The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-10-12
INCREASE THE ARMY.
General Schofeld Thinks It Ex-
tremely Necessary.
A CHAPTER ON STRIKE DISORDERS


President should Have Power to Increase
the Army in Such Cases-The Lesson
Taught by Japanese Victories.
WAsHNGToN Oct 12-Major General
Schoheld, general Of the army, has made
to the secretary Of war his report on the
operations Of the army during the past
year The report is of peculiar interest,
both on account of the fact that General
Schotleld, who has been at the head of the
army since the death of General Sheridan,
announces his retirement next year, and
from the fact that it is principally devoted
to a discussion of the necessity for strength
ening the military arm of the government
TO cope with internal disorder as well as
possible danger from without, particular
reference being made to the Debs strike.
During a large part Of the year" the
report says "the army has been employed
in the suppression of domestic violence,
which took the form in many cases of for
cible resistance TO the execution of the
laws Of the United States, seizure or dis
truction of property under the care of
United States officers and open defiance of
the national authority.
"These disorders, at first local in their
character, spread at length to about one
half in number 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.
'It would seem unnecessary TO point
out the fact that any force like the militia
of a state, or the police of a city, acting
principally under another authority,
though highly efficient in their appropriate
service, cannot be made IA reliable instru-
ment for the prompt and effective execu-
tion of the laws of the United States
Manifestly, every government should have
an adequate force of its own for the execu-
ton of its own laws, no less than the
judicial and executive officers necessary
! for the same purpose.
"The country is now for the first time
squarely confronted with the necessity of
making adequate provision, not only for
defense against any possible foreign ag
gression, but also for defense against do
nestle violence in the form of forcible re-
sistance to the laws of the United States.
A just estimate of these means of defense
| requires consideration of the vast extent
| Of the United States territory and the
! great amount of property widely dispersed
| throughout this territory, either belong
| ing to the United States or in such condi-
| tion as to be under the protection 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 at any time be required,
"Such disorders as those which have
afflicted the country during the last year
! do not come suddenly, or unexpectedly
INF OH ba
| prediction of such troubles year before
they appeared Coincdent with the first
indication of coming disorder was a dimin-
ution of industrial employment, by which
| large numbers of honest and faithful la
| borers were deprived of their accustomed
| work, and hence sought enlistment i'm the
| army If authority had existed by which
| the president could have received a few
| thousand of these men into the ranks they
| would have become well disciplined, re
| liable soldiers by the time the troops were
| called out TO suppress mob violence
| 'In respect to the military necessities
| which may possibly arise out of conflict
! with foreign powers it has for many years
| seemed impossible to impress upon the
| people of the United States in general the
views entertained by all thoughtful mil
| itary students This impossibility appears
to have resulted very largely from the ma
tional self esteem which grew out Of the
results Of the great domestic conflict
through which the country passed in the
period from 1861 to 1865. The condition of
the public mind since that time has been
| that of confident invinciblity against any
possible foreign attack However humil-
iating it may be TO this self esteem, it is
nevertheless a 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 dis
| grace, to result possibly in the overthrow
! of dynasty at the hands of little nation
of one-tenth its population and about one
tenth its territorial area And why is
this? 1t is not because great people are
lacking in talent, or general education OF
military courage, but because they have
failed to develop their military strength
and resources, in which they are far be-
hind the enterprising little military nation
that is now teaching them and the world
this tremendous lesson.
"The relation of the United States to
the great military powers of Europe now
exhibits "a far greater disparity in respect
TO preparation for war than that which has
existed between China and Japan VIII
the people of the United States and their
representatives have the wisdom to profit
by this lesson?"