The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-12-07

shall be above everything else fighting
man. In the army In particular IL is
not necessary that either the cavalry or
infantry officer should have special ma
thematical ability. Probably In both
schools the best part of the education is
the high standard of character and OF
But in both services there is urgent
need for the establishment Of a princi-
pie Of selection which will eliminate men
after certain age IL they cannot be
and which will bring into the higher
ranks fewer men, and these at an earlier
age. This principle of selection will be
objected to by good men of mediocre ca
paoity 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.
m ne d ana OF great responsibility. But
to positions which they are not compe-
tent to fill should not weigh against the
interests OF the navy and the country.
AZ 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 il they are
or real use. being put thru them so
quickly that little benefit to the navy
comes from their having been in them
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 and armored cruisers gath
cred into fleets. This is not true of the
army officers, who rarely have CORE
oyer troops under service conditions.
The conduct of the Spanish war showed
the iamentable loss of lfe,. the useless
extravagance, and the inefficiency GER
tain to result. If during peace the high
officials of the war and navy depart
ments are praised and rewarded only if
they save money at no matter what
cost to the efficiency of the service, and
| If the higher officers are given no chance
| whatever to exercise and practise COM
mand. For years prior to the Spanish
war the secretaries of war were praised
chiefly If they practised economy; which
economy, especially in connection with
| the quartermaster, conimissary and med
lcai departments, was distinctly respon-
that occurred in the war itself-and par
| enthetically be it observed that the very
people who clamored for the misdirect-
ed economy in the first place were fore
loss, and suffering which were pri-
mariy due to this same misdirected econ
omy and to the lack Of preparation it in
yolved There should soon be an in
|
coast defenses; these men should be of
the right type and properly trained; and
there should therefore be an increase of
| cially in the coast artillery. Money
should be appropriated to permit troops
| to be massed in body and exercised in
n,ins particularly in marching:
| past has been of incalculable benefit to
| the army and should under no circum-
stances be discontinued. II on these
afsra
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-
allowed to stay in the service 1t is a
real misfortune to have scores of small
company or regimental posts scattered
thruout the country; the army should be
posts; and the generals should be prac-
tised in handling the men in masses.
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 and navy in dealing with the re-
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 military forces af1oat and
ashore. The troops that were sent to
the swiftest mobilization and dispatch of
troops over sea ever accomplished by
our government. The expedition landed
completely equipped and ready for i'm
tons hardly remaining in Havana over
night before splitting up into detach-
ments and going to their. several posts.
a IT, $50 ,1,y
and efficiency of the general staff. Sim
ilarly, it 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 inn
portance.
, The congress has most wisely provided
for national board for the promotion
of rifle practise. Excellent results have
already come from this law, but it does
is so small that in any great war we
should have to trust mainly to vol
unteers; and in such event these volun-
teers should already know how to shoot;
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 in
every way encourage the formation Of
rifle clubs thruout all parts of the land.
The little republic of Switzerland offers
us an excellent example in all matters
connected with building up an efficient
o'''NA THEoDoRE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, December 3, 1906.
Was Headed For Heaven.