The Mena weekly star., 1908-12-17

tFre nf tho world lnau1 US oap h,rfnv this half century is sonletn'ns .i.Is 5nnarailelcd in all prevlo s,,,iin1s, ,o tske this opportunity puoilcis =
 srnreciatiou Of the way Tn
 f, T9Dan. in Australia n New
 ,4 4nd in all the Statts or South
 st+a the battle fleet has been re-
 nn is practice Yoyage around t.. svrrid The American goVerhlilcns ,as not tas strongly express ils appl cfafian of tha abouA1hA gnu a,,o,~ ,.,s3.fssiitv saovn our ships m every port they visited
 The Army.
 -s .la inc army call attention ma faet that while our junior om-
 @r4 enlisted men stand very hlsh, 3 .e-snt system of promotion oy fty results in bringing into the ,4.rt,.r ~radcs many men Of mediocre osnanitv who have but snort tiihe " ,er-a No man should regard lt as ms
 +,d rfrbt to rise to the highest rank in the army any more 'nan r,ms m snS etber profession. It is curlous anu s. r4eanS ereditable fact that there
 4S TX sn often a failure on the
 rt of Tho public and its representa- tt.a, to understand the great neea, rror,, tbe standpoint of the serNice anu The natlon. Of refusing to promote re
 s.tal,fe elderly incompetents, The "a frNnr plNreS SMoutA tN 1tf1'N ,es+ 4teerying men without regard to
 {.~{t,,. at least seniority should pc treafed as only one consideration, IN M s+-eea of modern industrial conn ,,.titfa4 no business firm could succeed if tbose responsible or its mahaseinept v.ere chosen simply on the ground that ts,c,, y-are fhc oldest people in its eIn- f3oSnent; vet this IS the course advo- csfsd "a regards the army. ana re- lf,,i~oa bv law for all grades except tt,c If general officer. As matter s f,ot alI of the best officers in the t,tebeet ranks of the army are those v.l.o have attained their present posi-. for wholly or in part by process or selection
 -rbe scope of retiring boards should he extended so that they could coh- si4sr general unatness to command Tor s+,- ,,.,,taa in order to secure far more ,5gga enforcement than at present Tn fhh Elimination of officers for mental ,,g.staaf or temperamentai disabilities tst,t ft54 etan s recommended only IT t6s ran&fess does not see nt to proNide what in my judgment IS Tar better, +hat is for selection in promotion, ana ! for elimination for age. Ohieers whe l fqn to attain a certain rank by cer- ! tain ago should be retired--for in- l sfa8ea a man should not attain l iiela rank by the time he IS 4e he 1 should of course be placed on the re l tired list General officers should be f selected as at present, and one 5thiro l of inc nther promotions should he 1 made hV selection, the selection 10 be saaae bv the president cr secretary of war from q list Of at least two candi- aafaa proposed for each vacancy by a bssad of officers from the arm Of Inc service from which the promotion ls to be made A bill is now before the
 t.4 R na. cnrc the promotion of officers to vari- 1 otts grades at reasonable ages through I a rroepes of selection. by boards of cfi 1 dcers. af the least efficient for retire ment with percentage Of their pa, depending upon length of service. The bfn although not accomplishing all that should be done. is long step n I tho right direction: and earnestly recommend it's passage. or that ef 2 more completely effective measure.
 National Guard.
 Now that the organized militia th' National Guard has been Incorporate with the army as a part Of the nstiona forces. 1t behooves the government ( do every reasonable thing in it's powei ss perfect it's efficiency. It should b' assisted in it's instruction and other wise aided more liberaily than hereto fore Tho continuous services of man, well-tyalned regular officers will b essential in this connection. bill Is now pending before tn congress creating number of extri officers In the army, which ir passed as it ought to be, will enable nor officers to be trained as instructors . National Guard and assigned 10 tha duty In case of war it viii De of tn utmost importancs to have iarg number of trained officers to use fo tu~riAs ra iavfaa fnf0 good froQUa
 The Navy.
 approve the recommendation . the general board for the ia attention to the need of sddi tionsl destroyers and colliers, and abov all. of the four bsttlsships. IL is dssiv able to complete as soon as possible
 squadron of eight battleshlps of t1s oss existing type.
 most earnestly recommend that tn general bosfd be by law turned into
 general stan. There is literally no es cuse whatever for continuing the pres navy should be treated as a purely mil tary organization, and everything shoui be subordinated to the ona object of s' curing military efficiency. systei Of promotion by merit. either by sele, ton or by exclusion, or by bot ] RADNNehNos rN3AAo ht ihNtpdhff1- II N ol of the question if the present principl Of promotion by mere seniority Is kep co expect Co get the best results from tn higher officers Our men come too ol, and stay for too short time, in the hig command positions.
 Nothing better for the navy from ever standpoint has ever occurred than tn [ cruise of the battle fleet around th world. The Improvement of the ships every way has been extraordinary. sn they have gained far more eNpefiens in battle tactics than they would hay gained lf they had stayed In the Atlanti waters. The American people have caus , Tor profound qualification, both in vie of the excellent condition of the fleet . shown bg this cruise and In view of th improvement the cruise has worked this already high condition I do nt believe that there is any other servics , the world Ia which Che average of cha, 5 acter and efficiency in the enlisted me la sa hgh as is now the case in our ow, THEODORE ROOSEVELT ne Waite House. Tuesday. Dsesmbs . -~---------
 Great Pigeon Cities in the svamn.