Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-17
The Reply of the Fleet.

began 10 ma Idult Will ~ Go SSoi' q"
it started on it's long voyage. They
arose to express their opinions that
American battleships are inferior to
those of other natiOns-unfit, as one OF
them Ioftily declared, for service III
time of war. The answer came quick
and sharp. that after voyage of more
than 1900 miles, the fleet arriving
four days ahead of the scheduled time
the ships are in better condition than
when they started and all Of them
ready 1T an hours notice to sail around
the world
The Kansas City Journal remarks
that While this unprecedented voyage
may not seem Il logical reply to the
criticisms of bureaucratic theorists
tina. the armor belts are too low and
the ammunition hoists are of an anti
9uated type. yet this remarkable roy-
age without a single mishap OF mis-
calculation Of any kind establishes a
lecor6 fer scaworthiness on the part
of the vessels, and of naval skill and
training on the part of the officers and
men. which it is doubtful if any navy
in the world could equal. AS an en-
durance test the results are likely 70
stand unique and unapproachable for
years to come. for if any defect had
existed in construction. if the ships
were toDheavy or set too low in the
water. or anything else We're the mat
ter with vessels or crews. it would
hav. been pretty sure to be exposed on
a voyage Of this kind, through tropical
heat and icy gales of the antarctics
below the American hemisphere.
The next test in all likelihood will be
still more conclusive. 1t is reasonably
certain that the months target practice
in Magdalera bay will show that no
navy in Christendom is the equal of
ours in craftsmanship. For many
years. in fact eyer since the Civil. War,
the American government has spent
mule money in naval target practice
than amy nther nation. Thus have
traditions Of fine shooting been ,estab-
IiShcl and handed down TO stimulale
the emulation of our sea gunnerS, and
coupled with the fact that these gun
tiers have hc"n recruited in Ian GO meas
IRE from. the Western states, from In"
ranks Of the farmer boys who haze
been taught t. shoot straight and
quickly floIn childhood. it is easy 10
account for the superior marksn:an-
ship of american sailors. ''The boys
from Missouri. Kansas and other "es--
ern StateS,' remarked an American
naval p!tccr recently. take naturally
to the nlG gus. all can b,. taught in Il
month to hi, a mark twenty feet high.
ave mil's Nv ly. several times u minute
with the largest guns on our battle
ships" No wonder. since most Of
these same boys had already learned
to hit Il blue winged teal dying ninety
miles an hour around the curves and
the trees Of the old "crick"
behind the farm.
European critics have displayed an
immense amount of ignorance concern
ing our :avy-and army too--and th,i
published criticisms have made il evil
dent that they nave no intelligent CON
ccption of the fighting ability Of our
much less of the splendid
Internationally. intelligence. sclf-re-
srecting. courageous and skillfu! young
fellows Wilicl goes 20 make up our
ships crews. 1t is even doubtful
tho American people them
sclve ftily realize their own funda-
superiority as lighters 10 other
Il superiority which
comes from an Americans larger libcr-
tv and Unborn pride Of equality ard
independence, as coEtrasted
with the inherited feeling of caste. Of
social. mental and physical interiority,
which perm3ates the masses of Europe.
Asia and Africa. 1t will probably re-
luire :: great var to awaken Tie world
to the fact that american soldiers and
sailors. especially the latter, are the
hest fighters on Garth
better than those of other nations and
their armor belts may be too Tow, but
records 10 lie the best n the world.
With an Increased cut of logs in
Maine this winner and a fin. crOp Of