Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 4, 1906, Page 6

| delegates. falied. Finally the president of the re- public resigned. The quorum of con- gress assembled failed by deliberate purpose of its members, so that there was no power to act on his resignation, and the government came to a halt. In accordance with the so called Platt amendment, which was embodied in the constitution of Cuba, I thereupon proclaimed a provislonal government for the islawd. the secretary of war acting as pru\'lsiduul governor until he vould be replaced by Mr. Magoon, the late minister to Panama aund governor of the canal zone on the isthmus, Troops were sent to support them and to relieve the navy, the expedition be- ing handled with most satisfactory speed and efficieney. The insurgent chiefs immediately agreed that their troops should lay down their arms and disband, and the agreement was car- ried out. The provisional government has left the personnel of the old gov- ernment and the old laws, so far as might be, unchanged and will thus ad- minister the isiand for a few months until tranquillity ean be restored, a new election properly held and a new government inaugurated. DPeace has come in the island, and the harvesting of the sugar cane crop, the great crop of the island, is about to proveed. When the election has been held and the new government Inaugurated in peacetul and ovderly fashion the pro- visional government will come to an end. 1 take this opportunity of ex- pressing upon behalf of the American people with all possible solemnity our most earaest hope that the people of uba w.!l realize the imperative need ving justice and keeping or- e island. The United States 1thing of Cuba except that it shall prosper morally and materially and wishes nothing of the Cubans save thmJtlw,\' shall be able to preserve or- der among themselves and therefore to preserve their independence. If the elections become a farce and if the in- surrectionary habit becomes confirmed in the island, it is absolutely out of the question that the island should con- tinue independent, and the United States, which has assumed the sponsor- ship Dbefore the civilized world for Cuba's career as a nation, would again have to intervene and to see that the government was managed in such or- derly hion as to secure the safety of life and property. The path to be trodden by those who exercise self government is always hard, and we should have every charity and patience with the Cubans as they tread this difficult path. T have the utmost sym- pathy with and regard for them, but I most earnestly adjure them solemnly their responsibilities and to see that when their new government is started it shall run smoothly and with freedom from flagrant denial of right on the one hand and from insurrection- ary disturbauces on the other. Thz Rio Conference. The second international conference of American republics, held in Mexico in the years 1901-02, provided for the holding of the third conference within five years and committed the fixing of the time and place and the arrange- ments for the conference to the gov- erning board of the bureau of Ameri- can republics. composed of the repre- sentatives of all the American nations in Washington. That board discharg- ed the duty imposed upon it with marked fidelity and painstaking care, and upon the courteous invitation of the United States of Brazil the con- ference was held at Rio de Janeiro, continuing from the 23d of July to the 29th of August last. Many sub- jects of common interest to all the American nations were discussed hy‘ the conference, and the conclusions reached, embodied in a series of reso- lutions and proposed conventions, will be laid before you upon the coming in of the final report of the American They contain many matters of importance relating to the exten- slon of trade. the increase of communi- cation, the smoothing away of barriers to free intercourse and the promotion of a better knowledge and good under- standing between the different coun- tries represented. The meetings of the conference were harmonious and the conclusions w reached with sub- stantinl una ¥. Tt is interesting to ob: ¢ that in the successive con- ferences w h have been held the representatives of the different Ameri- can nations have been learning to work together effectively, for 1880 and the second conference in Mexico in 1901-02 occupied many months, with much time wasted in an unregulated and froitless discussion, the third conference at Rio exhibited much of the facility in the practical dispateh of business which character- izes permanent deliberative bodies and completed its labors within the period of six weeks originally allotted for its gessions. Quite apart from the specific value of the conclusions reached by the con- ference. the example of the representa- tives of all the American nations en- gaging in harmonious and kindly con- sideration and discussion of subjects of common interest is itself of great and substantial value for the promotion of reasonable and considerate treatment of all international questions. The thanks of this country are due to the government of Brazil and to the people of Rio de Janeiro for the generous hospitality with which our delegates, fn common with others, were received, entertained and facilitated in their work. Root’s Visit South. Incidentally to the meeting of the conference the secretary of state visit- ed the city of Rio de Janelro and was cordially recelved by the conference, of which he was made an honorary president. The announcement of his in- 1:entlon to make this visit was follow- xed by most courteous and urgent