The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-03

three years that the training under
these conditions has become really
erective. Another and most neces-
sary stride in advance is now being
taken. The battle fleet is about start
ing by the Straits of Magellan to visit
the Pacific coast. Sixteen battleships
are gong under the command or
Rear Admiral Evans, while eight ar
mored cruisers and two other battle
ships Will meet him at San Francisco,
whittier certain torpedo destroyers are
also going. No fleet of such size has
ever made such a voyage, and it will
be of very great educational use to
all engaged in it. The only way by
which to teach officers and men how
to handle the fleet so as to meet every
possible strain and emergency in time
OF war is to have them practice I'M
der similar. conditions in time of
peace. Moreover, the only way to find
out our actual needs is to perform in
time of peace whatever maneuvers
might be necessary in time of war. At
ter war is declared it is too late to
find out the needs; that means to in
vite disaster. This trip to the Pacific
will show what some of our needs are
and Will enable us to provide for
them. The proper place for an officer
to learn his duty Is at sea. and the
only way in which navy can ever be
made efficient is by practice at sea,
under all the conditions which would
nave to be meteif war existed.
I bespeak the most liberal treatment
for the officers and enlisted men of
the navy. 1t is true of them, as like
wise of the officers and enlisted men
of the army, that they form a body
whose interests should be close to the
heart of every good American. In re-
turn the most rigid performance of
duty should be exacted from them.
The reward should be ample when
they do their best; and nothing less
hAf hos hA fa1o fA1
is idle to hope for the pest results
when the men in the senior grades
come up to those grades late in life and
serve too short time in them. Up to the
ton in the navy should be as now. by
seniority, subject, however, to such
rigid tests as would eliminate the I'M
fit. After the grade Of lieutenant
commander, that is. when we come to
the grade of command rank, the I'M
fit should bG eliminated in such man
ner that only the conspicuously fit
would remain. and sea service should
be a principal test of fitness. Those
who are rassed by should. after GER
tive grades. be retired. OF a given
number of men it may we'll be that al
most all would make good lieutenants
and most of them good lieutenant
commanders, while only minority
will be fit to be captains, and but three
or four to be admirals. Those who
object to promotion otherwise than by
mere seniority should reflect upon the
elementary fact that no business in
private life could be successfully man
aged if those who enter at the lowest
rungs of the ladder should each in
turn, If he lived. become the head of
the firm. its active director. and retire
after he had held the position a few
months. On it's face such a scheme is
an absurdity. Chances for improper
favoritism can be minimized by a
properly formed board; such as the
board of last June. which did such
conscientious and excellent work in
elimination. 80
If all that ought to be done can not
now be done, at lease let beginning be
made. In my last three annual mes
sages. and IN asspeeial message to the.
lact congress, the necessity for. legis-
lation that will cause officers of the
line of the navy to reach the grades
Of captain and rear-admirals at less
advanced ages and which will cause
them to have more sea training and
experience in the highly responsible
duties of those grades, so that they
may become thoroughly skillful in
| handling battleships, divisions, squad
rons. and fleets in action, has been full
ly explained and urgently recon-
| mended. Upon this subject the sec
rotary of the navy has submitted de-
tailed and definite atoms
which have received my approval and
complish what is Immediately neces-
sary, and will, as compared with ex-
isting law. making saving of more
than five millions of doI1ars during the
next seven years. The navy person
me- 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 to the grade of lieu
| tenant-commander, but the law is in
| ADEQUATE
will continue to be inadequate on ac-
| count of the expansion of the person
| mel since it's enactment. Your atten-
| ton is invited to the following quota
| tons from the report of the personnel
| board of 1906 of; which the assistant
secretary of the navy was president:
Congress has authorized a con-
siderable increase in the number of
midshipmen at the national academy,
and these midshipmen upon gradua--
! ton are promoted to ensign and lieu
| tenant (junfor-grade). But no pro-
vision has been made for CORES
ponding increase in the upper grades,
| the result being that the lower grades
| will become SO congested that a mid
| shlDman now in one of the lowest
| classes at Annapolis may possibly not
be promoted to lieutenant until he
| is between As and so years of age. So
| it will continue under 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 tlfeir normal develop
ment and training. The board be-
| 1ieves that this works a serious detri-
| ment to the efficiency of the navy and
! is real menace totthe public safety"
As stated in my special message to
| the last congress: ct am firmly Of the
| opinion that unless the present condi-
lions of the higher commissioned per-
scnnel is rectif1edfby judfcfous legisla-
| ton the future of. our navy will be