The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-07

was not good in that war, but had 1t
not been for Mr.. Roosevelts ideas. It
would have been atroclous.
His Orders to Dewey.
In tho records Of the Navy Depart
mont Roosevelt left many memorials to
his keen interest in the service. but
| none more striking than An order cabled
to Admiral Dewey on February 25, 1898,
nearly two months before war was de-
clared on Spain, In which the first step
| toward American occupation of the
Philippine Islands was taken.
Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of
| tho Navy, issued the order without the
knowledge or approval of Secretary
Long. and in his autobiography he de-
scribed this as one OF the times when
he seized opportunities presented by the
absence Of the Secretary to take steps
toward preparation for war. which he
regarded as vital.
Roosevelt had repeatedly urged that
prompt action be taken to mako ready
for war He believed Admiral, then
Commodore Dewey, commanding the
! Asatic fleet, should be given advance
instructions, Cor even before the Maine
! was sunk he had falt certain that war
with Spain was inev table. No ins;ruc-
tons were sent to Dewey, however. and
| when Mr.. Long departed from Washing
ton on February 25. leaving Roosevelt
as Acting Secretary. this order. over
| Roosevelt's name. went over the cables:
DEWEY Hongkong:
Secret and confidential. Order the
squadron, except Monocacy, to Hong
kong. Keep full OF coal. In event Of
declaration OF war Spain your duty will
be to see that Spanish squadron does
not leave Asiatic coast. and then Of
fensive operations in Philippine Islands.
Keep Olympia (Deweys flagship At Ma
Mia Bay. previously ordered home) I'M
I'll further orders. ROOSEVELT"
/ HIS Selection of Sims.
In discussing this and similar steps
! he took Roosevelt told in his account OF
his own life what he regarded as the
greatest weakness Of the navy 1T that
/ time-its poor gunnery. He recalled
many letters written on this subject by
the American naval attache at Paris.
then lieutenant, now Vice-Admiral Sims,
and declared that this young officer alone
' seemed TO realize fully the deplorable
| state OF the navy In this regard on the
eve Of war
Subsequently as President Mr.. Roose-
welt singled out Sims and placed him at
the head OF naval gunnery. which re-
suited in development of tho present
high standards OF craftsmanship in the
American navy. Roosevelt then coined
the phrase that "only holes mean hits
and the shots that hit are the shots that
count"
The keen study given to naval mat
ters by the former President while As
sistant Secretary was shown in his first
message to Congress. which included
more than hundred specific recommen-
dations as to the navy. Throughout the
time he was President Roosevelt showed
tho keenest interest in the development
OF the navy, insisting on fleet mannvres
and target practice az the only means Of
keeping II fit. Finally he sent the At
lantic fleet under Rear Admiral CFight-
ing Rob- Evans on It's memorable cruise
around the world, the first and last
voyage OF its kind ever undertaken by
any battle fleet
Organized the General stan.
But Col. Rooseveits interest was not
confined to the naval service alone.
During his frst Administration he sue
cecded In having Congress enact the
frst General Stan act, and he promptly
appointed as organizer and first Chief
Of Stan Major-Gen. Leonard Wood. now
the ranking line officer of the army.
ton for the staff by taking Gen. Wood.
then IA surgeon, from the medical serv-
ice. and appointing him commander OF
the famous regiment OF Rough Riders
which the former President organized
at tho outbreak OF the war with Spain
and with which he served throughout the
war, first az Lieutcuant-Colonel and
then as Colonel. having been promoted
for gallantry.
Some army officers said that the i'm
portance of this first, though incom-
plete. victory over the bureaucratic sys-
TEN that had always ruled the War De-
partment was shown by the fact that IL
was not until now. with all the ex-
porence OF the great war as n founla-
t.on that the Department was prepar-
ing with hopes OF success to submit 10
Congress bill providing for fun Gen
cral Stan control and responsibility for
all army matters.
His martial spirit had prompted him
even before the Maine was blown up
to urge the Administration TO send mr.
American fleet TO meet the Spanish fleet
then headed toward Cuban water HE
belief being that Spain, in sending 4
feet against a country that had no navy
was making more Of war threat
against the United States than q move.
ment against Cuha..
Then the Maine was blown UP on the
night of February Is. 1S9S--and I'm the
same crash young Theodore Roosevelt
the was only few months past his
thirty-ninth year, got the impulse that
started him toward n place among Tho
immOrtals OF American history.
WHY sit ~ n rolltOn desk IN Wash