The Washington herald., 1913-09-14

ing efficiency, In 1903 as it was In iG
The shots that hit are the shots thae
count!
Like the people. the government was
for long time unwilling to prepare for
war. because SO many honest but mis-
guided men believed that the preparation
itself tended to bring on the war. 1 did
not in the least share this feeling, and
whenever was left as Acting Secretary
did everything in my power to put US
In readiness. I knew that in the event
OF war Dewey could be slipped like a
wolf-hound from a leash; 1 was sure
that II he were given half a chance he
would strike instantly and with telling
effect: and I made up my mind that all
1 could do to give him that half chance
should be done.
/ was in the closest touch with Senator
Lodge throughout this period. and either
consulted him about or notified him OF
all the moves 1 was taking. BY the end
Of February I felt It was vital to send
Dewey Gas well as each Of our other
commanders who were not in home wat
ers) instructions that would enable him
to be in readiness for immediate action.
On the afternoon of Saturday. February
%, when / was Acting Secretary, Lodge
called on me just as l was preparing the
man OF the right stamp was of much i'm
portance to the subsequent operations.
Admiral Dewey speaks of the incident as
follows, In his autobiography:
THE first real step (as regards ac-
tive naval prepaTations) was taken on
February -, when telegraphic instruc-
tions were sent to the AsiatiC, Euro
pean, and South Atlantic squadrons to
rendezvous at certain convenient
l.
they would be most available.
The message TO the Asiatic squad
ron bore the signature of that Assist
ant Secretary who had seized the Op-
portunity whiles Acting Secretary TO
hasten preparations for conflict
which was inevitable. As Mr.. RoOse-
velt reasoned. precautions for readi-
ness would cost little in time Of peace
and yet would be invaluable in case
of war. His cablesram was as fol-
lows:
washington. February -. '9S
Dewey, Hongkong: Order the
squadron. except the Monocacy. to
HonEkong. Keep full Of coal. In the
event OF declaration Of war Spain.
your duty will be to see that the Span
ish squadron does not leave the Asiatic
coast. and then offensive operations in
Philippine Islands. Keep Olympia un-
til further orders. ROOSEVELT
1.-THE reference to keeping the
Olympia until further orders was due
to the fact that l had been notified
that she would soon be recalled to the
United States)"
All that was needed with Dewey was
TO give him the chance TO get ready,
and then to strike. without being ham
pered by orders from those not on the
ground. Success in war depends very
largely upon choosing a man Mt 10 eN-
e-cIse such powers. and then giving
him the powers.
.In a letter written me just before ] became Y
siStant SeCrptary, Senator DAVIS unburcencu Ms
mind about one Of the foolish peace proposals
of that PERIOD Lis Ictter running in part: 4 left
the Senate Chamber about O'Clock this afternoon
when there was going on . deal Of moving and
chattering over the treaty By which the Jnitei
ltstrS is TO be bound to artltrate It's sovereign
functions-fUr policies are matters Of soFeTeisHS
The abaTratiOns uf the sDc1al movement are
neither progress nor retrCsression They reTresent
nFrely A local and tempDrary ssSEing Of the line
Of the great orbit. Tsnnys0n kneT this when ne
wrote that fne and noble 'Maud-' | often rcad II,
fer to do % does me good" After quoting one 81
Poe's stories the letter cuntinUes: The world viii
cume out all right. Let him who believes IN the
decline Of the military srTit observe the boys OF
common scho0l during the recess the noon hour
OF course when American pstnOtlsm ssaks out ron
its rank and file and demands action or expression
and when thereupOn, the business man. 50 calNi.
ulatr his hand his stack Of REDS as II he fcared
a policeman were about TO disturb the same, and
protests until American patriotism crases 10 oon-
tiuue to sneak as il had started do-Why. and
get mad. and I swear. ] hope ycu viii b with -
here after March T. We can then Tsss Judgment
tosether on the things We don't like, ard togetl-E
indulge in horss that believe are TCUrhstic.'