Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-03-01

President Has Had Address PrOmul-
gated to Army and Navy.
NECESSITY or CONSTANT PROGRESS.
EAe AdmiRal Cites Ancient and
nrodern Incidents to Show That
Perpetual Preparedness Il
W the Price Of sueCess.

washington, Feb. 42S.-Presiden'
Roosevelt has addressed to the secre'
fafy Of war who has promulgated the
same in a general order, letter re-
citing the achievements Of the Japa'
nese admiral, Togo, during the late wal
betWeen Japan and Russia and
repeating for the benefit Of American
soldiers and sailors the address issued
BY the admiral upon the conclusion Of
the war. The point Of the presidents
BETTER Is the necessity Of keeping the
personnel Of the army and navy at the
highest pitch in time Of peace In order
% be prepared for war.
The portion Of the address Of ADJ
miral Togo quoted by the president
follows:
"Thc war Of 20 months duration
n now a thing Of the past, and our
united squadron, having completed
it's functions, Is to be herewith dis
persed. But our duties as laval men
are not at all lightened for that rea-
SON. TO preserve in perpetuity the
fruits of this war, to promote to evcr
greater height Of prosperity the for
tunes Of the country the navy, which,
irrespective Of peace or war. has to
stand between the empire and shocks
from abroad, must always maintain
it, strength at sea and must be pre-
pared to meet any emergency. This
strength does not consist solely IN
ships and ornaments, 1t consists also
in material ability to utilize such
agents. When we understand that
one gun scores 100 per cent Of hits
h q match for 100 Of the enemy's
guns, each Of which scores only ! per
cent, It becomes evident that we
sailors must have recourse before ev-
erything to the strength which Is
over and above externals. The tri'
umphs recently won by our navy are
largely to be attributed to the habit
nal training which enabled US to
garner the fruits Of the fighting. II,
then, we infer the future from the
past, we recognize that though war
may cease we cannot abandon our
selves to ease and rest.
a soldiers whole life ia one contin-
nous and nnceasing battle, and there
ii no reason why his responsibilities
should vary with the state Of the times.
n days Of crisis he has to display his
strength; n days Of peace 70 accumu-
late II th1s perpetually discharging
his ddilos 70 the full. II men calling
themselves sailors grasp at the pleas
slirau Of peace, they will learn the les-
ron that however fine in appearance
tkfIr engines Of war, those like house
btilt on the sand will fall at the first
approach Of the storm.
When IN ancient times we conquered
Korea, that country remained over 400
years under our control, only to DO
lost Immediately so soon as our navy
declined. Again when under the sway
Of the Tolugawa in modern days our
armaments were neglected, the coming
Of a few American ships threw US into
distress. On the other hand, the Brit
ish navy, which won the battles Of the
Nile and Of Trafalgar not only made
as secure as q great mountain.
but also by thenceforth carefully main
tanning its strength and keeping II on
a level with the worlds progress has
that country's interests
ana promoted Its lUrrunes.
For such lessons, whether ancient or
modern, occidental or Oriental, though
to some extent they are the outcome Of
political happenings, must DO regarded
as in the main the natural result Of
whether the soldier remembers war in
the day Of peace. We naval men who
have survived the war must plan fn-
ture developments and seek not to fan
behind the progress Of the time. If
keeping the instructions Of our .eover-
eign ever craven on our hearts we
serve earnestly and diligently and put
ting forth our full strength await what
the hour may bring forth, We shall
then have discharged our great duty
of perpetually guarding our country,
"Toeo HeIhachiros