invi- ! ntlons from nearly all the conntflpu 5 v —— - ————— of South America to visit them as the guest of their governments. It was deemed that by the acceptance of these invitations we might appropriately ex- press the real respect and friendship in which we hold our sister republics of the southern continent, and the sec- retary accordingly visited Brazil, Uru- guay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Panama and Colombia, He refrained from visiting Paragoay, Bolivia and Ecua- dor only because the distance of thejr eapitals from the seaboard made it fm- practicable with the time at his dls- posal. He carried with him a message of peace and friendship and of strong desire for good understanding and mu- tual helpfulness, and he was every- where received In the spirit of his message. The members of the govern- ment, the press, the learned professions, the men of business and the great masses of the people united every- where in emphatic response to his friendly expressions and in doing hon- or to the country and cause which he represented. In many parts of South America there has been much nfisunderstand- ing of the attitude and purposes of the United States toward the other Ameri- can republics. An idea had become prevalent that our assertion of the Monroe doctrine implied or carried with it an assumption of superiority and of a right to exercise some kind of protectorate over the countries to whose territory that doctrine applies. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yet that impression continued while | the first conference In Washington in ' to be a serious barrier to gool under- standing, to friendly intercourse, to the introduction of American capital and the extension of American trade. The impression was so widespread that appareuntly it could not be reached by any ordinary means. It was part of Secretary Root's mis- | sion to dispel this unfounded impres- sion, and there Is just cause to believe that he has succeeded. In an address to the third conference at Rio on the 81st of July—an address of such note that I send it in, together with this message—he said: “We wish for no victorles but those of peace, for no territory except our own, for no sovereignty except the sovereignty over ourselves. We deem the independence and equal rights of the smallest and weakest member of the family of nations entitled to as much respect as those of the greatest empire, and we deem the observance of that respect the chief guaranty of the weak against the oppression of the strong. We neither claim nor desire any rights or privileges or powers that we do not freely concede to every American republic. We wish to in- crease our prosperity, to extend our trade, to grow in wealth, in wisdom and in spirit, but our conception of the true way to accomplish this is not to pull down others and profit by their ruin, but to help all friends to a com- mon prosperity and a common growth that we may all become greater and stronger together. “Within a few months for the first time the recognized possessors of ev- ery foot of soil upon the American con- tinents can be and I hope will be rep- resented with the acknowledged rights of equal sovereign states in the great world congress at The Hague. This will be the world’s formal and final acceptance of the declaration that no part of the American continents is to be deemed subject to colonization. Let us pledge ourselves to aid each other in the full performance of the duty to humanity which that accepted declara- tion implies, so that in time the weak- est and most unfortunate of our repub- lics may come to march with equal step by the side of the stronger and more fortunate. Let us help each other to show that for all the races of men the liberty for which we have fought and labored is the twin sister of justice and peace. Let us unite in creating and maintaining and making effective an all American public opin- fon whose power shall influence inter- national conduct and prevent interna- | tional wrong and narrow the causes of war and forever preserve our free : | lands from the burden of such arma- | . ments as are massed behind the fron- Itiers of Europe and bring us ever | nearer to the perfection of ordered lib- ! erty. So shall come security and pros- perity, production and trade, wealth, learning, the arts and happiness for ng all” The Monroe Doctrine. These words appear to have been re- ceived with acclaim in every part of South America. They have my hearty approval, as I am sure they will have yours, and I cannot be wrong in the conviction that they correctly repre- sent the sentiments of the whole Amer- fcan people. 1 cancot better charac- terize the true attitude of the United States in its assertion of the Monroe doctrine than in the words of the dis- tinguished former minister of foreign affairs of Argentina, Dr. Drago, in his speech welcoming Mr. Ayres. He spoke of— “The traditional policy of the United States (which) without accentuating superiority or seeking preponderance condemned the oppression of the na- tions of this part of the world and the control of their destinies by the great powers of Europe.” It is gratifying to know that in the great city of Buenos Ayres upon the arches which spanned the streets in- twined with Argentine and American flags for the reception of our repre- sentative there were emblazoned not only the names of Washington and Jefferson and Marshall, but also, in appreclative recognition of their serv- ices to the cause of South American In- dependence, the names of James Mon- roe, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay . and Richard Rush. We take especlal pleasure In