The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-12-11

capacity who have but q short time to
serve. No man should regard it as
his vested right to rise to the highest
| rank in the army any more than IN
any other profession.
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 q far
more rigid enforcement than at pres
ent in the elimination of officers for
mental, physical or temperamental
disabilities. But this plan is recon-
mended only if the congress doAs 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 a part of the national
forces it behooves the government to
do every reasonable thing in its pow
err to perfect it's efficiency.
A bill is now pending before the
congress creating a number of extra
officers in the army, which, if passed,
as it ought to be, will enable more Of
national guard and assigned too that
duty
There should be legislation to pro-
vide a 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 tile rifle and revolver champion
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 we'll as
in the military services, by every
means in our power.
The Navy.
/ approve the recommendations 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. 1t is desirable to complete
as soon as possible a squadron of eight
battleships of the best existing type.
The North Dakota, Delaware, Florida
and Utah will form the first division
Of this squadron.
/ most earnestly recommend that the
general board be by law turned into
q IN
excuse whatever for continuing the
present bureau organization Of the
navy. The navy should be treated as
purely military organization, and
everything should be subordfnated to
the one object Of securing military
efficiency. A 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-
traordinary, and they have gained far
more experience in battle tactics than
they would have gained if they had
stayed In the Atlantic waters l do
not believe that there is any other
service In the world in which the
average of character and efficiency in
the enlisted men is as high as is now
the case in our own. / believe that the
same statement can be made as to our
officers, taken as whole, but there
must be reservation made in regard
to those In the highest ranks and in
regard to those who have just entered
the service. because we do not now
get full benefit from our excellent
laval school at AnnaDolis.