Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-10-18
OUR ARMY.

Gen. SeEoleld Thinks 1t Too Small Even to
Suppress Homo Troubles-LessOn OF the
Debs Strike-Interest in Military Educa-
tion.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12.-Maj. Gen.
Schofield has made to the secretary of
war his report on the operations of the
army during the past year. Gen. Soho.
field announces his retirement next
year. The report is principally de-
voted to discussion of the necessity
for strengthening the military arm of
the government to cope with interna-=
tiona1 disorder as we'll as possible
danger from within, particular refer
ence being made to the Debs strike.
The report says:
During large part OF the year the army has
been employed in the suppression of domestic
violence, which took the form in many cases of
foreible resistance to the execution of the laws
OF the United States, seizure or destruction of
property under the care of United States OFF,
GERS and open defiance OF national authority.
These disorders, at first loctl in their charac-
ter, spread at length to about one-half in num-
Der and two-thirdS in area of all the states and
territories, excluding Alaska. So widespread
and formidable an inSurrectiOn called for the
vigorous action dictated by the president. AT
the city of Chicago resistance to law assumed
such formidable proportions that it nee
essary to concentrate at that place nearly all
the army forces that could be made available
from all parts of the country. while on the Pa
cifc coast the navy department placed at the
disposal of the department commander the ma
val and marine forces at the Mare Island navy
yard and those forces rendered valuable Serv-
ices. The responsible duties thus developed
upon the army department commanders were
performed by them and the troops under their
command in the most satisfactory manner.
The instruction was promptly suppressed
without unnecessary sacrifice of life in
any case.
The prompt and vigorous action of the troops
in all cases and the great forbearance mani
tested by them when subjected to all sorts of
insults and indignities, designed to provoke
retaliation. were worthy of the very highest
commentator. 1t illustrated in the most
striking manner the value to a government
of well disciplined force at all times, subject
to orders Of that government for the enforce
ment of the faithful execution of its laws. It
would seem unnecessary to point out the fact
that any force like the militia of state, or the
police of city, acting primarily under another
authority though highly efficient in their ap-
prorriate service, cannot be made a reliable
instrument for the prompt and effective execu-
ton of the laws of the United States. Mani
testify every government should have ade-
Quate force of it's own for the eX ecution of its
own laws, no less than the judicial executive
officers necessary for the same purpose.
The country is now for the first time squarely
confronted with the necessity OF making ade-
any possible foreign aggression, but also for
defense against domestic violence in the form
of forcible resistance to the laws OF the United
States. A just estimate of those means of de-
Tense required consideration of the vast extent
of the United States and the great amount of
property widely dispersed throughout this
territory, either belonging to the United States
or in such condition as to be under the pro-
lection of the national government When
these facts are duly considered, it becomes
manifest that the present strength of the army
is not adequate to the performance Of the
service which may be at any time required.
1t is certainly manifest that the present con-
ditiOn of the country, with a population OF
nearly T0,000,000, under the danger of
disorder now known to exist, cannot
be met by the same force that was
deemed adequate twenty-five years ago, when
the population OF the country was less than
half its present amount and domestic violence
was not apprehended. One man to IA square
miles of territory, or one man to $500 pOpula-
| ton, is surely very small guard to protect
| property and prevent violation of law, leaving
out of consideration the force necessary to
| guard the extended sea coast against sudden
| attack by a foreign enemy.
| 1t is also worthy of remark that more than
once during the last summer an Infatuated mob
| in single city was twice as formidable in num-
| Der and capable of doing vastly greater in
| jury to life and property as the most form1d-
able combination of Indian warriors that ever
confronted the army in this country. In a few
| words. the army has been recently required to
| deal with an army lar more numef Gus and
| dangerous to the country than any savage
enemy which it has heretofore been called upon
to meet. The effective strength of the army
should be considerably increased
In respect to the military necessities which
may possibly arise out of conflict with foreign
| powers it has for many years seemed impoSSi
BILE to impress upon the people of the United
| States in general the view entertained by all
thoughtful military students. This impoSSi-
| bility appears to have resulted very largely
from the national Self-esteem which grew out
| of the results OF the great domestic conflict
through which the country passed in the
/ of the public mind since that time has beer
that of confident invincibility against any pos
| sible foreign attack. However humiliating il
| may be to this confident self-esteeu, it is new
| erthelesS simple duty to point to the great
military lesson which is now being taught to the
entire world The most populouS and one of the
! most wealthy of all the nations of the earth is
| subjected to extreme humiliation and disgrace
and to result possibly in the overthrow OF
! n dynasty, at the hands of little nation o.
One-tenth of its population and about one
| tenth of it's territorial area. The time has
| fully come wlEon the people of the United
| States should dismiss the over-confdence borT
| of past experience and look the future squarely
| in the face. The most liberal appropriations
for this purpose Will be the wiSeSt economy.
In this. the last annual report which expect
to be called upon to write. deem 1t my duty tt
| make a last and more emphatic presentation K
! my fellow citizens and to their government O
| what con slider requisite to place their mill
| tary establishment in all respects q footing
| commensurate with the interests, dignity anC
honor of u great nation
Concerning military education Gen