The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-09

detachment of officers for assignment t duties prescribed by acts of Congress.
 A bill is now pending before the Con gross creating a number of extra officer in the army, which is passed as it ought to be, will enable more officers to be trained as instructors of national guard and assigned to that duty. In case of War 1t will be of the utmost importance to have a large number of tra6Ked off cers to use for turning raw levies into good troops.
 There should be legislation to provide C complete plan for organizing the grev body of volunteers behind the regular army and national guard when war ha come. Congressional assistance shoul. be given those who are endeayoring [. promote rifle practice so that our men in the services or cut of them, may know how to use the rifle. While teams repre- senting the United States won the rifle and revolver championships of the world against all corners in England this year, it Is unfortunately true that the great body of our citizens shoot less and less as time goes on. To meet this we should encourage rifle practice among school boys and indeed among all classes as well as in the military services by every means in our power. Thus and not oth- erwise may we be able to assist in
  to hold our own against the strong na- tions of the earth our voice for peace will carry to the ends of the earth. Un- prepared and therefore unfit we must sit dumb and helpless to defend ourselves, protect others, or preserve peace Tho first step-in the direction of prepara- ton to avert war if possible and 10 be fit for war it is should come-is to teach our men to shoot.
 The Navy.
 I approve the recommendations of the general board for the increase of the navy, calling especial attention to the need of additional destroyers and col Hers, and above all, of the four bat tleships. It is desirable to complete as soon as possible squadron Of eight bat tleships of the best existing type. The North Dakota, Delaware, Florida and Utah will form the first division of this squadron. The four vessels proposed will form the second division. It will be an improvement on the first, the ships being of the heavy, single caliber, all big gun type. All the vessels should have the same tactical qualities, that is, speed and turning circle, and as near as pos- sible these tactical qualities should be the same as is in the four vessels be- fore named now being built
 llOSl SdlHtbtly lOCpiifiiCih iildl bhC general board be by law turned into a general staff There is literally no ex- cuse whatever for continuing the present bureau organization of the navy. The navy should be treated as a purely mili- tary organization, and everything should be subordinated to the one object of se- curing military efficiency. Such military efficiency caa only be guaranteed in time Of war if there is the most thorough pre- vious prepars ton in time of peace-a preparation, l may add, which will in all probability prevent any need of war. The secretary must be supreme, and he should have as his official advisers body of line officers who should themselves have the power to pass upon and coordinate all the work and all the proposals of the several bureaus A system of promotion by merit, either by selection or by ex- clusion, or by both processes, should be introduced It Is out of the question, if the present principle of promotion by mere seniority Is kept to expect to get the best results from the higher officers. Our men come too old, and stay for too short a time, in the high command posi- tions.
 Two hospital ships should be provided. The actual experience of the hospital ship with the fleet in the Pacific has shown the invaluable work which such a ship does, and has also proved that 1t is well to have it kept under the commar> of a medical officer. As was to be expect. ed, all of the anticipations of trouble from such a command have proved completely baseless. It is as absurd to put hospital ship under a line officer as 1t woul be to put hospital on shore under such a command. This ought to have been real ized before, and there is no excuse for failure to realize it now.
 Nothing better for the navy from every standpoint has ever occurred than the cruise of the battle fleet around the world. The improvement of the ships In every way has been extraordinary, and they have gained far more experience in battle tactics than they would have gained if they had stayed in the Atlantic waters. The American people have cause for pro- found qualification, both in view of the excellent condition of the fleet as shown by this cruise and in view of the improve ment the cruise has worked in this al- ready high condition. I do not believe that there is any other service in the world in which the average of character and efficiency in the enlisted men lis as high as is now the case in our own. l be- lieve that the same statement cRn be made as to our officers, taken as whole; but there must be reservation made in