The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-12-04

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man. II the army in particular It IS
not Necessary that either the cavalry or
Infantry of1cer should have special ma
schools the hesf part of the education Is
the high standard Of character and OF
professional morale which Il conferz
But In both services there = ~ gent
need fer the establishment Of a princi-
pie 81 selection which viii eliminate men
aIter 3 certain age II they cannot be
promoted from the subordinate ranks.
ranks leNer men, and these At an earlier
age ms principle Of selection viii be
objected % BY good men Of mediocre ca
paelky who are ntled 20 do well while
young n the lower positions. but who are
not litted 10 do vel when al an advanced
age they come into positions OF COM
mand ana OF great responsibility But
kne desire Of these men 70 be promoted
% positions which they are not eompe-
tent % MI should not weigh against the
interests OF The navy and the country
Al present our men, especially In the
nay. 'l.a ~ are Kept Tar TOO long IN the junior
grades, and then. at much too advanced
an age. are put quickly thru the se-
MGR grades. ofIen not attaining to these
senior grades until they are too old to
be OF real use IN them; and II they are
Of real use, being put thru them 80
quickly that little benefit 10 the navy
comes from their having been IN them
The navy has one great advantage
over the army in the fact that the ofii-
GERS OF high rank are actually trained
n the continual Performance Of their du-
ues; that Is IN the management OF the
Dattleshtps and armored cruisers gath
cred into fleets This Is not true OF the
army officers, who rarely have corre-
spending chances TO exercise command
The conduct Of the Spanish war showed
the Iamentabie loss OF life, the useless
extravaganza and the Inefflclency GER
tain 70 result II during peace the high
Il slF fnn
ments are praised and rewarded only II
they save money at no matter what
cost 70 the efficiency OF the service, and
II the higher officers are given no chance
whatever % exercise and practise COM
mand. For years prior to the Spanish
war the secretaries OF war were praised
chiefly II they practised economy which
economy especially IN connection with
ical departments. was distinctly respon-
sible for most Of the msmanagement
that occurred IN the war itself-and par
people who clamored for the mlsdirect-
ed economy in the first place were fore
most 10 den0unce the acknowledgement,
loss. and suffering which We're pri-
marlly due to this same misdirected econ
omy and 70 the lack Of preparation Il IN
volved. There should soon be an In
crease In the number OF men for our
the right type and properly trained; and
there should therefore be an increase Of
pay for certain skilled grades. espe-
cially 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 du'lng the summer just
past has been OF incalculable benefit 10
the army and should under no circum-
stances be discontinued. II on these
practise marches and in these maneu-
vers elderly officers prove unable 70 bear
the strain, they should be retired at once,
f4s. aafN u ~ hair nm
fitness for war: that Is, for the only pur-
pose because OF which they should be
allowed to stay in the service. IL Is
real misfortune @ have scores Or small
thruout the country: the army should be
gathered In a few brigade OF division
posts; and the generals should be prac-
ssd Hssedt Z q pro1e es os al men q this msSns
70 Incur the risk OF future disaster and
disgrace.
Value 20 the Nation.
The readiness and efficiency Of both the
army and navy IN dealing with the re-
cent sudden crisis In Cuba illustrates
afresh their value to the nation. This
readiness and efficiency would have been
very much less had L not been for the
existence Of the general stan In the army
and the general board in the navy: both
are essential TO the proper development
and use Of our military forces afioaf ana
Cuba were handled nawlessly. Il was
the swiftest mobilization and dispatch OF
troops over sea ever accomplished BY
our government The expedition landed
completely equipped and ready for i'm
mediate service, several Of its organiza-
tions hardly remaining In Havana over
night before splitting up into detach-
ments and going 10 their several posts.
Il was a fine demonstration OF the vaior
and efficiency OF the general stan. Sim
Ilarly, II was owing in large part TO the
general board that the navy was able
AZ the outset to meet the Cuban crisis
with such instant efficiency: ship after
ship appearing on the shortest notice az
any threatened point, while the marine
Corps IN particular performed indirpens-
able service. The army and navy war
colleges are Of incalculable value 10 the
two services. and they cooperate with
constantly increasing efficiency and I'M
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 Il does
not go far enough. Our regular army
should have to trust mainly to vol
unteers; and In such event these voiun-
teers should already know how 10 shoot;
for II a soldier has the fighting edge.
and ability. 10 take care of himself Y
battle Is almost directly proportlonate g
excellence in Workmanship. We should
establish shooting galleries in all the
large public and military schools, snoulu
maintain national target ranges IN diner-
ent parts Of the country, and should in
every way encourage the formation Of
rife clubs thruout all parts OF the iand.
The little republic OF Sw1tzerland offers
us an excellent example In all matters
connected with building up an eincient
0'''Ae" 18Th ;Ti1H5EoDoRE ROOSEVELT.