The Cairo bulletin., 1908-12-09

| corps should ho established. As things
are now the average soldier has far too
much labor OF n nonmllitary character
to perform.
National Guard.
Now that the or" nzed militia. the
National Guard. has been Incorporated
with the army as v ri OF the national
forces, II behoovts the government TO
do every reasonable thing in it's power
to perfect its effic' ncy. II should be
assisted in it's instrlcton and other
wise aided more HI rally than hereto
fore. The continue ~ services of many
well strained regular officers will be
essential in this connection. Such Of
fleers must be specially trained at SER
vice schools best to aualify them IS
Instructors OF the National Guard But
the detailing OF officers for training at
the service schools ana tor duty with
the National Guard ent1iis detaching
them from their regiments which are
already greatly depleted by detach-
ment OF officers for assignment to du-
ties prescribed by acts OF the congress,
bill is now pending before the
congress creating number OF extra
officers in the army which II passed.
as il ought to be, Will enable more
officers to be trained as Instructors 81
National Guard and assigned to that
duty. In case OF war 1T Will be OF the
UTMOST Importance 10 nave iaFF@
number OF trained officers to use for
turning raw levies into good troops,
There should be legislation to nv ).
vide complete plan for organizing ~
great body OF volunteers behind 4 7.
regular army and National Quart
when war has come. Congressional az.
sstance should be given those who
are endeavoring to promote rifle prac
tiee that our men in the services ar
out OF them, may know how to use
the rifle. While teams representing
the United States won the rife and re-
yoiver championships of the world
against all Cbmers in England. this
year il 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 schoolboys, and indeed among
all classes, as well as in the military
services, by every means IN our pow
err. Thus and not otherwise, may. we
be able to assist in preserving the
peace OF the world Fit to hold our
own against the strong nations OF the
earth our voice for peace viii carry
10 the ends Of the earth. Cnprepared
and therefore UNIT we must sit dumb
and helpless to defend ourselves, pro-
tect others. or preserve peace. The
first step--in the direction of prepare
ton to avert war If possible and TO be
III tbt Wal II 81 oibNth N'A"Ng q" ~
teach our men to shoot
The Navy.
approve the recommendations OF
the general board for the IN
crease of the navy, calling especial
attention to the need of add
tionai destroyers and colliers and above
all OF the four battleships. 1t Ia desir-
able to complete az soon as possible
squadron OF eight battleships OF the best
existing type The North Dakota, De,a-
ware Florida and Utah will form the
first division OF this squadron. The four
vessels proposed win form the second d-
vision Ii will be an Improvement on tire
first, the ships being Of the heavy, sim
gle caliber, all big gun type. All the
vessels should have the same tactical
qualities that is, speed and turning cir
Gle, and as near as possible these tao
teal qualities should be the same as Is
in the four vessels before named now be-
ing built.
/ most earnestly recommend that the
general board be by law turned into
general staff There is literally no ex-
cusc whatever for continuing the pres
ent bureau organization OF the navy. The
navy should be treated as purely mill
tary organization, and everything should
be subordinated to the one object OF Sc
curing military efficiency. Such military
efficiency can only be guaranteed in time
of war II there is the most thorough pre-
vious preparation in time of peace-a
| may add, which VIII In all
prevent any need Of war. The
secretary must be supreme, and he
should have as his official advisers a
body of line officers who should them
selves have the power TO pass upon and
CO. ordinate all the work and all the pro
posals of the several bureaus. system
of promotion BY merit. either by selec-
ton or by exclusion, or by both
processes should be Introduced. IL In 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 time, in the high
positions
Two hospital ships should he provided.
The actual experience OF the hospital
shin with the fleet in the Pacific has
shown the Invaluable work which
such ship does, and has also
proved that It Is well 10 have II
kent under the command OF medical
officer As was to be expected. all Of
the anticipations OF trouble from such
have proved completely base
less. II 10 absurd 10 put hospital
ship under line officer n would be
10 put hospital on shore under suchta
This ought 20 have bsen
realized before and there Is no excuse
Tor failure TO realize It now.s
Nothing better for the navy from every
standpoint has ever occurred than the
,rIise Of the bstile fleet around 4, the
world. THE IMPROVEMENT 81 the shirs In
,Very way has ibecn extra ordinary. end
heS have gained far more experience
n battle tactics than'they would have
,ained II they had stayed In the atlantic
waters. The Americsn people have .ause
or' profound gratificaton. both IN view
# tlp excellent condition. of the fleet as
bowp by this cruise. and 10. yfew Of The
the rfinss has worried IN
his already hlgn 'condtfOn % not
believe that there Is any other service In
he vorld in which the average Of char
Icter and efficiency in the. enlisted men
5 as high as s now The case Ia our own
believe thar the same sistemeni can
% made as 20 our officers. taken as
whole but there must be reservation
made In regard 70 those in the highest .
anks-as to which I have already spo-
en-and in regard 10 those who haze
ust entered the service. because We 90
oi now get fill benefit from our eS-
client naval schbol at Annapolis II "
bsufd not 10 graduate tie midshipmen
= en~igns 30 keep them for t"o wears
n such an anomalous posiiios as AZ pres
NJ the Law requires IL detr mental 10
lanl and TO tie service. ia tie atadsmt
self. every hfst classman should be re-
ttired IN turn to sefNe az petty ofsrr
nd Officer. his ability 10 discharge llis
mites ss sach should he = percentage
D h.z going into tAe line. and his s<c
ess in commsnding should larselysp"