The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-03

fact; yet seemingly It has already been
forgotten, for not the slightest effort
has been made to prepare a medical
corps of sufficient size to prevent the
repetition of the same disaster on
much larger scale II we should ever be
engaged in a serious conflict.
But the medical department is not the
only department for which increased pro-
vision should be made. The rate of pay
for the officers should be greatly in
creased: there is no higher type of citizen
than the American regular officer and he
should have a fair reward for his adj
mirable work. There should be a rela-
lively even greater increase in the pay for
the enlisted men. An especial provision
should be made for establishing grades
equivalent to those Of warrant officers in
the navy. which should be open to the
enlisted mer who serve sufficiently long
and who do their work well. Inducements
should be offered sufficient to encourage
really good men to make the army life
occupation. The prime needs of our pres
ent army is to secure and retain compe-
tent noncommissioned officers. This diff
Guilty rests fundamentally on the ques-
ton of pay. The noncommissioned officer
does not correspond with unskilled Ia
borer; he corresponds to the best type of
skilled workman to the subordinate
official in civil institutions. Wages have
greatly increased in outside occupations
IN the last 40 years and the pay of the
soldier, like the pay OF the officers. should
be proportionately increased. The first
sergeant OF a company, If a good man,
must be one of such executive and adj
ministrative ability, and such knowledge
of his trade, to be worth far more than
we at present pay him. The same is true
Of the regimental sergeant major. These
men should be men who had fully re-
solved to make the army life occupa-
ton and they should be able to look for
ward TO ample reward; while only men
properly qualified should be given a
chance to secure these Anal rewards. The
increase over the present pay need not
be great in the lower grades for the first
one or two enlistments but the increase
should be marked for the noncomHis-
stoned officers of the upper grades who
serve long enough to make it evident that
they intend to stay permanently IN the
army. while additional pay should be
given for high qualifications in target
/ practice.
Among the officers there should be
severe examinations to weed out the
unfit up to the grade Of major. From
that position on appointments should
be solely by selection and ii should DC
understood that q man OF merely aF
erage capacity could never get beyond
the position OF major. while every man
who serves in any grade a certain
| the next grade without getting lAe
/ promotion to the next grade shouIo Do
/ forthwith retired"
President Sees Need OF
/ Largely Increased Navy.
The president asks for CONTINUOUS
/ increase in the navy. and asks present
! congress for appropriations TOT 4ou1
new battleships. and says.
We need always 20 REMEMBER thae
/ IN time OF war the navy IS not 70 oe
used to defend harbors and sea-coas.
! cities; we should perfect our system q
coast fortihcations. The only efAicLsht
use for the navy is for ohense. me
! only way in which II can efncientiy pro
/ tect our own coast against the possl DIE
action Of a foreign navy IS oy destroy
I ing that foreign navy FOR oelehse
against a hostile feet which actually
/ attacks them. the coast cities must de-
/ pend upon their forts. mines. torpedoes.
/ submarines and torpedo boats ana de-
stroyers All OF these together are et-
/ hcient for defensive purposes. but Trey
in no way supply the place Of thor
oughly efficient navy capable OF acting
on the Offensive; for parrying never yet
/ won q fight Il can only be Won by
| hard hitting and an aggressive sea-go-
ing navy alone can do this hard hitung