theodore roosevelt-第21章
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e crews up to their full quota by enlisting； to lay out a plan of campaign； to see to the naval bases and the lines of communication； and to cooperate with the War Department in making ready the land fortifications along the shore。 Of course all these labors did not fall on Roosevelt's shoulders alone； but being a tireless and willing worker he had more than one man's share in the preparations。
But the great fact that war was comingwar； the test delighted him； and his sense of humor was not allowed to sleep。 For the peace…at…any…price folk； the denouncers of the Navy and the Army； the preachers of the doctrine that as all men are good it was wicked to build defenses as if we suspected the goodness of our neighbors； now rushed to the Government for protection。 A certain lady of importance； who had a seaside villa； begged that a battleship should be anchored just outside of it。 Seaboard cities frantically demanded that adequate protection should be sent to them。 The spokesman for one of these cities happened to be a politician of such importance that President McKinley told the Assistant Secretary that his request must be granted。 Accordingly； Roosevelt put one of the old monitors in commission； and had a tug tow it； at the imminent risk of its crew； to the harbor which it was to guard； and there the water…logged old craft stayed； to the relief of the inhabitants of the city and the self…satisfaction of the Congressman who was able to give them so shining a proof of his power with the Administration。 Many frightened Bostonians transferred their securities to the bank vaults of Worcester； and they； too； clamored for naval watch and ward。 Roosevelt must have been made unusually merry by such tidings from Boston； the city which he regarded as particularly prolific in 〃the men who formed the lunatic fringe in all reform movements。〃
It did not astonish him that the financiers and the business men； who were amassing great fortunes in peace； should frown on war； which interrupted their fortune…making； but he laughed when he remembered what they and many other vague pacifists had been solemnly proclaiming。 There was the Senator； for instance； who had denied that we needed a Navy； because； if the emergency came； he said； we could improvise one； and 〃build a battleship in every creek。〃 There were also the spread eagle Americans； the swaggerers and braggarts； who amused themselves in tail…twisting and insulting other nations so long as they could do this with impunity； but now they were brought to book； and their fears magnified the possible danger they might run from the invasion of irate Spaniards。 Their imagination pictured to them the poor old Spanish warship Viscaya； as having as great possibility for destruction as the entire British Fleet itself。
At all these things Roosevelt laughed to himself； because they confirmed the gospel of military and naval preparedness； which he had been preaching for years； the gospel which these very opponents reviled him for； but instead of contenting himself by saying to them； 〃I told you so；〃 he pushed on preparations for war at full speed； determined to make the utmost of the existing resources。 The Navy had clearly two tasks before it。 It must blockade Cuba； which entailed the patrol of the Caribbean Sea and the protection of the Atlantic ports； and it must prevent the Spanish Fleet； known to be at the
Philippines； from crossing the Pacific Ocean； harassing our commerce； and threatening our harbors on our Western coast。 Through Roosevelt's instrumentality； Commodore George Dewey had been appointed in the preceding autumn to command our Asiatic Squadron； and while； in the absence of Governor Long； Roosevelt was Acting…Secretary； he sent the following dispatch：
Washington； February 25；'98。 Dewey； Hong Kong：
Order the squadron； except the Monocacy； to Hong Kong。 Keep full of coal。 In the event of declaration of war Spain； your duty will be to see that the Spanish squadron does not leave the Asiatic coast； and then offensive operations in Philippine Islands。 Keep Olympia until further orders。
ROOSEVELT
I would not give the impression that Roosevelt was the dictator of the Navy Department； or that all； or most； of its notable achievements came from his suggestion； but the plain fact is； wherever you look at its most active and fruitful preparations for war； you find him vigorously assisting。 The order he sent Commodore Dewey led directly to the chief naval event of the war； the destruction of the Spanish Fleet by our Asiatic Squadron in Manila Bay； on May 1st。 Long before this victory came to pass； however； Roosevelt had resigned from the Navy Department and was seeking an ampler outlet for his energy。
Having accomplished his duty as Assistant Secretarya post which he felt was primarily for a civilianhe thought that he had a right to retire from it； and to gratify his long…cherished desire to take part in the actual warfare。 He did not wish； he said； to have to give some excuse to his children for not having fought in the war。 As he had insisted that we ought to free Cuba from Spanish tyranny and cruelty； he could not consistently refuse to join actively in the liberation。 A man who teaches the duty of fighting should pay with his body when the fighting comes。
General Alger； the Secretary of War； had a great liking for Roosevelt； offered him a commission in the Army； and even the command of a regiment。 This he prudently declined； having no technical military knowledge。 He proposed instead； that Dr。 Leonard Wood should be made Colonel； and that he should serve under Wood as Lieutenant…Colonel。 By profession； Wood was a physician； who had graduated at the Harvard Medical School； and then had been a contract surgeon with the American Army on the plains。 In this service he went through the roughest kind of campaigning and； being ambitious； and having an instinct for military science； he studied the manuals and learned from them and through actual practice the principles of war。 In this way he became competent to lead troops。 He was about two years younger than Roosevelt； with an iron frame； great tenacity and endurance； a man of few words； but of clear sight and quick decision。
While Roosevelt finished his business at the Navy Department； Colonel Wood hurried to San Antonio； Texas； the rendezvous of the First Regiment of Volunteer Cavalry。 A call for volunteers； issued by Roosevelt and endorsed by Secretary Alger； spread through the West and Southwest； and it met with a quick response。 Not even in Garibaldi's famous Thousand was such a strange crowd gathered。 It comprised cow…punchers； ranchmen； hunters； professional gamblers and rascals of the Border； sports men； mingled with the society sports； former football players and oarsmen； polo…players and lovers of adventure from the great Eastern cities。 They all had one quality in commoncourageand they were all bound together by one common bond； devotion to Theodore Roosevelt。 Nearly every one of them knew him personally； some of the Western men had hunted or ranched with him； some of the Eastern had been with him in college； or had had contact with him in one of the many vicissitudes of his career。 It was a remarkable spectacle； this flocking to a man not yet forty years old； whose chief work up to that time had been in the supposed commonplace position of a Civil Service Commissioner and of a New York Police Commissioner！ But Roosevelt's name was already known throughout the country： it excited great admiration in many； grave doubts in many； and curiosity in all。 His friends urged him not to go。 It seemed to some of us almost wantonly reckless that he should put his life； which had been so valuable and evidently held the promise of still higher achievement； at the risk of a Spanish bullet； or of yellow fever in Cuba； for the sake of a cause which did not concern the safety of his country。 But he never considered risks or chances。 He felt it as a duty that we must free Cuba； and that every one who recognized this duty should do his share in performing it。 No doubt the excitement and the noble side of our war attracted him。 No doubt； also； that he remembered that the reputation of a successful soldier had often proved a ladder to politi