the graceful courtesy of the government of Brazil, which has . Root at Buenos ' glven to the beautiful . and stately | bidlding first used for the meeting of ,Breat a hindrance to the development the conference the name of “Palaclo of many of our neighbors, Monroe.” Our grateful acknowledg- ments are due to the governments and the people of all the countries visited Repeated examples of united action by several or many American republics in favor ‘of peace by urging cool and reason- by the secretary of state for the cour- |able Instead of exclted and belligerent tesy, shown to our country in their generous hospitality to him, l the friendship and the honor {treatment of International controver- sies cannot fail to promote the growth of a general public opinion among the In my message to you on the 5th of | American nations which will elevate December, 1905, 1 called your attention | i the standards of international action. to the embarrassment that might be caused to this government by the as- sertion by foreign nations of the right to collect by force of arms contract debts due by American republics to citizens of the collecting nation and to the danger that the process of com- pulsory collection might result in the occupation of territory tending to be- come permanent. I then said: “Our own government has always re- fused to enforce such contractual ob- ligations on bebalf of its citizens by an appeal to arms. It is much to be wished that all foreign governments would take the same view.” South American Debts. This subject was one of the topics of consideration at the conference at Rio, and a resolution was adopted by that conference recommending to the re- spective governments represented “to conslder the advisabllity of asking the second peace conference at The Hague to examine the question of the compul- sory collection of public debts and in general means tending to diminish among nations conflicts of purely pe- cunlary origin.” This resolution was supported by the representatives of the United States in accordance with the following instruc- tlons: “It has long been the established pol- icy of the United States not to use its armed forces for the collection of or- dinary contract debts due to its citi- zens by other governments. We have not considered the use of force for such a purpose consistent with that re- spect for the independent sovereignty of other members of the family of na- tions which is the most important principle of international law and the chief protection of weak nations against the oppression of the strong. It seems to us that the practice is injurious in its general effect upon the relations of nations and upon the welfare of weak and disordered states, whose develop- ment ought to be encouraged in the interests of civilization; that it offers frequent temptation to bullying and oppression and to unnecessary and un- Justifiable fare. We regret that other powers. whose opinions and sense of justice we esteem highly, have at times taken a different view and have permitted themselves, though we believe with reluctance, to collect such debts by force. It is doubtless true that the noupayment of public debts may be accompanied by such circum- stances of fraud and wrongdoing or violation of treaties as to justify the use of force. This government would be glad to see an international consid- eration of the subject which shall dis- criminate between such cases and the simple nonperformance of a contract ‘with a private person and a resolution in favor of reliance upon peaceful means in cases of the latter class. “It is not felt, however, that the con- ference at Rio should undertake to make such a diserimination or to re- solve upon such a rule. Most of the American countries are still debtor na- tions, while the countries of Europe are the creditors. If the Rio conference, therefore, were to take such action it would have the appearance of a meet- ing of debtors resolving how their cred- itors ;should act, and this would not inspire respect. The true course is in- dicated by the terms of the programme, which proposes to request the second Hague conference, where both cred- itors and debtors will be assembled, to : consider the subject. Central America. Last June trouble which had eéxisted for some time between the republics of Salvador. , Guatemala and Honduras culminated in war—a war which threat- ened to be ruinous to the countries in- volved and very destructive to the com- mercial interests of Americans, Mexi- cans and other foreigners who are tak- ing an important part in the develop- . ment of these countries. The thorough- ly' good understanding which exists be- tween the United States and Mexico enabled this government and that of Mexico to unite In effective mediation between the warring republics, which mediation resulted, not without long continued and patient effort, in bring- ing about a meeting of the representa- tives of the hostile powers on board a United States warship as neutral ter- ritory, and peace was there concluded— a peace which resulted in the saving of thousands of lives and in the preven- tion of an incalculable amount of mis- . ery and the destruction of property and of the means of livelihood. The Rio o - conference passed the following resolu- | even by the inadequate limitations pre- tion in reference to this action: “That the third international Amer- ican conference shall address to the presidents of the United States of America and of the United States of Mexico a note in which the conference which is being held at Rio expresses its satisfaction at the happy results of their mediation for the celebration of peace