The Washington times., 1907-12-03

cient navy capable OF acting on the
onensive; for parrying never yer won
light. II can only be won by nara
hitting, and an aggressive sea-going navy
alone can do this hard hitting OF the
offensive type. But the forSs and the
IKE are necessary so that the Navy may
be footloose. In time of war there is
sure to be demand, under pressure OF
fright for the ships TO be scattered
so as TO defend Sll kind OF ports. I'm
der penalty OF terrible disaster, this
demand must be refused.
The ships must be kept together, ana
their objective made the enemies fleet.
If tortiticatiOns are sufficiently strong,
10 modern navy will venture to attack
/ them, so long as the foe has in eX-
istence a hostile navy or anything Ike
the SINE size or efficiency. But unless
there exists such navy then the fOrti-
fcations are pOwerless by themselves
70 secure the victory. For, OF course.
the mere deficiency means that any
resolute enemy can at his leisure COM
6ine all his forces upon one point with
me certainty that he can take it.
Hopes to See Fleet Shifted.
The craftsmanship on all our ships
mas improved phenomenally during the
last FIVE years. Until within the last
Two or three years II was not possible
TO train battle feet in squadron ma
LsuVerS uader service conditions, and
II is only during these last two or three
tdi , llidL lAle training unueT these con-
dtions has become really effective.
Another and most necessary stride in
advance IS now being taken. The battle
heet Is about starting by the Straits OF
Magellan to visit the Pacific coast Six
teen battleships are going under the
command of Rear Admiral Evans, while
eight armOred cruisers and two other
batdeships Will meet him at San Fran
ers are also going. No feet OF such size
has ever made such a voyage, and it
Will be or very great educational use 10
an engaged In II. The only way by
which TO teach officers and men how 10
handle the feet so as to meet every
possible strain and emergency in time
of war is TO have them practice under
similar conditions In time Of peace.
actual needs is TO perform in time OF
peace whatever maneuvers might 0e
necessary In time OF war. After war Is
declarded II is too late to find out the
needs; that means to invite disaster.
This trip TO the Pacific will show wha.
some OF opr nee as are and Will enable US
20 provide for hem. The proper place
for an officer 20 learn his duty is at
sea, and the only way in which a navy
can ever be made efficient Is by prac-
t1Ce at sea. under all the conditions
which would have to be met If war ex-
listed
Asks Liberal Treatment far Navy.
I bespeak the most LIBERAL treatment
for the oIscers and enlisted men Of the
navy. 1t is true of them. as likewise OF
the officers and enlisted nlen OF the
army, that they form a body whose In
rerests should be close TO the heart OF
every good American. In return the
most rigid performance Of duty should
be exacted from them. The reward
should be ample when they do their
best, and nothing less than their best
should be tolerated. 1t is idle 10 hope
for the best results when the men IN
the senior grades come TO those grades
late in life and serve too short a time
IN them.
Up 20 the rank or Lieutenant com.
mander promotion in the navy should
be as now. by seniority, subject how
ever, to such rigid tests as would elm
mate the unfit. After the grade OF lieu
tenant commander, that is, when we
come 10 the grade OF command rank,
the unit should be eliminated i,l such
manner that only the conspicuolsly IN
would remain. and sea service should
be a principal test of fitness. Those
who are passed by should. after a GER
tain length of service in their respective
grades. be retired. or a given number
Of men 1t may we'll be that almost All
would make good iieutenants and most
OF mem good lieutenant commanders,
while only minority Will be 1T 10 be
captains, ard but three or four TO be ad-
mirals.
Those who object to promotion other
wise than by mere seniority should re-
fleet upon the elementary fact that no
business In private life could be suo-
cessfully managed II those who enter
at the lowest rungs OF the ladder should
eac9 IN s1rn, II ne lived, become the
head Of ti:G firm, its active director, and
retire afr-T he had held the position a
few nonIhS. on !ts face such a scheme
Is an aosurdity. Chances for improper
favoritism can be ninimize5 by a prop
erly formed board; such as the board OF
last June, which did such conscientious
and excellent work IN elm nation
If al that ought to be done cannot
be done, at least let a beginning be
made. In my last three annual mes
sages, and in a special message to the
last Congress, the necessity for, legisla-
ton 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 VIII cause them 70
have more sea training and experience
In the highly responsible duties Of those
oughly skillful I'm handling battleships.
divisions, sQuadrOns, and fleets in ac-
ton, has been fully explained and urE-
emily recommended.
Upon this subject the Secretary of the
Navy has submitted detailed and def
mite recommendations which have re-
celSed my approval, anG which, II en-
acted into law, Will accomplish what IS
Immediately necessary, and will, as
compared --rith existing law, make a
saving Of more than five millions Of
dollars during the next seven years.
The navy personnel act Of 1888 has ac-
complished all that was expected OF IL in
providing satisfactory periods of serv-
ice In the several subordinate grades.
from the grade Of ensign to the grade
of lieutenant commander. but the law
is inadequate In the upper grades. and
viii continue to be inadequate on ac-
count Of the expansion Of the personnel
since its enactment.
Report of Personnel Board.
Your attention is invited to the fol-
lowing quotations from the report OF
the personnel board of 1895. Of which
the Assistant Secretary Of the Navy
uraq rnreefdnlnf.