The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-14
XERXES NO MATCH
FOR UNCLE SAM
This Great Nation Could Meet Any Army
Ever Mustered.
NO ODDS WOULD BE ASKED, EITHER
We Could Put Over Ten Million Good
Men Into tho FieId--HaIf of Them
Trained Fighters--National Guard
Alone Could whip Alexander with
His own Weapons--Comparisons ms
That Are Surprising.
From the Pittsburr Dispatch.

1t may seem cruel to reduce to shaw
ings the stories concerning the mighty
armies that conquered worlds In the
days of Greeces pride; but 1t is a fact,
nevertheless, that no army was ever
marshaled for war during the period
preceding the Christian era that could
not have been scattered like chaff be-
fore a Nebraska cyclone had 1t been
attacked by force such as 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 fighting men
that met in old-time battles is greatly
exaggerated, although it has been
handed down is history. Even If the
imagination of the historian is allowed
free rein, however, no serious modifi-
cation is necessary in the comparison
between ancient and modern armies
The fact remains that Uncle Sans
aggregation of warriors could whip
any ancient army that ever drew
sword, could the old-timers be resur-
rected and set in battle array, fully
To tackle the biggest army first, let
the tremendous force with which Xer-
xes set out from Persia to attempt
the conquest of Europe, 4S0 years be-
fore the birth of Christ be marshaled
on earth once more. Xerxes spent -four
years in assembling this great host.
His recruiting officers had secured the
Empire for available men, going east
nd ali h.;A al, Al.
| borders of Siberia and China, and
south and west to the farthest bord-
ers of Egypt and Ethiopia. No fewer
than 46 nations We're compelled to give
up their best men for the army that
Xerxes intended should sweep the
whole civilized world.
HOW XERXES COUNTED.
When at last he was satisfied with
the general look of things he num-
| bered his vast horde by building a wal
around 10000 of them, and measuring
the rest in this enclosure, he found
| so ancient historians state that his
army comprised 100000 fighting men
1t was constantly augmented on the
march, and by the time it reached
Thermopylae, the number is estimated
| by the same authorities at 2,500,000
Xerxes doubtless thought that moth
| ing could ever equal it while the world
| lasted. Counting camp followers, the
whole array according to Herodotus
numbered about 100000 men. Deduct
| ing, besides the camp followers, the
| naked savages armed with sticks and
| stones and weapons that We're about
as effective as the bow and arrow would
be in modern times, there remained ar
army of 100000 capable warriors, OF
which the very best, under the com.
| mand of Mardonus-about 300, 900 mer
were destined to be routed the fol
| lowing year. 479 b. c., at Plataea by
a Greek force of about 10, 900, the com.
| bined army of Athens and Sparta an6
their allies.
But allowing-what no modern critic
will cOncede-that the estimates of His.
| torian Herodotus are substantially
| correct, and that the army of XerXes
| amounted, rabble and warriors, to the
number of 100000 fighting men, still
| Uncle Sam could whip the whole crowt
with one hand tied behind him. Tc
this mob of 100000 he could oppose
| over 100000.
A careful estimate of the fighting
force in the United States, based or
data supplied by the war department
| shows that America, today, has avail.
| able for service in the cause of the
country, no fewer than 1O,149, ,59S men
| These are not all trained soldiers, any
more than were the hordes of Xerxes
1t is safe to say. however, that at leas
| half this number know how to handle
a rifle, and have at some time learn.
| ed how to respond to military orders
| Some were taught the goose step in the
| Kaiser's army; others were conscript.
ed in France, Italy or Austria, or serv,
ed the Gar and smelt powder in the
| Russo-Turkish war; while still other.
wear medals won in one or another o.
Britain's ceaseless scrimmages. So
| that If II came to recokoning camI
| followers and fighters together Uncle
Sam could annihilate Xerxes and hi.
resurrected warriors by opposing TO-.
| 100000 to 100000; while separatine
rabble from soldiers on both sides, tho
proportion in favor of the Americans
would be about four to one in the
shape of 5,000 400 of fighters to the POO,
| 900 moderately effective men under tbs
Persian monarch-a crushing disparity
that would cause xerxes to regret hav.
could nave made short work even OF
Alexander. This American force would
comprise 145, ,931 effective men trained tc
| the use of arms. Among them would
be the 26,955 enlisted men who make
up Uncle Sans gallant little army
an army that stands ready to tackle
anything of it's own size at any time.
| To this sturdy nucleus would be add.
ed the 1886 men comprising the Ma.
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