The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1906-12-15

shall be above everything else a fighting
man. In the army IN particular u u
not necessary lhal either The cavalry o.
Infantry officer should have special ma
schools the best part Of the education is
the high standard OF character and OF
professional morale which it confers.
But In both services there Is urgent
need for the establishment or a princi-
PIC Of selection which viii eliminate men
after a certain age II they cannot be
promoted from the subordinate ranks,
and which will bring into the higher
ranks fewer men, n these at an earlier
age. This principle of selection VIII be
objected to by good men OF mediocre ca
pacity who are fitted to do we'll while
young In the lower positions, but who are
not fitted to do well when at an advanced
age they come into positions OF COM
mand and of great responsibility. But
the desire OF. these men to be promoted
to positions which they are not compe-
tent to fill should not weigh against the
interests OF the navy and the county.
At present our men, especially IN the
navy. are kept far too long In the junior
grades, and then, at much too advanced
an age, are put quickly thru the Sc
Nor grades, often not attaining to these
be OF real use In them; and II they are
Of real use, being put thru them so
quickly that little benefit to the navy
comes from their having been in them
at all.
The navy has one great advantage
over the army In the fact that the off,
GERS OF high rank are actually trained
In the continual performance of their du-
ties; that is, in the management Of the
battleships ard a-aaored cruisers gath
cred into fleets. This is not true of the
army officers, who rarely nave CORE
spoAGi1s chances to exercise command
The co.dCc. Of the Spanish wal showed
the iarleltanle loss Of life. the useless
extravaganza, and tie ine.lclency GER
tain 20 res-,t, If drr,nS peece the high
one,o.s OF the wer and navy depart
nants ere PRAISED ard rewarded only IL
Key save money at no matter what
cast to tho efficiency OF the service, and
K The higher officers are givcp 10 chance
v:ctever TO exercise and p~ractise COM
'2'rd. For years prior to the Spanish
war the secretaries of war were praised
Ca.cry il lnoy pcaclised economy; which
o"O1omJ. &C. ec'cl.y in connection with
no quarter master, commis5ary and med
0@l departments, was distinctly respon-
sible for most Of the m-isnanagement
that occurred in the war itself-and par
enthetically be it observed that the very
people who clamored for the misdirect-
cd economy in the first place were fore
most to denounce the Acknowledgement,
loss, and suffering which were pri-
marily due to this same INSTRUCTED econ
omy and to the lack of preparation it in
volved. There should soon be an in
crease in the number of men for our
coast %defenses; these men should be OF
the right type and properly trained; and
there should therefore be an increase Of
pay for certain skilled grades, espe-
oially in the coast artillery. Money
should be appropriated to permit troops
to be massed In body and exercised IN
maneuvers, particularly in marching.
Such exercise during the summer lust
past has been Of inoalculable benefit to
the army and should under no oiroum-
stances be discontinued. II on thAaa
pracuse marches and in these maneu-
vers elderly officers prove unable to bear
the strain, they should be retired at once,
for the fact is conclusive as to their I'M
fitness for war; that is, for the only pur-
pose because OF which they should be
allowed to stay in the service. 1t is a
real misfortune to have scores of small
company or regimental posts scattered
turnout the country the army should be
gathered in a few brigade or division
posts; and the generals should be prac-
Neglect to provide for all of this means
to incur the risk Of future disaster and
disgrace.
Value to the Nation.
The readiness and efficiency Of both the
army n navy in dealing with the re-
cent sudden crisis in Cuba illustrates
afresh their value to the nation. This
readiness n efficiency would have been
very much less had 1t not been for the
60lSlCuCt Ol llt GENERAL bIdI IN the army
and the general board in the navy; both
are essential to the prope development
and use Of our military forces afioat and
ashore. The troops hat were sent to
Cuba were handled fawlessly. 1t was
the swiftest mobilization n dispatch Of
troops over sea ever accomplished by
our government. The expedition landed
completely equipped and ready for Inn
mediate service, several of its organiza-
tons hardly remaining in Havana over
night before splitting up into detach-
ments and going to their several posts.
Il was a fine demonstration OF the valor
and efficiency of the general staff. Sim
ilarly, 1t was owing in large part to the
general board that the navy was able
at the outset to meet the Cuban CRISIS
with such instant efficiency; ship after
ship appearing on the shortest notice at
any threatened point, while the marine
corps in particular performed indispens-
able service. The army and navy war
colleges are of incalculable value to the
two services, and they cooperate with
constantly increasing efficiency and I'M
portance.
The congress has most wisely provided
for a national board for the promotion
of rifle practise. Excellent results have
already come from this law, but 1t does
not go far enough. Our regular army
is so small hat in any great war we
should have TO trust mainly to vol
u%nteers; and in such event these volun-
teers should already know how to shoot;
for If a soldier has the fighting edge,
and ability to take care Of himself in
the open, his efficiency on the line Of
battle is almost directly proportionate to
excellence in craftsmanship. We should
establish shooting galleries in all the
large public and military schools, should
maintain national target ranges in differ
ent parts Of the country, and should iq
every way encourage the formation OF
rifle clubs turnout all parts Of the land.
The little republic Of Switzerland offers
us an excellent example In all matters
citizen soldiery.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, December 3, 1906.
Was Headed For Heaven.
Some years ago the Hon. Elijah