizens, but l have
been equally impressed with the great ad-
vanta ges a career in the United States Navy
offers to the average s-elf-respectlng young
American. The hygienio conditions on our
ships are able, the men in the vast ma
iority Of cases improving steadily in health
and strength during their time Of enlistment,
and II they are young men the impro vement
year by year Is marked. The food is excellent.
or course it grows monotonous. and now and
then there will be some cause for complaint.
but TO say this is C say what Is true Of any
college or boarding school or hotel.
The men are trained ALI. 70 = yerg hish dsxrss
and self-respect, as the achievement of pro-
fciency in any honorable profession neces-
Of time for elf-improvement. They have a
large library at their command. and ] have
been struck at SEEING sims now Tsa many S OF them
for amusement but also for instruction. I
am informed that i is a common thing for
with the so-called CORRESPONDENCE schools.
which now play a considerable figure in our
The tendency therefore is for the enlisted
man steadily to i'm prove himself while he Is
in the service. he can also rise steadily in his
chances which are open 70 the exceptional man
there is open to the ordinary good man who
is persevering and does his duty the likelihood
OF achieving rank as chief petty offlcer or
warrant officer, bot h of them positions Of real
importance. which II Is an honor TO hold.
Finally, after Nv enty years of service afioat,
the man il given employment on shore, al
naval stations or on receiving ships and after
thirty years the man %retires on threc-fourths
of his enlisted pay, WHICH will aggregate
probably $40 a month. This means that a
mar who has entered at 20 can at 50 retire with
A pension OF 5000 a year. | doubt II the
average enlisted mans brother or cousin who
has stayed in civil life il as well on at the
corresponding age or as well able to take care
of his " lie and children, an d certainly no class
OF our citizens Of any kind produces a higher
grade of citizenship than is to be found in those
who man the ships of the national navy.
On my return from Panama we put the
Louisiana up to a speed of lsI knots, a half
knot better than her contract speed. The
Tenpeesee. our consort. was then using but
ten boilers and yet with the greaest ease she
came up alongside rs at will: abe ALSO can no
ever her contract sPeed: vsry truly youfs.