Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-08

 ices or out of them, may know how to use the rifle. While teams represent. ing the United States won the rife and revolver championships of the world against all corners In England this year. 1t is unfortunately true that the great body of our citizens shoot less and less as time goes on.
 To meet this We should encourage rife practice among schoolboys and indeed among all classes, as well as in the military services, by every means in our power. Thus, and not otherwise, may we be able to as sist 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 to the ends of the earth. Unprepared and there fore unfit. we must sit dumb and help less to defend ourselves, protect oth. CTS or preserve peace The first step In the direction of preparation to avert war If possible and to be fit for war if 1t should come--is to teach our men to shoot
 Tho Navy.
 I approve the recommendations of the general board for the increase of the navy, calling especial attention to the need of additional destroyers and coiliers and. above all, of the four bat tleships. It is desirable to complete as soon as possible squadron of eight battleshlps of the best existing type. The North Dakota, Delaware, Florida and Utah will form the first division of this squadron. The four vessels proposed will form the second divi. sion. It will be an improvement on the first, the ships being of the heavy, single caliber, all big gun type. All the vessels should have the same tao tical qualities that is, speed and turn ing circle -- and as near as possible these tactical qualities should be the same as Is in the four vessels before named now being built.
 1 most earnestly recommend that the general board be by law turned into general staff There is literally no excuse whatever for continuing the present bureau organization of the navy. The navy should be treated as a purely military organization, and everything should be subordinated to the one object of securing military efficiency. Such military efficiency can only be guaranteed in time of war if there Is the most thorough previous preparation in time of peace-a prepa- ration, I may add, which will in all probability prevent any need of war The secretary must be supreme. and he should have as his official ad- visers body of line officers who should themselves have the power to pass upon and coordinate all the work and all the proposals of the sev- eral bureaus. A system of promotion by merit, either by selection or by exclusion or by both processes, should be introduced. It is out of the dues- ton. if the present principle of promo ton by mere seniority Is kept. to ex- pect to get the best results from the higher officers Our men come too old and stay far too short time in the high command positions.
 Two hospital ships should be pro vided. The actual experience of the hospital ship with the fleet in the Pa cific has shown the invaluable work which such a ship does and has also proved that it Is well to have 1t kept under the command of medical off cer. AS was to be expected, all of the anticipatlons of trouble from such Il command have proved completely base less. It is absurd to put a hospital ship under line officer as 1t would be to put n hospital on shore under such a command. This ought to have been realized before, and there Is no excuse for failure tn realize 1t now.
 Nothing better for the navy from every standpoint has ever occurred than the cruise of the battle fleet around the world. The improvement of the ships in every way has been ex- traordlnary. and they have gained far more experience in battle tactics than they would have gained if they had stayed in the Atlantic waters. The American people have cause for pro found eradication both in view of the excellent condition of the fleet as shown by this cruise and in view of the improvement the cruise has work ed in this already high condition. 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. l 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 as to which I have already spoken. and in regard to those who have just entered the service, because We do not now get full benefit from our excellent naval school at Annapolis.
 It is absurd not to graduate the mid shipmen as ensigns. To keep them for two years In such an anomalous posi- ton as at present the law requires is detrimental to them and to the service In the academy itself every first class man should be required in turn to serve as petty officer and officer. His ability to discharge his duties as such should be a prerequisite to his going into the line. and his success in com