The times., 1897-03-28
No Match for Uncle Sam

Now that Greeces shas 9arawn her little
blade and threatens to make terrible
discord in what is called the Concert
of Europe" many parallels are being
defiance to the world and that wont to
be assumed by the stalwart sons Of an
cient Greece when the dogs OF war were
unleashed. 1t stirs the, heart of the
modern Greek to hear himself referred
to as descendant Of men who, with
sword and spear, built up one of the
mightiest military powers of ancient days.
History may repeat itself, says the Greek
Of today, as he prepares to throw away
the scabbard, and the world, always ad-
miring pluck, applauds, and turns to its
ancient history fc- more parallels to suit
the situation.
Americans, being far out of earshot of
discords in Europe's concert and POSSESS
ing judgments unwarped by any constitu-
tional reverence for ancient history can
make comparisons and draw parallels that
come very much nearer the bull s-eye tnan
those now being made and dra WI in the
old world. 1t may seem cruel to reduce
to ShaVings the stories concerning the
mighty armies that conquered worlds IN
the days of Greeces pride; but it is n
fact, nevertheless, that no army was ever
marshalled for war during the period pre-
ceding the Christian era that could Ut
have been scattered like chaff before a
Nebraska cyclone had it been attacked by
Il force such the United States, To say
nothing of the great European powers,
could put into the field today, and this on
even terms, irrespective of any changes
in the mode of warfare.
Much that has been written concern
ing the great masses OF lighting men
that met in oId-tinle battles is greatly
exaggerated, although IL mas been handed
down as history. Even if the imagina-
tion OF the historian is allowed free
rein, however, no serious modification
is necessary i'll the comparison between
ancient and modern armies. The fact
remains that Uncle SAINTS aggregation
of warriors could whip any ancient army
that ever drew sword, could the old timers
he Iesurrected and set in battle array,
fully equipped with modern weapons
To tackle the biggest army first, let the
tremendous force with which XerXes
set out from Persia to attempt the con
quest OF Europe, 4e0 years befOre the
birth of Christ. be marshale1 on earth once
more. XerXcs spent four years i'll assem-
bling this great host. His recruiting
| officers had secured the country for avail
| able men, gong eastward through al
| Asia alIuoSs to the holders OF Siberia and
| China, and south and west TO tie fai ithcst
| borders of Egypt and Ethiopia.
No fewer than roruy-siI nations were
compelled To give up their best men for the
| army that Xerxes intended should sweep
| the whole civilized world. When at last
| he was satisfied with tho. general look of
| things, lie numbered his' vast horde by
| building a wall around / o 600 Ofthem, aId
| measuring the rest in TINS incloSurc he
! found-so ancient historians state that
his army comprised = 100000 fighting men.
| II was constantly Augmented on themarch,
and by the time 1t reached Ther'u2pylae
| the number is estimated by the same au-
| thorites at $500, 900
Xerxes doubtless Thought that nothing
| could ever equal il while the world lasted.
| Counting camp followers, the whole array.
| according TO Ierodotus, numbered about
100000 men. Deducting, besides the
| camp followers, the naked savages armed
with sticks and stones and weapons that
row would be in modern times, there re-
NAMED anarmy of about 200 900 apa bic
warriors OF which the very best, under
the command of Mardonius-ahout BOO 900
men-were destined TO be routed the fol
lowing year, 4T9 b. c.. at Plataea, by
creek force of about 10 900, the combined
army of Athens and Sparta ana their
allies.
But allowing g-what no modern critic
will concede-that the estimates OF His
torian Herodotus are substantially cor
rect and thatthe army OF XerxeS amounted.
rabble and warriors, to the number Of
5000 900 fighting men, still Uncle Sam
could whip the whole crowd with one
hand tied behind him. To this mob OF
| 5000 600 he could oppose over 0,0oo,o00.
| A careful estimate of the fighting force in
| the United States. based on data supplied
| bvthe War Department Showsthat America
| today has available for service in the
| cause OF the country, no fewer than 1O,-
| 149.5gS men. These are not all train
| ed soldiers, any more than We're the hordes
| of XerXes. 1t is safe to say, however, that
at least half this number know how to
| handle n rifle and have at some time
learned how to respond to military orders.
Some We're taught the goose step III the
Kaiser army: others were conScripted i'll