between the republics of Guate- mala, Honduras and Salvador.” This affords an excellent example of one way in which the influence of the United States can properly be exer- clsed for the benefit of the peoples of the western hemlsphere—that is, by action taken in concert with other | American republics and therefore free ' - from those suspicions and prejudices which might attach if the action were taken by one alone. In this way it s possible to exercise a powerful influ- * ence toward the substitution of consid- erate action In_ the spirit of justice for ntl'englheu the sense of international uty among governments and tell in favor of the peace of mankind. Panama Trip. I have just returned from a trip to Panama and shall report to you at length later on the whole subjecl of the Panama canal, The Algeciras Convention. The Algeciras convention, which was signed by the United States as well as by most of the powers of Europe, su- persedes the previous convention of 1880, which was also signed both by the United States and a mafority of the European powers, This treaty con- fers upon us equal commercial rights with all European countries and does not entail a single obligation of any kind upon us, and 1 earnestly hope it may be speedily. ratified. To refuse to ratify it would merely mean that we forfeited our conrmercial rights in Mo- rocco and would not achieve another object of any kind. In the event of such refusal we would be left for the first time in 120 years without any commercial treaty with Morocco. and this at a time when we are everywhere seeking new markets and outlets for trade. PROTECTION OF SEALS. History of This Problem and Present‘ Status. The destruction of the Pribilof is- land fur seals by pelagic sealing still continues. The herd which, according to the surveys made in 1874 by direc- tion of the congress, numbered 4,700,- | 000 and which, according to the sur- vey of both American and Canadian | commissioners in 1891, amounted to 1,000,000 has now been reduced to about 180.000. This result has been brought about by Canadian and some other sealing vessels killing the female seals while in the water during their annual pilgrimage to and from the south or in search of food. As a rule, the female seal when killed is preg- nant and also has an unweaned pup on land, so that for each skin taken by pelagic sealing, as a rule, three lives are destroyed—the mother, the unborn offspring and the nursing pup, which is left to starve to death. No damage whatever is done to the herd- by the ; carefully regulated killing on land. The custom of pelagic sealing is solely responsible for all of the present evil and is alike indefensible from the eco- nomic standpoint and from the stand- point of humanity. In 1896 over 16,000 young seals were found dead from starvation on the Pridilof islands. In 1897 it was esti- mated that since pelagic sealing began upward of 400,000 adult female seals had been killed at sea and over 300,000 young seals had died of starvation as the result. The revolting barbarity of such a practice, as well as the waste- : ful destruction which it involves, needs no demonstration and is its own . The Bering sea tribu- | condemnation. nal, which sat in Paris in. 1893. and which decided against the claims of the United States to exclusive juris- diction in the waters of Bering sea and to a property right in the fur seals when outside of the three mile limit, determined also upon certain regula- tlons which the tribunal considered sufficient for the proper protection and preservation of the fur seal in or habitually resorting to the Bering sea. The tribunal by its regulations estab- lished a close season, from the 1st of May to the 31st of July, and excluded all killing in the waters within ‘sixty miles around ' the Pribilof Islands. They also provided that the regula- tions which they had determined upon, with a view to the protection and pres- .ervation of the seals, should be sub- mitted every five years to new exami- nation, so as to enable:both interested governments to consider whether in the light of past experience there was ! occasion for any modification. thersof. The regulations have proved plainly inadequate to accomplish the object of i protection and preservation of the fur seals, and for a long time this govern- | ment has been trying in vain to secure from Great Britain such revision and modification of the regulations as were | contemplated and provided for by the : award of the tribunal of Paris, The process of destruction has been accelerated during recent years by the appearance of a number of Japanese vessels engaged in pelagic sealing. As these vessels have not been bound scribed by the tribunal of Paris, they have paid no-attention either to the close season or to the sixty mile limit { imposed upon Canadians and have | armed guard they sul | | prosecuted their work up to the very islands themselves. On July 16 and 17 the crews from several Japanese ves- sels made raids upon the island of St. Paul, and before they were beaten off by the very meager gand insufficiently eeded in killing several hundred seals and carrying off the skins of most of them, Nearly all the seals killed were females, and the work was done with frightful barbar- | ,ity. Many of the seals appear to have +been skinned alive, and many were found half skinned and still alive. The. raids were repelled only by the use of "firearms, and five of the raiders were killed, two were wounded and.twelve captured, including the two wounded. Thase captured have since been tried nml sentenced to imprisonment., . An the insurrectionary or international attack of this kind had, been. wholly violence which has hitherto been so " unlooked tor, but such provision of | | — | | e e _.