The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1906-12-04

shan be above everything else aghtng
man, In the army ln particular ~ ia
not necessary that either the cavalry or
thematical ability. Probably IA b9Nh
schools the best part Of the education is
the high standard OF character and OF
professional morale which Il cOnfers
But in both services there Is urgent
need for the establishment Of a princi-
pie OF selection which VIII eliminate men
after g certain age u they cannot be
and which Will b'sng into the higher
ranks fewer men, and these az an earlier
age This principle OF selection Will be
objected to by good men Of mediocre ca
pacty who are fitted to do well while
young In the lower positions, but who are
not fitted to do wen 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 70 MI should not weigh against the
At present our men, especially In tho
navy, are kept far too long In the junior
grades, and then, at much too advanced
an age, are put quickly thru the Sc
nior grades, often 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 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 ofh-
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 corre-
spending chances to exercise command
over troops under service conditions
The conduct Of the Spanish war showed
extravaganza, and the inetilciency cer-
tain to result, If during peace the high
officials Of the war and navy depart
ments are praised and rewarded only II
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 we're praised
chiefly II they practised economy which
economy, especially m connection with
ical departments was distinctly respon-
sible for most OF the mismanagement
that occurred In the war itself-and par
enthetcally be It observed that the very
people who clamored for the misdirect-
ed economy IN the first place were fore
most TO denounee the mismanagement,
loss, and suffering which were pri-
marily due to this same misdracted econ
volved. There should soon be an in-
crease in the number OF men for our
coast defenses these men should pc oI
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 during the summer just
past has been OF incalculable benent 70
the army and should under no oircum-
stances be discontinued. II on these
practise marches and in these maneu-
vcrs elderly officers prove unable 70 bear
the strain, they should be retired at once,
for the fact Is conclusive as TO their un-
fitness for war; that is, for the only pur-
pose because Of which they should DO
allowed to stay In the service. It is
real misfortune to have scores Of small
company or regimental posts scattered
thruout the country; the army should be
gathered in a few brigade or division
posts; and the generals should be prac-
tsed in handling the men In masses
Neglect to provide for all Of this means
to incur the risk Of future disaster and
disgrace.
VaIue TO the Nufaon.