582 Presidential Addresses 



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 

 battleships, 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 im- 

 portant 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 an- 

 chor. The resulting wear upon engines and hulls 

 must be endured; a battleship 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 battleships appropriated 