____.T._——..—_—__ T e e oo — e e — e e — ———————m——m—— e — — — — — e Vessels, arms and ammonition wil} now be made that its repetition wiu not be found profitable. Promise by Japan. Suitable representations regarding the incident have been made to the government of Japan, ‘and we are as- sured that all practicable measures will be taken by that country to pre- vent any recurrence of the outrage. On our part, the guard on the island will be increased and better equipped and- organized, and a better revenue cutter patrol service about the islands will be established. Next season a Onited States war vessel will also be sent there. We have not relaxed our efforts to secure an agreement with Great Brit- ain for adequate protection of the seal the same purpose are in progress. The laws for the protection of the seals within the jurisdiction of the United States need revision and amend- ment. Only the islands of St. Paul and St, George are now in terms in- cluded in the government reservation, and the other islands are also to be included. The landing of aliens as well as citizens upon the islands without a permit from the department of com- merce and labor for any purpose ¢x- cept In case of stress of weather or for water should be prohibited under ade- ; quate penalties. The approach of ves- sels for the excepted purposes should be regulated. The authority of the gov- ernment agents on the islands should be enlarged. and the chief agent should have powers of a committing magis- trate. The entrance of a vessel into the territorial waters surrounding the islands with intent to take seals should be made a criminal offense and cause of forfeiture. Authority for seizures'in such cases should be given, and the presence on any such véssel of seals or | sealskins or the paraphernalia for tuk- ing them should be made prima facie ' evidence of such intent. I recommend ;whnt legislation is needed to accom- plish these ends, and 1 commend to ‘your attention the report of Mr. Sims of the department of commerce and labor on this subject. 1 In case we are compelled to aban- don the hope of making arrangements ; with other governments to put an end 1o the hideous cruelty now incident to pelagic sealing it will be a question for your serious consideration how far we should continue to protect and main- itain the seal herd on land with the ,result of continuing such a practice and whether it is not better to end the practice by exterminating the herd ourselves in the most humane way pos- sible. EFFORTS FOR PEACE. Our Duty as a Nation to Further This Cause. In my last message I advised you that the emperor of Russia had taken the initiative in bringing about a sec- ond peace conference at The Hague. Under the guidance of Russia the ar- rangement of the preliminaries for such a conference has been progress- ing during the past year. Progress has necessarily been slow owing to the great number of countries to be con- sulted upon every question that has arisen. It is a matter of satisfaction that all of the American republics have now, for the first time, been invited to Joln in the proposed conference. The close connection between the subjects to be taken up by the Red Cross conference held at Geneva last summer and the subjects which natu- rally would come before The Hague conference made it apparent that it was desirable to have the work of the Red Cross conference completed and | considered by the different powers be- | fore the meeting at The Hague. The Red Cross conference ended its labors on the Gth of July, and the revised and amended convention, which was signed by the American delegates, will be promptly laid before the senate, By the special and highly appreciat- ed courtesy of the governments of Rus- i sla and the Netherlands a proposal to a time which would conflict with the conference of the American republics | at Rio de Janeiro in August was laid aside. No other date has yet been sug- gested. A tentative programme for the conference has been proposed by ! i subjects which it enumerates are un- | dergoing careful examination and con- sideration in preparation for the con- . ference. Peace and Righteousness. i It must ever be kept in mind that " war is not merely justifiable but im- | perative upon honorable men, upon an honorable nation, where peace can only be obtained by the sacrifice of .con- scientious conviction or of national welfare. good, and normally it coincides with and not peace, which should bind the conscience of a nation ‘s it should bind the conscience of an individual, and neither a nation nor an individual can surrender conscience to another’s keeping. Nelther can a nation which is an entity and which does not die as individuals ‘die refrain from taking thought for the Interest of the genera- tions that are to come no less than for i the interest of the generation of today,' i and no public men have a right, wheth- ! er'from shortsightedness, from selfish Indifference or from sentimentality, to, sacrifice national interests which are vital in character. A just war ig in the long run far better for a nation’s’ soul than the ‘most prosperous’ peace obtained by acquiescence in wrong or Injustice. Moréover, though it is erim- Inal for a nation not to prepare for war 80 that It may escape the dreadful con- sequences of being defeated 'In war, yet it must always be remembered that even to be defeated in war may: be fnr call The Hague conference together at .