The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-09

and Itch win form the first division of this squadron The four vessels win form the second diysjon It win be an Improvement on the first the ships bn. ing of the heavy single calibcr, all big gun type All the vessels should have the same tactical qualities, that Is speed and turning circle, and as near as possible these tactical qualities should be the same as is in thc four vessels before named now being built.
 most earnestly recommend that the general hoord be by law turned into general staff. There Is literally no cx- cuse whatever for continuing the present bureau organization of the navy. The navy should bc treated as a purely military organization. and ey- erNthIug should be subordinRted Co the one object Of securing military efli- cheney such military efficiency can only De guaranteed tu tlmo Of WJs lr there k the most thorough previous preparation in time Of peace l prep aration, may add which will in an probability prevent any need of war. The secretary must be supreme, and he should have as his official advisers a body Of line officers who should them.
 
 and coordinate all the work and an the proposals uf the several bureaus. \ system of promotion by merit, either by selection or bE seclnsion or by both processes should be introduced It Is out of the question, if the pres ent principals of promotion by mere seniority is kept, to expect to get tha best results from the higher officers. Our men come too old, and stay for too short a time, in the high command posi- tons.
 Two hospital ships should he provld- ed. The actual experience of the hos ptal snip with the fleet in the Pacific has shown the Invaluable work which such a ship does, and has also proved that it is we'll to have il kept under the command Of 2 medical officer. As was 10 be expected all of the antic- i patons of trouble from such a com mand have proved completely bascless | II IS as absurd to put a hospital ship | under inc officer as it would be 10 | put a hospital on shore under such a | command. This ought 10 have been re- | alized before and there is no excuse for failure to realize lt now.
 Nothing better for the navy from ! every standpoint has ever occurred than 1 the cruise Of the battle fleet around 1 the world. The Improvement of the ! ships lu every wa. has been cytrabr- | dinarH, and they have gained far moro ! experience in battle tactics than thov | would have gained If they had stayed ! In the Atlantc waters The American | people have cause for profound gratill- | cation both in view of the excellent condition of tho fleet as shown bv this | cruise, and in view of the improvement | the cruise has worked in this already | high condition. I do not believe that 1 there is any other service i'm tho world l In which tho average of character and | efficiency in the enlisted mon Is as l high as Is now he caae in our own. | l believe that the same statement cln l be made az to our officers. taken as a whole, but there must be a rcgorva- | lion made in regard 10 those in tho . highest raukE-as to which | have H1- ready spoken--aud in regard to thoae who have just entered the service, be- i cause we do not now get ful benefit l from our excellent naval school al An- napois l is absurd not 10 graduate tho mldsupmen az ensiGns, to keep ] them for two years in such an anom- alouF position az present inc law rr- ru'rcs is detrimental lo them and to 1 tho service. In tho academy itself every first clasSman should he required ! In tUrn 10 serve aS petty officer and ! officer his ability Q discharge his du- ] Hes ag such should he q prerequisite lO ] his going into tho line. and his succesa i in cOmmarding 9houId largely deter mine his stHndlng at graduation The board Of visitors should be appointed 1 in Jauuary, and each member should 1 bc required to give at least Six days service. only from one tO three days to be performed during Juno week which .i- Inc least desirable time for lhu hoard to he al Annapolis go far as bcne- iitlnE t)c navy by their observations Is concerned.
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 1 The White House Tuesday, Dee, S, l00S.