Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-12-12

must be supplied Dy vs. ana nor Dy
| them. We must be wise and gener-
Gus. We must help the FiIipinos to
master the difficult art Of self con-
troll, which Is simply mother name for
| self government But we cannot give
them self government save In the
sense Of governing them 50 that grad
TALLY they may, IL they are able, learn
! to govern themselves. No one can
| prophesy the exact date when it will
be wise to consider independence as
fixed and definite policy.
Porto Rico.
again recommend that American
citizenship be conferred upon the peo-
| pie of Porto Rico.
Cuba.
| In Cuba our occupancy will cease IN
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 occupation on this occasion has
| lasted q little over two years, and
| Cuba has thriven and prospered under
| It. Our earnest hope and one desire
Is that the people of the island shall
now govern themselves with justice,
so that peace aud order may be Sc
cure.
The Fleets Reception.
I take this opportunity publicly to
state my appreciation Of the way in
which In japan, in Australia, in New
I'm all he afn of CnIRfb
America the battle feet has been re-
ceived on its practice voyage around
the world. This American government
cannot too strongly express its appre-
citation of the Astounding and generous
hospitality shown our ships 10 every
port thsy visited
The Army.
AS regards the army. call attention
To the fact that, while our junios Off
GERS and enlisted men stand very high,
the present system Of promotion by
seniority results In bringing into the
higher grades many men OF mediocre
capacity who have hat short time to
serve. No. man shousd regard it as
his vested right to rise g the highest
rank in the army any more than IN
any other profession.
The scope OF retiring boards should
be extended 50 that they could con-
slider general unfitness- to command
for any cause in order to secure a far
more rigid enforcement than at pres
ent in the examinations of officers for
mental, physical or temperamental
disa bdlities. But this plan Is recon-
mended only il the congress DOES not
see fit to provide what in my judg-
ment IS far better-that is, for selec-
ton in promotion and for elimination
for age.
Now that the organized militia, the
national guard, has been Incorporated
with the army as part Of the national
forces it behooyes the government to
do every reasonable thing in its pow
er to perfect it's efficiency.
A bin is now pending before the
congress creating a number of extra
officers in the army, which, IL passed,
as it ought to be, win enable more Of
ficers TO be trained as instructors of
national guard and assigned to that
duty.
There should be legislation to pro-
vide complete plan for organic
ing the great body Of volunteers be-
hind the regular army and national
guard when war has come. While
teams, representing the United States
won the rifle and revolver champions
ships of the world against all corners
in England this year, it Is unfortunate
ly true that the great body of our citi-
zens shoot less and less as time goes
on.
To meet this we should encourage
rifle practice among schoolboys and
indeed among all classes, as well as
in the military services, by fevery
means In our power.
The Navy
/ approve the recommendation of
the general board for the increase of
the navy, calling especial attention to
the need of additional destroyers and
golfers and. above all, of the four bat
tleships. It Is desirable to complete
as soon as possible squadron of eight
battleships of the best existing type.
'hN 'ctNAh s'@thptos, len WdIt, lOElud
and Utah will form the first division
of this squadron.
l most earnestly recommend that the
general board be by law turned into
general staff. Thee is literally no
excuse whatever for continuing the
present bureau organization of the
navy. The navy should be treated as
purely military organization. and
everything should be subordtnated TO
the one object. of securing military
efficiency. system of promotion by
merit. either by selection or by ex-
clusion or by both processes, should be
introduced
Nothing better for the navy from
every standpoint has ever occurred
than the cruise of the battle feet
around the world. The Improvement
of the ships In every way has been ex-
traordlnary, and they have gained far
more experience in battle tactics than
No.