The Washington times., 1908-12-08

er championships or the world against
all comers 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 SchOOlGOyS, and inceeu
among all classes. as well as IN the mill
tary services, by every means IN our
power Thus, and not otherwise, may
we be able 10 assist in preserving the
peace OF the world. Fit to hold our
own against the strong nations OF the
earth, our voice for peace will carry 70
the ends of the earth. Cnpreparcd, ana
therefore unfit, we must sit dumb and
helpless ID defend ourselves. protect
others, or preserve peace. The nrsf step
war If possible, and TO be mt Tor war ~
il should come-is 10 teach oar men 10
shoot
THE NAVY.
] approve the recommendation Of the
general board for the increase OF the
navy, callinS especial attention TO the
need OF additional destroyers and col
liers, and, above all, Of the four battle
ships II Is desirable 10 complete as
soon as possible "A squadron OF eight pat
tlesuips OF the best existing type The
North Dakota, Delaware, Florida. and
Utah will form the first division OF TINS
squadron The four vessels proposed
will form the second dis isiOn. II VIII
be an Improvement on the trst. the
ships being OF the heavy, single cahber,
all rIg Cuu type. All the vessels fHJuld
have the same tactical qualities that Is.
speed and turning circle, and as near JsaS
possible these tactical qualities SnOuiH
.be the same as is in the TOUR NesSeLs
before named now being built.
/ most earnestly recommend lhaJ tle
general board be by law turned ihto d
general stan There Is uteraly no eA-
cuse whatever for continuing the pres
cnt bureau organization OF me navy
The navy should be treated as a puFtls
military organization and every st4ltS
should be suDOrdlhdle1 70 1l-t s,1.,l.,-,,, ~
jeCL OF -sv~uring military eIlctehJy .
such military EFFICIENCY can ollAE bt
guaranteed in time Of war II lheIe i
the most thorough previous pIepA,s Jn q ~. u
in time Of Tcace-a preparation. may
add, which Will IN an probability pre-
vent any need Of war.
Tho Secretary must be supreme anu
he should have as his official SQElSeTs 4
, body of line officers who should tHein-
selves have the power 10 pass upon anu
coordinate all the work and an the pro-
pCsals Of the several bureaus f.
A system OF promotion by .Hei-l.
either by selection or By exclusion. OF
ly both processes, should De ln-Eo- utel-
II is out Of the question, II lht ple5y.l-
principle 81 promotion by mere senior ~
J s kept TO expect 10 get the D@St T+Se-SS
i from the higher officers. our men come
too Old, and stay for too snort q tLile'
} IN the high command posluolS-
Two hospital ships should ne pro
yided The actual experience OF tne nos
uitaI ship with the neet in the FSciic
has shown the Invaluable Work whlen
such "a ship does. and has alsO Prov
that il is well 10 have IL Kept hhleF llle
! e.. Il. mand OF medical officer. As was
to be expected, all Of the anrctpatlons
Of trouble from such command nave
! proved completely baseless-
II is as absurd 10 put a hosptas ship
under a line officer as IL would 3e 70
7
command. This ought 10 have been
/ realized before. and there is TO excuse
for failure to realize it now
CRUISE DOES GOOD.
Nothing better for the navy from ev-
cry standpoint has ever occurred than
The cruise Of the battle feet around the
world. The improvement Of the suiPs
m every way has been extraordinary.
An.I they have gained far more expert
enca in battle tactics than they would
4 D e gained # they had stayed In the
Atlantic waters.
The American people have cause for
/ profound qualification, both in view Of
the excellent condition OF the fleet as
{ shown by this cruise. and in view OF
the Improvement the cruise has worked
in this already high condition l do
not believe that there is any other serv-
ica in the world in which the average
OF character and efficiency in ths en-
listed men is as high as is now the case
in our own. l believe that the same
statement can be made as 10 our OIL
GERS taken as a whole. but there must
be a reservation made in regard 10 those
in the highest ranks-as to which l have
already spOken-and IN regard 20 those
who have just entered the service. be-
cause we do not now get full benefit
from our excellent naval school at An
napOlis.
It is absurd not 70 graduate the mid
shipmen as ensigns. TO keep them rOT
two years in such an anomalous posi-
tion as al present the law requires is
detrimental 10 them and To the service
; In the Academy itself. every hrst-ciass-
I man should be required in turn to serve
as petty officer and officer. his ability
10 discharge his duties as such should
be a pTerequis te to his going into the
line, and his success in commanding
should largely determine his standing
q st graduation
3 The board of visitors should be ap-
3 pointed in January. and each member
should be required to give at least six
days service, only from one to three
days 10 be performed during June week
which IS the least desirable time for the
board TO be at Annapolis so far as bens--
fitting the navy by their observations is
concerned
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, Tuesday. December
. s, 1903.