New-York tribune., 1907-12-04
NEw-YoRk DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1907.

lust as ar other times il should be kept in the
Atlantic. When the isthmian canal IS builr the
transit of the battle feet from one ocean IN the
other Will be comparatively easy Until il !
built / earnestly hope that the battle Ileet viii
be thus shifted between the two oceans every
year or two. The craftsmanship on All our
ships has improved phenomenaily during the
last five years Until within the last tive CT
three years II was not possible 10 train battle
feet in squadron ulanCsuvreS under service con
ditions. and il is only during these lasc two or
three years that the training under these con
ditonS has become really effective. Another
and most necessary stride in advance Is now
being taken. The battle fleet is about starting
by the Straits of Magellan visit the Pacific
coast Sixteen batIleshipS going under the
command of Rear Admiral Evans while eignt
arInored cruisers and two other battlsSEirS VIII
meet him at San Francisco. whittier certain
torpedo destroyerS also going No fleet %
such size has ever made such voyage. and L
viii be OF very great educational use 20 al!
engaged in il. The only way by which "a teach
differs ard men how 10 handle the fleet So a
TO meet every possible strain and emergency III
time OF war is TO have them practise under sim
liar conditions in time OF peace MOTSoVe-. the
only way TO find out cur actual needs * -
perform in time of peace whatever manosuNreS
might be necessary in time OF war. After war
IS declared X is too late 10 find out the needs.
ihat means to invite disaster. This mp to the
Pacific will show what some of cur needs are
and will enable 10 provide for them The
proper place for an officer TO learn his duty Is
az sea. and the only way in which a navy can
ever be made efficient is by practice at sea.
under all the conditions which would nave 10 De
met ii existed
bespeak the most liberal treatment FOR the
officers and enlisted of the navy IL i true
OF them. likewise of the officers and enlisted
men of the army. that they form body whose
interests should be close to the heart ~ every
good American. In return the most rigid per-
formance OF duty should be exGcted from them
The reward should be ample when they do tneir
best: and nothing less than their pest Shcuid he
tolerated. II is idle to hope for the best resulS
when the men in the senior grades come to those
grades late in life and serve too short time in
promotion in the navy should be as now bE
seniority. subject. however. to such rigid tests
would eliminate the unfit. After the grade or
lieutenant commander. that IS. when we come
10 the grade OF command rank. the unfit should
be eliminated in such manner that only the con-
spicuously fit would remain. and sea service
should be a principal test OF fitness. Those who
are passed by should, after 2 certain length o.
service in their respective grades be retired. OF
a given number of men IL may well be that al
most all would make good lieutenants and most
of them good lieutenant commanders, while only
a minority will be fit TO he captains. and but
three four to be admirals. Those who object
promotion otherwise than by mere seniority
should reflect upon the elementary fact that no
business in private life could be successfully
managed if those who enter al the lowest rungs
of the ladder should each in turn. If he lived,
become the head of the firm. its active director.
months On its face such scheme IS an ap-
suriity. Chances for improper favoritiSm can
be minimized by properly formed board: such
as the board of last June. which did Such con-
scientious and excellent work in elimination
II all that ought to be done not now be
done. at least let beginning be made In my
last three annual MESA ges. and in special
message 20 the last Congress. the necessity
for legislation that will cause officers of the
line of the navy TO reach the grades of cap
tain and rear admiral at less advanced ages
and which will cause them 10 have more sea
training and experience in the highly responsi-
bic duties OF those grades. that they may
become thoroughly skilfu in handling battle
ships. divisions, squadronS and fleets in action.
has been fully explained and urgently recon-
ms led subject
the Navy has submitted detailed and definite
recommendations which have received my ap-
proval and which. If enacted into law. will
Complish what is Immediately necessary, and
will. as compared with existing law. make
saving OF more than five millions of dollars
during the next seven years The navy per-
sonnel act OF 1899 has ACCOMPLISHED all that
WAS expected Of it in providing satisfactory
periods of service in the several subordinate
grades from the grade of ensign 20 the grade
of lieutenant commander. but the law IS in
adequate in the upper grades and will continue
10 be Inadequate account of the expansion
of the personnel since its enactment. Your at
tenton is invited to the following quotations
from the report OF the personnel board OF lsto.
of which the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
president
Congress has authorized considerable increase
in the number of midshtpmen at the Naval Acad-
erv. and these midShiDmen upon graduation
promoted to ensign and lieutenant Gunior gradel-
ing fncrease in the uppsr grades the result being
that the lower grades will become SO coIrsested
that midshipmar now IN one OF the lGwes5
classes at Annapolis may possibly not he promoted
f f@ o an s S E Is viii SfWs connge under the
present law. Congesting at the top and congeStuS
@csr~ e ~ thn service the best that is in then,
not providing opportunity for their normal tif
this works serious detriment to the efficiency of
the navy and is real menace 10 the public s2fe'E-
As stated in my special message to the last
Congress. II am firmly OF the opinion that un-
loss the nressnt conditions of the higher COM
rnissioned personnel is rectifed by judicous leg
iSIation the future of our navy Will he sraNeS
r.nrlfl NO
increase the efficiency of the medical corps Oh
the navy. Special legislation TO TINS END mas
already been proposed, and trust u may ["
enacted without delay
II ,,ust ba remembered that everything done
in the navy to III it to do we'll In time OF war
must be done in time of peace Modern wars
are, short: they do not last the length OF time
requisite to build battleship and II taxes iohs
- 10 train the officers and men 10 do wen on q
b;ttleship than it takes to build IL NothihN
effective can be done for the navy once u Wtt
has begun. and the result of the war u the
combatants are otherwise equally matched. VIII
depend upon which power has prepared oeSt
in time of peace. The United States Navy -
tIt, best guarantee the nation has th&t us
honor aud interest will not be neglected and IN
addition il offers by far the best insurance Tor
.eacc that can by human ingenuity l. devised
call attention 10 the report Of the oteia'
board Of visitors the Naval Academy at An
ma polls which has been forwarded 70 the Coh-
csrfsS The report contains this paragraph:
such revision should oe mate OF the courses OF
study aEd methods Of conduc'n@ ld il,r .t rAtilS t
average all round ability OF the rliusAlpin<n rather i
Tban fo rive him prominence in any one partIcu-
iar stud, 'Th. fact should be- Kept n ntns thstt
H.. Navel Academy = not unveTslty but a
school. the primary object Of whicI Is 10 tdu-
,,ta ovs 10 efficient naval officers tI1fiSeS III
,r,trt,,,ip therefore. should he il the dirvctoil
nf making the course of instruction less taeoretlciu
and l.Y, practical No portion "t any future ciiSs
si,ouif 0r graduated in advance OF tn run tour
wears course. and under circumstances Ssoulu
the standard Of instruction be lowered the actG- @
cmv in almost all of its departments = now mag
efficiently tOJli3Ued ard it would ne very unwiSe
In make the course o. instruction less eSact'ns
than IL is to-day.
Acting upon this suggestion | designated
three seagoing officers. Captain ttIchard am
,,-r;pb- I'on3ulande- Robert :. Griffin and Lieu
lt-nrt Z a 3