The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-12-10
Japanese Exposition.


International exposition. the action be- |
ing taken so as to insure ample time |
in which to prepare to make the expo |
sition all that IL should be made. The |
American commissioners have visited |
Japan and the postponement will mere |
ly give ampler opportunity for Ameri- |
ca to be represented at the exposition |
Not since the first international expo |
sition has there been one of greater
Importance than this will be- marking.
as 1t does the fiftieth anniversary Of
the ascension to the throne of the en-
peror of Japan. The extraordinary
leap to the foremost place among the
nations of the world made by Japan
during this half century is something
unparalleled in all previous history.
I take this opportunity publicly to
state my appreciation of the way in
which in Japan, in Australia, in New
Zealand. and in all the states of South
America, the battle fleet has been re-
ceived on it's practice voyage around
the world. The American government
can not too strongly express its appre-
ciation of the abounding and generous
hospitality shown our ships in every
port they visited.
The Army.
As regards the army I call attention
to the fact that while our Junior 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 but short time to
serve. No man should regard 1t as his
vested right to rise to the highest rank
in the army any more than in any
other profession. 1t is curious and
by no means creditable fact that there
should be so often failure on the
part of the public and its representa-
tiveS to understand the great need,
from the standpoint of the service and
the nation, OF refusing to promote re-
spectacle. elderly incompetents. The
higher places should be given to the
| most deserving men without regard to
seniority; at least seniority should be
treated as only one consideration. In
| the stress of modern industrial COM
| petition no business firm could succeed
| If those responsible for it's management
were chosen simply on the ground that
they wero the oldest people in its en-
! ployment; yet this is the course advo-
| Gated as regards the army, and re-
| uuired by law for all grades except
| those of general officer. AS matter
| of fact all of the best officers in the
highest ranks of the army are those
| who have attained their present posi-
ton wholly or in part by process Of
| selection.
The scope of retiring boards should
be extended so that they could con-
| slider general unfitness to command for
any cause. in order to secure a far more
| rigid enforcement than at present in
| the elimination of officers for mental,
| physical or temperamental disabilities.
| But this plan Is recommended only II
| the congress does not see fit to provide
what in my Judgment is far better.
that is, for selection in promotion, and
| for elimination for age. officers who
fail to attain a certain rank by GER
tain age, should be retired-for in
| stance, If man should not attain
| field rank by the time he is As he
| should of course be placed on the re-
| tired list. General officers should be
selected as at present, and one-third
of the other promotions should be
| made by selection, the selection to be
| made by the president or secretary OF
war from a list of at least two candt-
dates proposed for each vacancy by q
| board of officers from the arm of the
| service from which the promotion is
to be made. bill is now before the
congress having for it's object to Sc
cure the promotion of officers to Vari-
Gus grades at reasonable ages through
a process of selection. by boards of Of
ficers, of the least efficient for retire.
depending upon length of service. The
bill, although not accomplishing al
that should be done. Is long step ir
the right direction; and I earnestly
recommend it's passage, or that of G
more completely effective measure.
National Guard.
Now that the organized militia, tn,
/ National Guard, has been incorporated
with the army as a part OF the nationa
forces. 1t behooves the government Il
do every reasonable thing in its powel
to perfect it's efficiency. 1t should b.
assisted in its instruction and other
wise aided more literally than hereto
fore. The continuous services of man!
well-trained regular officers will b.
essential in this connection. !
bill Is now pending before tn
congress creating a number of extra
| officers in the army, which II passed
as 1t ought to be, will enable NOR
officers to be trained as instructors o
National Guard and assigned to tha
| duty. In case of war it will be of tn
utmost Importance to have larg
number of trained officers to use TO
turning raw levies into good troops.
The Navy.
approve the recommendation o
the general board for the in
crease of the navy, calling especia
attention to the need of addi
tional destroyers and colliers, and abov
all, of the four battleships. 1t is desiI
able to complete as soon as possible
squadron of eight battleships of the bes
existing type.
, most earnestly recommend that tn
! general board be by law turned into
general staff. There is literally no en-
cuse whatever for continuing the pres
ent bureau organization of the navy. Th
navy should be treated as a purely mil
l tary organization, and everything shouI
} be subordinated to the one object of ST
curing military efficiency. A systel
, of promotion by merit, either by se!e'
r | ton or by exclusion, or by bot
3 processes, should be introduced. 1t is OF
= of the question if the present princip
3 of promotion by mere seniority is KEEP
: to expect to get the best results from II
higher officers. Our men come too oil
and stay for too short time, in the hiG
: command positions.
= iSothing better for the navy from ever
Z standpoint has ever occurred than Il
cruise OF the battle fleet around Il
a world. The improvement of the ships
q every way has been extraordinary, ar
O they have gained far more eXperien'
Y in battle tactics than they would HAY
: gained If they had stayed in the Atlant
9 waters. The American people have cau
for profound qualification, both in vie
OF the excellent condition of the feet I
: shown by this cruise, and in view Of Il
a Improvement the cruise has worked
= this already high condition. I do n
= believe that there Is any other service
. the world In which the average of cha
h hcter and efficiency In the enlisted mt
q Is as high as is now the case in our ow
n THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
4 The White House. Tuesday, Decemb