Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-12-06

] SNNNy Va OOths VI NuC utlStdkS dS well
as OF the success. For this purpose
nothing could be more instructive than
a rational study OF the war of 1912 as
1t is told, for instance. by Captain
Mahan. There was only one way In
which that war could have been avoid
ed. r during the preceding twelve
years a navy relatively as strong as
that which this country now has had
been built up and an army provided
relatively as good as that which the
country now has. there never would
have been the slightest necessity OF
lighting the war. and II the necessity
had arisen the war would under such
circumstances have ended with our
speedy and overwhelming triumph.
But our people during those twelve
years refused to make any prepare
tons whatever regarding either the
army OF the navy. They saved mill
lion or two Of dollars by so doing and
in mere money paid hundredfold for
each million they thus saved during
the three years OF war which followed
"a war which brought untold suffering
upon our people, which at one time
threatened the gravest national disas-
ter and which, in spite Of the necessity
Of waglng 1t. resulted merely In what
was In effect a drawn battle, while the |
balance OF defeat and triumph was al |
most even.
do not ask that we continue to In |
crease our navy. ask merely that /
1t be maintained at It's present
strength. and this can be done only II
we replace the obsolete and outworu
ships by, new and good ones. the
equals Of any aaoat In any navy. To
stop buildings ships for one year
means that for that year the navy
goes back instead of forward. The old
battleshlp Texas. for Instance, would
now be Of little service In a standup
fight with powerful adversary. The
old double turret monitors have out
worn their usefulness. while II was a
waste Of money to build the modern
single turret monitors. All these ships
should be replaced by others. and this
can be done by a well settled pro-
gramme Of providing for the building
each year Of at least one first class
battleshlp equal in size and speed to
any that any nation Is at the same
time building. the armament presum-
ably to consist OF as large n number
as possible OF very heavy guns OF one
callber together with smaller guns TO
repel torpedo attack. while there [
should be heavy armor, turbine en-
gines and. In short, every modern de. Z
vice. or course from time 20 time I
cruisers, collIers torpedo boat destroy o
srs or torpedo boats will have TO be y
Jullt also. All this, be II remembered. s.
would not increase our navy. but h
would merely keep II at its present G
strength. Equally. OF course. the ships n
Will be absolutely useless II the men q
aboard them are not so trained that G.
hey can get the best possible service u
,ut OF the formidable but delicate and u
mechanisms lntrusted 10 n
heir care. The craftsmanship OF our n
nen has so improved during the last VI
I've years that deem II within bounds Is
o say that the navy II more than W
vice as efficient, ship for ship. as half g,
decade ago. The navy can only at. "a
ain proper efficiency II enough officers n
nd men are provided and n these ~
Ulcers and men are given the chance IN
md required 10 take advantage Of 10 ID
D stay continually az Sea and TO exer. al
lse the fleets slngiy and above all In IN
quadron. the exercise 10 be Of every m
ind and to include unceaslng practice IN
{ the guns conducted under cOndi. az
ons that will test Workmanship In
me OF war. IN
Maintain Hish STANDARD. ~
In both the army and the navy there ~
urgent need that everything possible -
lOuld be done 20 maintain the highest -
andard for the personnel alike ~ re- ~
lrds the officers and the ealisted men. :.
DO not believe that IN any service -
lers Il finer body OF enlisted men y.
ID Of junior oficcrs than We have IN -
TN the army and the navy. ineluding -
Ie marine corps All possible enoour. -.
,ement 90 the enlisted men should be
ven IN pay and otherwise and every. -
ing practicable done 10 render the -
rvice attractive 20 men % the nEht -
Pc They shOud b. heid 20 the 90
rictest discharge Of their duty. and 10 uel
en- q spirit should hs encouraged his
hlch demands not the mere perform. 70
lce % dufy. bot the performances q
r more than duty n u oonducea 90 "a
e honor and ths infsres; o. TIE Amer. a'n
IN nafion. and in return fhe auplest ~