The Colorado statesman., 1923-07-28

of representatives, he was a member
of the committee on naval affairs. At
the time Theodore Roosevelt was
President of the United States. Con-
gress had an economic streak well de-
veloped at that period. The news had
gone forth that the lawmakers did not
intend to make appropriations for any
battleships at the forthcoming session.
OF course President Roosevelt heard
about this and he was disturbed be
cause he believed that two battleships
were an actual necessity If the coun-
try was to keep abreast of the times
He thought the matter over and when
he wrote his annual message TO con-
gress, the Lawmakers were somewhat
astounded to find that he had put in
request for four battleshlps, n demand
which broke all records.
1t was reported, unquestionably
truthfully, at the time that the colonel
told friend that congress always
could be depended upon to compro-
mise. Therefore he asked for four
battleships and got the two that he
wanted. Doubtless he chuckled over
his sagaclty.
There is sort Of a feeling in Wash
ington today that Secretary DENLY re-
members the time when Roosevelt
asked for more than he wanted and
got just what he wanted. Mr.. DENLY
will ask for eight cruisers and it is
possible that If he is given four he
viii chuckle as Colonel Roosevelt did
on another occasion.
Navy Luckier Than Army.
The navy seems to have better luck
than the army in getting what it wants
from congress. Both are armed serv-
ices, but even when the inclination is
against adding anything to the fighting
strength of the country, congress will
frequently stretch point in behalf Of
the navy while refusing to stretch 1t
in behalf of the army. This thing has
been rather hard to explain. 1t always
has been truth, however, that MEM
bers of congress from states which do
not touch salt water have been just as
much interested in navy matters as
those states with big harbors and with
communities which benefit not only
from bodybuilding operations, but
from the commercial activities which
result from having navy yards within
their borders.
For some years the number of boys
from the rural districts who have en-
listed in the navy have outnumbered
those enlisted from the great city dis
tricts by nearly two to one. There
was time when nearly all the naval
recruits were obtained either in the
big cities or in the small towns along
the seacoast Now boys from the in
land states are found in great numbers
in the sea service. They make good
sailors, and it is said that more Of
them stick to the life as an occupation
than is the case with city-bred boys.
Mostly American Boys From Country.
In the old days recruiting efforts Of
the navy were confined largely to the
cities. 1t never seemed to occur to the
recruiting agents that boys removed
from the seashore would care for the
sea life. A change was proposed and
was made. The response of the coun-
try boy was instant and generous. The
whole nature of the enlisted personnel
of the navy underwent change.
Twenty-Five years ago many of the
boys who entered the navy were of
foreign birth or of immediate foreign
| extraction. Today nearly all the re-
cruits are native born and very high
percentage of them are of native-born
parents.
The personnel of the enlisted force
of the army has undergone a change
also in recent years. There was
time, of course, when adventurous
Americans entered the army for the
life of excitement it promised them on
the plains, but later the native Ameri-
cans showed an indisposition to enter
the army, and the regiments largely
were recruited from the ranks of new
ly arrived young emigrants. The first
sergeant's roll call in the army 80
years ago sounded like a roll call of
part of the inhabitants of every coun-
try on earth.
In the sld days all that a man had
to present in the way of fitness for
service in the American army and
navy was a good physique. Nowadays
men are not taken into the service in
any haphazard way. They have to
prove something beside physical fit
ness before Uncle Sans recruiting of
ficers will accept them for duty. Sol
diers and sailors of the United States
army and navy quickly acquire what
is called esprit de corps. They quick
ly get reverence for the flag and de-
velop easily an obedience TO the de-
mands of discipline.