The sun., 1895-01-02
We Seem to BE Better on.

We Seem to BE Better on
The point that strikes Lieut.. Col. VIII
LIAM LUDLOW OF the Engineer Corps, in hi
study of the military systems Of Europe ant
the United States, in the North american
Reute,0, is that Europe has become "prac
tically an armed camp" He regards it M
one OF the most extraordinary facts Of the
time that "the outcome of centuries Of in
creasing enlightenment and cultivation
among peoples whose avowed creed Is Chris
tianity, should be an elaborate preparation
for mutual. attack" But the adoption
throughout the Continent Of the German
system produces just that result.
The controlling principles Of this system
are universal liability to military service,
with actual service at the discretion OF the
Government; the maintenance OF the largest
practicable trained force, under simple and
perfect organization, with reserve, and
back of that militia; the study Of every
military possibility, with view to prompt
and concerted action at the outbreak of war.
The result is that we find Germany main
tanning, in peace 5s4 ,54s soldiers; France,
b23, 1855; Austria Hungary, 900, 150; Italy,
Britain. IL we include 1921 in India,
22O,509.
In the case of England, however, we do
not find the German system either of uni
versal and enforced service, or of army Or
ganization. Being isolated from the Conti-
nent she keeps up her force by voluntary
enlistments. But she takes the lead in
naval preparations, and expends annually
on her army and navy combined $3.50, ,000,-
900, or about one-third of her gross revenue,
while Germany, expending the same sum,
uses up considerably more than one-third of
her revenue France, richer than Germany,
but carrying an enormous debt does not
scruple to pay $3.50, ZOO, 900 year for her
army and navy while Austria and Italy,
the latter with her finances in sorry state,
pay out about $50, 900, 600 each.
Supposing a vigorous man to be able to
earn double the cost of his support, the with
drawal of these vast armies from the indus
tries of the community might we'll, accord
ing to Col. LUDLOW, represent thrice the
actual cost of maintenance ascribed to them.
Deduct that nucleus of armed force which
Just regard for national defence and the
needs of maintaining internal order and
respect for law might require, and still there
q an enormous balance to be charged
against the oppressive burdens of militarism.
In contrast we have the maximum en-
listed strength of $4,000 allowed to our
regular army, which, through sundry addi-
tions, may become 25,772, with g, SO Off
GERS, thus constituting an aggregate Of
27, officers and men. Even with the ad-
dition of III, ,533 organized militia, which
is the number given in Secretary LAMoNr's
recent report, the total would be small, con-
sidering the area, population, and wealth of
this country. But in reality our State troops
are not withdrawn from ordinary occupa-
tions, and are in no sense burden upon
the country's industries
OF course, as Col. LUDLOW says, the army
would be wholly inadequate in a grave
necessity for resisting foreign attack or
maintaining internal peace; but then it
would be reinforced. Yet the traditional pol
icy of leaving the people free for industrial
and commercial pursuits has shown itself
to be the wisest for us, and there is no need
here of maintaining ian exaggerated arma-
ment," The nations of Europe, on the
other hand, are wearing themselves out
laSter IMAM neeu DO WIN prOulBlOuS ana
costly military establishments, when the
outlay might better be employed in fos-
tering the national vitality and bettering
the condition of the people"
Col. LUDLOW, however, thinks that the
regular army has valuable future in the
United States as national police force, act
ing in strict conformity with existing laws,
for the maintenance of the American system
Of liberty and government. He considers
that the important lesson of recent times for
all our people is the need of enforcing obedi-
ence to law, so long as it is law; and that
Is at the bottom also of military
Still, with an adequate force of
regulars for discharging the duties made
upon the Federal Government by
the Constitution, and with the voluntary
training of the people in the rudiments of
the military art through the militia, and
through the instruction given by army
officers at schools and colleges, we can safely
a policy that presents 50 great
contrast to that of Europe.