The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-03

the following quotations from the re-
port of the personnel board of 1906, of
which the assistant secretary Of the
navy was president:
Congress has authorized consider
able increase in the number of mid
shipmen at the Naval academy, and
these midshipmen upon graduation are
promoted to ensign and lieutenant Oun-
| ior grade). But no provision has been
| made for corresponding increase In
the upper grades, the result being that
the lower grades will become so con-
gested that a midshipman now In one
OF the lowest classes at Annapolis may
possibly not be promoted to lieutenant
until he is between forty-fve and fifty
years OF age. So il will continue un-
der the present law, congesting at the
top and congesting at the bottom. The
country fails TO get from the officers
of the service the best that Is In them
by not providing opportunity for their
normal development and training. The
board believes that this works a seri-
Gus detriment TO the efficiency of the
navy and Is real menace to the pub
lie safety"
| AS stated In my special message to
the last congress, II am firmly of the
| opinion that unless the present condi-
tion Of the higher commissioned per-
sonnel is rectifed by judicious legisla-
| tion the future OF our navy will be
graveiy compromised. 1t rs ufso ur.
gently necessary to increase the eff
! cheney of the medical corps OF the
navy. Special legislation to this end
has already been proposed, and trust
it may be enacted without delay.
| 1t must be remembered that every
thing done in the navy to fit it TO do
well I'm time of war must he done In
time Of peace. Modern wars are short.
They do not last the length Of time
requisite to build a battleship. and 1t
takes longer to train the officers and
men TO do well on a battleship than it
takes to build ii. Nothing effective
can be done for the navy once war has
begun, and the result of the war, II the
combatants are otherwise equally
matched, will depend upon which pow.
er has prepared best in time of peace.
The United States navy Is the best
guaranty the nation has that its honor
and interest will not be neglected, and
| in addition ii offers by far the best
insurance for peace that can by human
ingenuity be devised.
| call attention TO the report OF the
official board Of visitors to the Naval
I academy at Annapolis. which has been
| forwarded to the congress. The report
contains this paragraphs:
"Such revision should be made of the
| courses of study and methods of con-
Quoting and marking examinations as
will develop and bring out the average
all round ability OF the midshipman
rather than to give him prominence in
any one particular study. The fact
should be kept i'm mind that the Naval
Eacademy is not university, but
school. the primary object of which Is
! to educate boys to be efficient naval Of
| ficers. Changes in curriculum, there
| fore. should be in the direction OF max
| ing the course of instruction less theo-
retical and more practical. No portion
| Of any future class should be gradu'
| ated In advance of the full four years
| course. and under no circumstances
should the standard of instruction be
| lowered. The academy in almost all
! of its departments is now magnificent
| ly equipped, and IL would be very un
wise to make the course of instruction
less exacting than 1t is today
Acting upon this suggestion, desig-
| nfti
Richard Wainwright. Commander Rob
ert S. Griffin and Lieutenant Com
mander Albert l.. Key, all graduates
of the academy, TO investigate condi-
| tions and TO recommend 10 me the
| best method of carrying into effect
| this general recommendation. These
officers performed the duty promptly
and inteligently. and under the per-
sonal direction of Captain Charles j.
Badger, superintendent Of the acad-
envy. such of the proposed changes as
were deemed to be Mt present advis-
| able were put into effect at the begin
| ming of the academic year. Oct. l last.
| The results. ! am. confident, will be
most beneficial to the academy, to the
uQluSulp1ntu dLil W lilt navy.
Foreign Affairs.
In foreign affairs this country's'
steady policy is to behave toward 9th
or nations as q strong and self respect
/ ing man should behave toward the
other men with whom he Is brought
into contact In other words. our aim
is dlslnterestedly TO help other ma
tions where such help can be wisely
given without the appearance OF med
ding with what does not concein us.
to be careful TO act az Il good neigh
Dor and ut the same time in good ma
tured fashion TO make IL evident that
we do not intend to be imposed upon.
The Hague.
The second international peace con-
ference was convened Mt The Hague
On the 18th OF June last ana remained
IL, soec,np until thn flfl ,fL n,y,La..