Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-12-11

tiilery are too few In number for our
needs. Especial attention should be paid
TO development OF the machine gun. A
lished. As things are now, the average
soldier has far too much labor Of a nom
military character TO perform.
National Guard.
Now that the organized militia, the Ma
tional Guard, has been Incorporated with
the army as a part of the national forces.
1t behooves the government TO do every
reasonable thing in It's power to perfect
It's efficiency. Ii should be assisted In its
instruction and otherwise aided more lib
orally than heretofore. The continuous
services OF many well trained regular
o%ffeers Will be essential In this connec-
ZION. Such officers must be specially
trained at service schools best to qualify
them as instructors of the National
Guard. But the detailing of officers for
training at the service schools and for
duty with the National Guard entails de-
taching them from their regiments, which
are already greatly depleted by detach-
ment of officers fer assignment to duties
prescribed by acts of the congress-.
A bill is now pending before the con-
! gress creating a number of extra officers
in the army, which IL passed, as ii ought
10 be. will enable more officers TO be
trained as instructors Of National Guard
and assigned to that duty. In case OF
to have a large number OF trained officers
70 use for turning raw levies into good
troops.
There should be legisla ton 10 provide
a complete plan for organizing the great
body OF volunteers behind the regular
army and national guard when war has
come. Congressional assistance should be-
given those who are endeavoring to pro-
mote rifle practice So that our men, In
the services or out OF them, may know
how to use the rifle. While teams repre-
senting the United States won the rife
and revolver championships of the world
against all corners in England this year,
It 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 school
boys, ard indeed, among all classes. as
means in our power. 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 will
carry to the ends OF the earth. Inpre-
pared. and therefore unfit, we must sit
dumb and helpless to defend ourselves.
protect others, or preserve peace. The
first step-in the direction of preparation
to avert war If possible, and to be At for
war IL 1t should COMETS to teach our
men how 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 golfers, and
above all, Of the four battleships. 1t Is
desirable to complete as soon as possible
a squadron Of eight battleships OF the best
existing type. The North Dakota, Della
ware, Florida and Utah will form the first
division OF this squadron. The four yes
sells proposed will form the second divf-
sion. 1t 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 tactical qualities.
that is, speed and turning circle, and as
near as possible these tactical qualities
should be the same as is in the four YES
| sells before named now being built,
| most earnestly recommend that the
general board be by law turned into a gen
whatever for continuing the present bu-
reau organization of the navy. The navy
should be treated as a purely military or
ganization, and everything should be sub
military efficiency. Such military eff
cheney can only be guaranteed In time or
war il there Is the most thorough previous
preparation In time OF peace--a prepara-
ton. l may add, which will in all proba-
bility prevent any need OF war. The sec
rotary must be supreme, and he should
have as his official advisers a body or line
officers who should themselves have the
power to pass upon and coordinate all the
work and all the proposals or the several
bureaus. A system of promotion by mer-
it, either by selection or by exclusion, or
by both processes, should be introduced.
1t is out Of the question, If the present
principle of promotion by mere seniority lis
kept, 10 expect to get the best results from
! the ElRItT OIlltBIS. OuI DltH VII wv
old. and stay for too short a time, in the
! high positions.
Two hospital ships should be provided.
The actual experience of the hospital snip
with the fleet in the Pacific has shown the
Invaluable work which such a ship does,
and has also proved that ii is well to nave
ii kept under the OF a medical
officer. AS was to be expected. all or the
! a~nticipat.ons Of trouble from such a COM
mand have proved completely baseless.
1t is as absurd TO put a hospital ship under
a line officer as ii would be to put a nos
initial on shore under Such a command.
This ought to have been realized before,
and there is. no excuse tor failure to real
izc it 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 extraordinary, and they
have gained far more experience In battle
tactics than they would have gained II
they had stayed in the Atlantic waters
The American people have cause for pro-
found qualification, both IN view or the
| excellent condition Of the fleet as shown
by this cruise, and in view OF the improve
ment the cruise has worked in this al
ready high condition. ! 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 a whole: but there must
be reservation made In regard 10 those In
the highest ranks-as to which / nave al
! ready spoken-anG in regard to those who
| have lust entered the service; because we
do not now get full benefit from our ex-
| cellent naval school at Annapolis. IT Is
absurd not to graduate the midshipmen as
ensigns: TO keep them for two years In
| such an anomalous position as at present
the law requires is detrimental to them
| and TO the service. In the academy itself,
every first classman should be required in
turn 10 serve as petty officer and officer;
his ability to ~discharg his duties as such
should be a prerequisite to his going into
the line. and his success In commanding
should largely determine his standing at
, graduation. This board OF visitors should
be appointed In January, and each mem
her should he required to give at least six
days' service, only from one to three days
to be performed during June week, which
is the least desirable time for the board to
he at Annapolis so far as benefting the
navy by their observations is concerned.
Theodore Roosevelt.
The White House. Tuesday, December 8.
1905.