Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-12-03
his forces upon one point with tho
certainty that he can take 20.
KEEP FLEET TOGETHER.

hthcN DC speedily united. our coast
line is ON tho Pacific just ass much as
| on tho Atlantic. Tho interests 81
California oregon. aud Washington
are gs cmphaticallv The interests 81
The whole Union ne those of Maine
aud New York, OF Louisiana aud Tex
az. The battle fleet should now and
then Doc moved 20 tho Pacific. just as
az other times u should be- Kept n
inc Atlantic. Whom tnC isthmlan
canal is built tho transit of the battle
fleet from one ocean to the other win
Zoe comparatively easy. Until 70 Be-
built, ] earnestly hope that the battle
hcot VIII Doe thus shifted between the
TWO oceans every year or two. The
mnrksmgpshlp IN am our qhfps has
improved phanomcunliy during tho
last five years. Until within the last
Two or three years 10 was not possible
90 train "a battle fleet BOO squadron
mencuVcrs under scrvic. conditions.
and 1T Is only during those last :wo
on three years III the training under
thcae conditions has boon really rf-
icctlNc. Another ana most necessary
stride in advance is now being taken.
VOYAGE OF THE BATTLE FLEET.
The battle fleet is about starting
by the Straits OF Magellan Co visit
the Pacific coast sixteen battleshlps
are going undar the command of
armorcd cruisers and .wo other battle
ships win meet him az san Francis sd.
whittier certain torpedo dcstroyors
are also going. 40 fleet of such size
his ever made such voyage. and it
VIII be Of very great educational use TO
an engaged Ia It, Tho only way by
which to teach officers and men how
t. handle the feet so as To- meet every
possible strain and emergency in time
Of war is 90 have them practise under
similar conditions IN time Of peace.
Moreover. the only way To- find out our
actual needs is TO perform in time Il
peace whatever mancuVers might be
necessary in time of war. After war
Is declared IL Is too late TO find nut
the needs. that M sans to- invite dis-
aster This trip 20 the Pacific win
show what some Of 1ur needs are ana
will enable us To provide them Tho
proper place for an officer to learn his
duty is az sea, and he only way in
which navy can ever be made eftici-
cnt is by practise az sea. under all The
conditions which would have 20 be
met IL war existed.
AS TO PROMOTIONS.
bespeak the most liberal treatment
Ioi the officers and enlisted men OF
the navy IL is true OF them. as
likewise of the officers and enlisted
men OF the army, that they form
body whose interests should be close
o. The heart OF every good American.
I'm return the most rigid pcrf6lmauS
of duty should be cxactcd from
them. The reward should be ample
when they do their best; and nothing
less than their best should be tOlora--
ed. To IS idle 90 hope for the best
results when the men iu the senior
Grades come TO ,h0sc grades late in
lie and serve TOO short "a time IN
commander promotion IN the navy
should be as now, 10y seniority. SUBJ
jcct however 20 such rigid tests as
would eliminate the unfit After the
grade OF lieutenant commander, that
Is, when we come 90 the grade OF COM
mand rank the unit should be elm
mated iu such manner that only the
conspicuOusly at would remain. and
sea service should 5e principal test
OF fitness. Those who are passed by
should, after "a certain length of SER
vice In their respective grades, be re-
tired. OF a given number Of men IL
may Well be that almost an would
make good lieItenauts and most 4
them Lieutenant commanders, whil0
only a minority viii be az 10 be cap
tains. and but three or four 90 ne
admirals. Those vino object TO pro-
motion otherwise than by mere sem
forty should reflect upon the element
NIA IANI IllNN 10 business III lNlhAAN
life could be successfully managed /
IL those who enter at the lowest
rungs Of the ladder should each I'm
turn. IL he lived, become the head Of
the nrm. its ALIVE director. and retire
after he had held the position a few
months. on its face such a scheme |
Is an absurdlty. Chances for inn |
by a properly formed board. such as |
the board OF last June which did such /
CO nscientous ana excellent work in /
elimination.
MAKE A BEGINNING.
II all that ought 10 be done can not /
now be done. at least let a beginning DO /
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 90 reach the grades OF /
captain and roar-admiral az less adj
yanced aga ana which viii cause them 1
20 have more sea training and expert
ence I'm the highly responsible duties 1
Of those grades. So that they may be-
come thoroughly skillful in handling /
battleships divisions, squadrous, and
fleets in action, has been fully eN-
planned and urgently recommended.
Upon this subject the secretary Of the
navy has submitted detailed and def
mite recommendation which have re-
ceived my approval. and which. Il en-
acted into law, viii accomplish what
Is Immediately necessary. aud will. a. /
compared with existing law. mako /
saving OF more than S. 600 600 durmr /
The next seven years The navy per-
sonnet act Of 1893 has accomplished an |
That WAS expected OF it in providing /
periods OF service In the
several subordinate grades, from the
grade OF ensign 90 the grade ~ lieu-
.onant-commander, but the law is in
adequate IN the upner grades aud Will !
continue 90 be Inadequate ON account
lf tho expansion of the personnel since |
ts enactment. Your attention is in
itcd 10 the following quotations from
boz report of the personnel board OF
1000. of which the assistant secretary
pr the navy was president.
Congress has authorized a. c0nsid- !
'rahle Increase iu HE number OF mid
hipmen Ht the naval academy. aud
hose midsh.pmeu upon graduation are
promoted 10 ensign ana Lieutenant 0u-
li0r-grade) But no provision has been
made for corresponding increase in
he upper grades. the result being that l
he lower grades will become SO con-
,esied that a midshipmau now in one
lf the lowest classes al Annauolls may
possibly not Do promoted 90 lieutenant !
lntl he is between i5 and G0 wears Of
zee. So a. win continue under the l
present law cougeFtiuE M the top ana
'uurCstirE at the bottom. The country /
dIls Co got from the officers of the ser-
-lco the best that is lu them hy not |