To send any war ship against a competent enemy unless those aboard it have been trained by years of actual sea service, including incessant gunnery practice, would be to invite not merely disaster, but the bitterest shame and humiliation.  Four thousand additional seamen and one thousand additional marines should be provided; and an increase in the officers should be provided by making a large addition to the classes at Annapolis.  There is one small matter which should be mentioned in connection with Annapolis.  The pretentious and unmeaning title of “naval cadet” should be abolished; the title of “midshipman,” full of historic association, should be restored.

Even in time of peace a war ship should be used until it wears out, for only so can it be kept fit to respond to any emergency.  The officers and men alike should be kept as much as possible on blue water, for it is there only they can learn their duties as they should be learned.  The big vessels should be manoeuvred in squadrons containing not merely battle ships, but the necessary proportion of cruisers and scouts.  The torpedo boats should be handled by the younger officers in such manner as will best fit the latter to take responsibility and meet the emergencies of actual warfare.

Every detail ashore which can be performed by a civilian should be so performed, the officer being kept for his special duty in the sea service.  Above all, gunnery practice should be unceasing.  It is important to have our Navy of adequate size, but it is even more important that ship for ship it should equal in efficiency any navy in the world.  This is possible only with highly drilled crews and officers, and this in turn imperatively demands continuous and progressive instruction in target practice, ship handling, squadron tactics, and general discipline.  Our ships must be assembled in squadrons actively cruising away from harbors and never long at anchor.  The resulting wear upon engines and hulls must be endured; a battle ship worn out in long training of officers and men is well paid for by the results, while, on the other hand, no matter in how excellent condition, it is useless if the crew be not expert.

We now have seventeen battle ships appropriated for, of which nine are completed and have been commissioned for actual service.  The remaining eight will be ready in from two to four years, but it will take at least that time to recruit and train the men to fight them.  It is of vast concern that we have trained crews ready for the vessels by the time they are commissioned.  Good ships and good guns are simply good weapons, and the best weapons are useless save in the hands of men who know how to fight with them.  The men must be trained and drilled under a thorough and well-planned system of progressive instruction, while the recruiting must be carried on with still greater vigor.  Every effort must be made to exalt the main function of the officer—­the command of men.  The leading graduates of the Naval Academy should be assigned to the combatant branches, the line and marines.