The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-08

M8Ibndu. MICH.
a model for all work OF the kind. No
task OF such magnitude has ever be-
fore been undertaken by any nation
and no task of the kind has ever been
performed. The men on the Isthmus
missioners through the entire list OF
employees who are faithfully doing their
duty, have won their right to the un-
grudging respect and gratitude or the
I again Recommend the extension OF
the ocean mall act of 1891 SO that sat
fsfactory American ocean mail lines &c
South America. Asia and the Philip
pines. and Australasia may be estab-
iished. The creation OF such steamship
lines should be the natural corollary
OF che voyage OF the battle fleet: IL
should precede the opening or the Pan
anna canal. Even under favorable con-
ditions several years must elapse be-
fore such lines can be put into opera
w Trss 'ha, sns
ready shows that action sooner or later
will be inevitable.
We have begun to improve Pearl
harbor for naval base and to provide
the necessary military fortifcations for
the protection OF the Hawaiian islands
but ! can not too strongly emphasize
purposes of such an amount as will
within the shortest possible time make
those islands practically impregnable
1t 10 useless to develop, the industrial
conditions of the islands ana establish
there bases OF supply for our naval and
merchant fleets unless We insure. as
far a. human ingenuity can. their
safety from foreign seizure.
One thing to be- remembered with ali
our fortincations IL that " Is almost
useless to make them impregnabie from
the sea Il they are left open to land
attack. This Is true even OF our own
coast. but II Is doubly true Of our In
sular possessions. In Hawaii. for In
stance. II IL worse than useless TO es-
iish IL behind fortincations so strons
that no landing force can take them
save by regular and long-continued
siege operations. 40
ment II being made In the Philippine
pine Legislative body and Philippine as
m1 nHt a.. resspds R.as
colonies of European powers. but az
regards Asiatic possessions OF other
Asiattc powers: and. indeed. always ex'
cepting the striking and wonderful ex-
ample afforded by the great empire OF
Japan. II opens an entirely new depar-
ture when compared with anything
p wSsa Which srs their omn %a.srs
The Filipino people, through their OF.
| AciaIs, are therefore making real step:
I'm the direetior q .elf-xovernment.
the beginning Of . course which VII
continue till the Filipinos become At Il
decide for themselves whether they de-
/ again recommend that American
citizenship be conferred upon the peo-
pie Of Porto Rico.
about two months time; the Cubans
have In orderly manner elected their
own governmental authorities. and the
island will be turned over to them. Our
~ N Ia a a
a little over two years. and Cuba has
thriven and prospered under II.
I take this opportunity publicly e
Mnsh my ~ apae n 81 hs MAY
Zealand, and In all the states OF South
America. the battle fleet has been re,
/ ceived on It's practice voyage around
can not too strongly express It's appre-
citation OF the Astounding and generous
hospitality shown our ships In every
port they visited.
Reforms I'm tho Army.
As regards the army, call attention
to the fact that while our Junior officers
and enlisted men stand very high. the
present system Of promotion by senior
ity results In bringing into the higher
grades many men Of mediocre capacity
who have but q sort time t. serve. Nc
man should regard IL as his vested right
to rise to the highest rank In the army
1t Is a curious and by no means credit
able fact that there should be so often
a failure on the part or tn. PUBLIC and
great need, from the standpoint OF the
service and the nation. of refusing ia
promote respectable. elderly incompe-
tents. The higher places shou, 1,, DC
out regard to seniority. at least senior
fly should be treated az only one con-
| sfderation.
The scope of retiring boards should
' be extended so that they could consider
general unfitness to command for any
| cause, In order to secure a far more
rigid enforcement than at present II
the elimination CT officers for mental
physical or temperamental disabilities
| The cavalry arm should be reorganizet
upon modern lines.
National Guard, has been incorporated
with the army as part or the nationa
/ forces. II behooves the government u
do every reasonable thing in its pow
There should be legislation to pro
! vide complete plan for organiZinf
the great body OF volunteers behind thu
regular army and national guard wher
Iapprove the recommendations OF tn
J general board for the Increase OF tn
navy. calling especial attention TO TIL
! Tiers. and above all. of the four battle
ships. II Is desirable to complete Al
soon as possible a squadron OF eigh
DdtIlebnlps vi tne OtSt eNfstinB tyDe
The North Dakota. Delaware, Florid'
! and Utah will form the drst division o
this squadron. Tho four vessels pro
posed will form the second division: I
will be an Improvement on the first
the ships being OF the heavy. singh
! caliber. all big gun type. All the YES
sells should have the same tactica
qualities. that IN. speed and turnin,
circle, and as near as possible thes
/ tactical qualities should be the sam,
4 as 10 In the four vessels before named
now being built.
| most earnestly recommend that tn,
general hoard be by law turned into
general stan. There n literally NO ex
cuse whatever for containing the pres
( emit bureau orgnuisation 81 the navy
The navy should be treated NJ a pureI,
| military Organization. and everyfhirl
should be subordinnted TO the one oh
feet Of securing military emciency. Sucl
| military efficiency can only be guaran
teed I'm time OF war IL there is the mos
thorough previous preparation In tim.
of peace--a preparation. ! may add
any need of war. The secretary must b'
supreme. and he should have as his OF
! fciaI advisers body OF line officeri
who should themselves have the powe
to pass upon and coordinate all tn
work and all the proposals OF the SOW
eral bureaus. A system OF promotion
by merit, either bv selection or by ex
| cfusion. or by both processes, should b.
introduced. II Is out OF the question
, II the present principle OF promotion b,
! mere seniority II kept, to expect TO ge
the best results from the higher officers
| Our men come too old. and stay for too