The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-12-07


sion. and pesEpoue Il until she first con
venient opportunity shall arise 10 send u
+ congress . special message iipon this sub
ieet
The secretary of war eafs attention 10
a number ef needed changes in tie army
in all of which ! cascur. hut the point
npon which I place mast emphasis is the
need uf an elimination MH providing a
method hy which ths Herits II officers
shall have soiae eGest upen thfir ad-
taneement and hr which tie advance
menl ~ sll niaY ~ aces Terrified IS the ef-
/ ffciive sHnissthfi ~ dsffis pronor-
iiaH ~ ihe RssA tihelei, Tsera are IN
+ every army aAi 5eefiasale ssf aAfs E hd,n-
her o. oftitefs eiio a. not violate their
duty in any shell way es ta give reason
for court niassiai - dismissal bin who
do not show st,ai ep.iiute and skill and
character Tor high command as 10 iisti-
r. their remaining ia the active service
"a be promoted Provision SHOULD g. made
by which they may be retired on per-
tain ptorariion Of their pay according
with their length Of serviec az the time
of retirement There is nov personnel
law for the nayN which itself needs
amendment and 10 which I shall make
further reference. Such law is needed
quite as much for the army.
The coast defenses of the United States
proper are generally All ihat could be- de-
sired. and in some respects they are rath-
~ more elaborate than under present con-
ditions are needed to stop an enemys
fleet from entering the harhors defend
I'd. There is however one place where
additional defense is badly needed. and
that Is at the mouth OF Chesapeake bay
where II is proposed 10 make an artificial
island for a fort which shall prevent an
enemy's fleet from entering this most iin-
portant strateeleal base of operations on
the whole Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
hope thar appropriate legislation will be
adopted to secure the construction Of this
defense
The military and naval Joint hoard have
unanimously agreed that IL would be un-
I wise 70 make the large expenditures
which at one time were contemplated in
the establishment of a naval base and
station in the Philippine Islands. and have
expressed their judgment. ia which | full
~ concur. In favor Of making an exten-
sive naval base at Pearl Harbor, near
Honolulu. and not IN the Philippines Thls
does not dispense with the necessity for
the comparatively small appropriations
required to finish the proper coast de-
rs In the Philippines now under con-
action on the island Of Corregidor and
Elsewhere or 10 complete suitable re-
pair station and cosling supply station al
< Olongapo, where is the noating dock
Dewey" ] hope thar this recomnenda-
ton Of the joint board viii end the dis
cussion as 70 the comparative merits OF
Manila bay and Olongapo as naval sta
tions. and win lead 10 prompt measures
for the proper equipment and defense OF
Pearl Harbor
The Navy.
Ths return Of the battleship fleet from
It's voyage around the world. IN more 81.
fieient condition than when Il started was
a noteworthy event Of interest alike to-
our citizens and the naval authorities Of
the world Besides the beneficial and far
reaching effect On our personal and dip
lomatic relations IN the countries
which the fleet visited the marked sue
cess " the ships IN sieaming around the
world IN an weathers on schedule time
has increased respect for our navy and
has added 70 our national prestige
our enlisted personnel recruited from all
sections Of the country is young and en-
ergetic and representative OF The nation
al spirit. II IS moreover. owing 20 its
intelligence. capable OF quick training In
10 the modern man-of- wsrsmen. Oar Ell
ficers are earnest and Jealous in their
profession, but Il is a rcgrettable fact
that the higher officers are old for tile
responsibilities Of The modern navy and
the admiras do moi arrive at nag rank
Young enough TO obtain adequate train
Ing IN their duties as Has officers This
need Tor ttform IN the navy has been abiy
an earnestly presented TO congress bg my
predecessor and | also urgently rccem-
mend the subject for consideration
Early IN the coming session a compre-
hensive plan for the reorganization of the
officers of all corps Of the navy viii be
presented to congress, and hope II viii
meet With action suited 10 ifs urgency
owing TO tie necessity for economy IN
expenditures ! have directed The curtal-
ment Of recommendations for naval ap-
proprations so that they are thirty-elght
millions less than the corresponding es-
tmates OF last rear and tho request for
new naval construction Is limited to two
hrst-class battleships and one repair YES
sci
The use OF navy Is for military pur-
poses and there has been found need IA
the department OF a military branch deal
ing directly with the military use of TIM
flceta The secretary or the navy has also
felt the lack OF responsible advisers TO aid.
him in reaching conclusions and deciding
important matters between cO-OrdIratc
branches OF the department To secure
these results he has inaugufated tenta-
tive plan involving certain changes Ia the.
organization Of the navy department. tsi-
Guiding the nayy-yards. all Of which have
been found bv The attorney general "a be-
in accordance with law / have approved
the execution OF the plan proposed ha
cause of the greater efficiency and econ
omy It promises.
The generosity OF congress has provided
IN the present naval observatory The most
magnificent and expensive astronomical
establishment in the world Il Is being
used for certain naval purposes which
might easily and adequately be subserved
by small division connected with the
navy department at only fraction OF
the cost of the present naval observatory.
The official board Of visitors established
by congress and appointed IN 1901 ex-
pressed its conclusion that the official
head OF the observatory should be an
eminent astronomer appointed BY the
president by and with the advice and
consent OF the senate, holding his PLACE
BY a tenure at least as permanent as
that of the superintendent OF the coast
survey OF the head Of the geological SUR
vey, and not merely by eetal of two or
three years duration | fully concur In
this Judgment and urge a provision by
law for the appointment OF such d d.
rector
II may not be necessary to take tie
observatory out Of the navy department
aud put II Into another department ~
which opportunity for scientific research
afforded by the observatory wnHld seem
to be more appropriate. though believe
such q transfer ia the long ran is the
best policy am sure. however, ! ex
press the desire of the astronomers and
those learned in the kindred sciences
when ] urge upon congress that The ma
val observatory be now dedicated 10 sci.
anec 4fHdar aarfrg1 ~ man 80 ufsfaagt