Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-19

The wave of martial enthusiasm
that swept the United States on the
declaration Of war with Spain seems
again to be setting in. according to the
proof offered to officers of the war
department in the few reports already
received on the recent country wide
maHeuvers. The reports indicate that
tn militia establishment is more en-
fectiyeness than has been the case
fctiveness than has been the case
since 1898. The regular army, also.
| is more effective fighting force than
before because of the Texas mobiliza-
| ton and its participation with the. mi
| litia in maneuyer camps.
Regular army officers attribute the
greater interest being taken by the mi
litia arm to the frequent rumors of
trouble with Mexico, Nicaragua and
other countries of Latin America. At
such times, say the military authofi-
| ties, the country citizen soldiery al
ways responds, with the result that in
both strength and personnel the mill
Tia is the gamer. ...<...
There is undoubtedly another rea-
son, also, said Capt. Dana T. Merrill
OF the militia division OF the war de-
partraent, "and that is to be found in
the more liberal regulations now laid
down for duty in the joint maneuyers.
/ We have endeavored to eliminate the
drudgery of these camps, reduce guard
duty to the lowest, and do away prac,
tically entirely with parade and show
affairs. The men now get work and
problems enough to keep them inter-
ested and enthusiastic"
In the absence of the official re-
ports from the umpires who officiated
at the various problem maneuvers, in
Guiding the attacks on New York and
San Francisco, military experts are
| not prepared to comment at any length
on the lessons learned from those ex-
ercises.< 1t is admitted, however, that
the unofficial reports disclose some
grave defects in the defenses of those
Iseaports.
The maneuvers, which lasted
Throughout eight days, cost close to
81, 100000, of which the federal gov
eminent provided $1,S50.0O0, the vari-
GUS states whose militia participated
making up the balance. Approximate
ly $4,000 officers and men took part
| in working out the military problems
presented, and general officers, many
of whom had never before had the OPP
portunity, assumed command of bril-
gades for the first time. OF that army
more than 10000 men were from the
militia.
AS result of the war game" play
ed under the trained officers of the
regular establishment, numerous re-
! forms probably will be undertaken in
the remodeling and readjustment Of
the militia armories throughout the
country Many glaring abuses have
been discovered, prejudicial to che
morale of the citizen soidiery. Many
of the buildings, especially those in
this city, have been found to be wholly
unsuited to the uses to which they
| the put, others are so badly unsuited
that the property of the, government
lis not sufficiently safeguarded while
others offer no facilities for drill.
These defects will be pointed out to
the adjutant generals of the several
states affected, and recommendation
| fol changes will be based on the am
nual report of the militia division,
now in course of preparation by Capt.
Monroe c. Keith.
The battleship Pennsylvania, the
one battleship authorized in the re-
cent naval appropriation bill, will not
L <yalx, h.. he hno ui1u a rrnnrnd q nd
armed battleship but the ieetest yes
sci of her class in the world.
According to plans already decided
upon by the Navy Department, the
specifications for the new terror of
the seas will probably call for maxi
mum speed of perhaps Is knots per
hour, secured by an increase in length
and draft over those dreadnoughts
now building. This increase will give
additional room for machinery, great
er engine efficiency, and thus greater
speed.
The new vessel will be $50 feet in
length. fifty-five feet longer than the
Oklahoma and Arizona, now in pro-
cess of building.
Although speed will be an essential
IL the new battleshlp, the Navy De,
partment does not intend to secri-
five armor for speed. The Pennsy'
yania will be protected by plates of
steel of the same thickness as that
On the Oklahoma and Arizona, and
in addition a sixteen-inch plate will
extend over a larger portion of the
hull and give greater protection I'M
der the water line.
The Pennsylvania will have beam
of ninety-fiYe feet two and five-eighths
iches. The Navy Department does
not think it wise to make this any
bigger, in view of the fact that the
Panama canal locks will only accom-
modate vessels of 10 feet beam.
Some idea of the size of the new
dreadnought may be gained by the
fact that there are now only three
drydocks in existence which would
accommodate hert-he navy docks at
| New York, Norfolk, and Puget Sound.
The Pearl Harbor dock, at Honolulu,
now building, will easily. hold the new