Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-10

be extended SO that they could cor
slider general untitness to command 70
any cause in order to secure a ia
more rigid enforcement than at pres
cnt in the elimination of officers 70
mental, physical or temperamenta
disabilities But this plan is recon
mended only if the congress does no
| see hit. to provide what in my iuds
ment is far better-fthat is, for selec
| ton in promotion and for elimination
| for age. Officers who fail to attain !
certain rank by Il certain age should
| be retired. For instance. if mar
should not attain field rank by The
time be is fcrty.tive be should OF
course be placed on the retired list
General officers should be selected as
at present, and one-tbird Of the other
promotions should be made by seiec.
ton, the selection to be made by the
president or the secretary of war from
list OF at least two candidates pro.
posed for each vacancy by board of
officers from the arm of the service
from which the promotion is to be
made. \ bill is now before the con
gress having for it's object to secure
the promotion of officers 10 various
grades at reasonable ages through a
process OF selection. by boards of Off
GERS. of the least efficient FOR retire
ment With a percentage of their nav
depending upon length of service. The
bill, although not accomplishing all
that should be done, is a long step in
the right direction, and earnestly
recommend its passage or that OF
more completely effective measure.
The cavalry arm should be reorgan-
lied upon modern lines. This is an
arm in which it is peculiarly neces-
sary that the field officers should not
be old. The cavalry is much more
dlfncult TO form than infantry, and it
should be kept up to the maximum
both in efficiency and in strength, for
1t cannot be made in hurry. At
present both infantry and artillery are
too. few in number for our needs.
Especial attention should be paid to
development Of the machine gun. A
service corps should be estab.
llshcd. AS things are now the aver
age soldier has far too much labor Of
nonmllitary character to perform,
National Guard.
Now that the organized militia. the
national guard, has been Incorporated
with the army as a part Of the nation
Al forces it behoovcs the government
% do every reasonable thing in its
power to perfect its efficiency. 1t
should be assisted in its instruction
md otherwise aided more literally
han heretofore. The continuous serr-
ces OF many well trained regular Of
lcers VIII be essential in this connec-
ION. Such officers must be specially
ralned at service schools best to ouali- |
y them as instructors Of the nationa,
:uard. But the detailing of officers
or training at the service schools
nd Tor duty with the national guard
ntails detaching them from their reg
ihents which are already greatly de-
'ieted by detachment of officers for
sslgnDcnt to duties prescribed by
cts of the congress-.
y bill is now pending before the
ongress creating a number of extra
hcers in the army. which, if passed,
S it ought to be, swil enable more of.
GERS TO be trained as instructors of
atlonal guard and assigned to that
uty. In case of war it will be Of the
tmost Importance to have a large
TIMBER OF trained officers to use for
inning Paw levies into good troops,
There should be legislation TO pro
ltie complete plan for organiz-
ls the great body Of volunteers be-
lad the, regular army and national
uard when war has, come. Congress
o ' assistance should be given those
no are endeavorings to promote rifle
ractice,,sso that otIr men, in the ;serV-
es Or out of them.s may know how, to
Sc tue rife. While teams represent
e The United States won, the rife
1d revolver championships of the
ORD against all corners FiuE, England ,
Us year, it is unfortunately true
'at the, great body of our citizens
loot less and less as time goes on.
70 meet this We should encourage
ne practice among schoolboys and
deed among all classes. as, wen. as
the military /, services by. ) every :
cans ID our power Thus, I and !
u otherwise, may; VIC be able to as.
ST 10 preserving the peace Of the
ORD: Fit to hold oul, own against /
g strong nations Of the; earth. our >
nee for peace will zcarry to- the ends
The the earth. Unprepared and there. .
re unit. we must sit dumb and help.
IS to defend ourselves. protect 9th.
S or preserve. peace The first stem ,
the direction OF preparation to
err war. if possible and to be sht for :,
ar fit should come lis 70 teach our i
III to shoot =
The Navy. /
approve the Recommendations or Y
: general board for The increase Of v
navy, calling especial attention 70 f
need of additional dcstroyers and Y
Tiers and. above&al,s Of the four bat.
ships. 1t is 6lnSil,a hIn 70 ..,-,,,J4 =