| | the government of Russia. and the | Peace is normally a great ; righteousness, but it is righteousness,: | lbettm' than not to have fought at all As- has been well and finely said, a beaten nation is not necessarily a dis- | graced nation, but the nation or man 1 is disgraced if the obligation to defend . right is ghirked. ‘We should as a nation do everything in our power for the cause of honora- ble peace. It is morally as indefensible for a nation to commit a wrong upon another nation, strong or weak, as for an individua! thus to wrong his fel- lows. We should do all in our power to hasten the day when there shall be peace among the nations—a peace based upon justice and not upon cowardly submission to wrong. We can accom- plish a good deal in this direction, but we cannot accomplish everything, and the penalty of attempting to do too | much would almost inevitably be to do | herd, and negotiations with Japan for | worse than nothing, for it must be re- membered that fantastic extremists are not in reality leaders of the causes which they espouse, but are ordinarily those who do most to hamper the real leaders of the cause and to damage the cause itself. As yet there is no likeli- hood of establishing any kind of inter- national power. of -whatever sort, which can effectively check wrongdo- ing, and in these circumstances it would be both a foolish and an evil thing for a great and free nation to deprive itself of the power to protect its own rights and even in exceptional cases to stand up for the rights of oth- ers. Nothing would more promote in- iquity, nothing would further defer the reign upon earth of peace and right- eousness, than for the free and enlight- ened peoples, who, though with much stumbling and many shortcomings, nevertheless strive toward justice, de- liberately to render themselves power- less while leaving every despotism and barbarism armed and able to work their wicked will. The chance for the settlement of disputes peacefully by arbitration now depends mainly upon the possession by the nations that mean to do right of sufficient armed strength to make their purpose effec- tive. . THE NAVY AND ARMY. Our Surest Guarantor of Peace a Strong Navy. The United States navy is the surest guarantor of peace which this country possesses. It is earnestly to be wished that we would profit by the teachings of history in this matter. A strong and wise people will study its own fail- ures no less than its triumphs, for there is wisdom to be learned from the study of both, of the mistake as well as of the success. For this purpose nothing could be more instructive than a rational study of the war of 1812 as it is told. for instance, by Captain Mahan. There was only one way in which that war could have been avoid- ed. If during the preceding twelve Yyears a navy relatively as strong as that which this country now has had been built up and an army provided relatively as good as that which the country now has, there never would have been the slightest necessity of fighting the war, and if the necessity had arisen the war would under such circumstances have ended with our speedy and overwhelming triumph. But our people during those twelve years refused to make any prepara- tions whatever regarding either the army or the navy. They saved a mil- lon or two of dollars by so doing and in mere money paid,a hundredfold for each million they thus saved during the three years of war which followed —a war which brought untold suffering upon our people,. which at one time threatened the gravest national disas- ter and which, in spite of the necessity of waging it, resulted merely in what was in effect a drawn battle. while the balance of defeat and triumph was al- most even. 1 do not ask that we continue to in- crease our navy. I ask merely that it Dbe maintained at its present ! gtrength, and this can be done only if | 'we replace the obsolete and outworn | ships by new and good ones. the equals of any afloat in any navy. To stop buildings ships for one year ‘ means that for that year the navy I'goes back instead of forward. The old 1 battleship Texas. for instance, would now be of little service in a standup | fight with a powerful adversary. The iold double turret monitors have out- worn their usefulness, while it was a waste of money to build the modern single turret monitors. All these ships should be replaced by others, and this can be done by a well settled pro- gramme of providing for the building each year eof at least one first class battleship equal in size and speed to any that any nation is at the same time building. the armament presum- ably to consist of as large a number as possible of very heavy guns of one i caliber, together with smaller guns to repel torpedo attack, while there should be heavy armor, turbine en- gines and, in short, every modern de- vice. Of course from time to time cruisers, colliers, torpedo boat destroy- i ers or torpedo boats will have to be 1 bullt also. All this, be it remembered, would not increase our navy. but would merely keep It at its present strength. Equally, of course, the ships { will be absolutely useless if the men aboard them are not so trained that they can get the best possible service out of the formidable but delicate and lcomplicated mechanisms. Intrusted to ‘their care. The marksmanship of our men has so improved during the last five years that I deem it within bounds ito say that the navy is more than twice as efficient, ship for ship, as halt @ decade ago. ' The navy can only at- taln: proper efficlency if enough officers and men ‘are provided and if these officers and men :are given the chance . (and: required to:take advantage of 1t) to stay continually at sea and:to exer- clse the fleets singly and above all in ——— X R