The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-30
National Defence.

NhtIOuhh DctcnCos
At the time Of the French Revolution
standing armies were small, but when the
French people cut of the Kings head and
overthrow the monarchy all the crowned
heads in Europe became alarmed lest the
movement should spread and their subjects
should cut of their heads and overthrow
their Governments also. With unusual
unanimity they formed coalitions, and on
one excuse or another made war against
France. The invading armies, although
relatively small, would have outnumbered
the French greatly, had the latter de-
pended upon their old regular establish.
ment. Outnumbered and ov~erweighted,
the French would have been beaten and
the course of history would have been al
tered. Seeing this q member Of the Con-
vention offered n law calling for q leree en-
mdsse. This was passed with singular
unanimity, and for the first time in the
history of Europe, II not of the world. the
entire force of q nation within the mill
tary age and fit for military service was
enrolled and put into the field. The conse-
quence was that the French everywhere
outnumbered the invaders, and were every
"ucIC NlCtOElOuS. IcIC III JhCIC ihCOLl-
petent generalship and bad administration
resulted in temporary defeat; but the
general result was that the French were
victorious because "they got there first
with the most men,"
NAPOLEON. while Individually a great
military genius, owed more to the Leree en-
mdsse, which he maintained with increas-
ing severity to the end of his career, han
to all other causes combined; and 1t is to be
observed that he was not overthrow and
France was not overpowered till all the sur
rounding nations practically had adopted
the anne policy and thereby were en-
abled, through the mere force of numbers.
to eat down the French leader and the
French armies! The principle at all stages
of the great game was to reach the vital
point at the vital time with the most men,
and that is now n always must remain
the fundamental principle of war. I'm
provement in arms and munitions may give
one nation a temporary advantage over an
other, and may necessitatc changes in both
tactics n strategy but it annot change
the fact that. all other things being equal,
that nation will win which makes it the rule
to be on hand first with the largest army.
The great European nations have all
adopted the leree en- masse and the con-
scription as a part of their military system.
Every sound man within the military age,
say between 10 and AS, has his place in the
system of defence and has to serve accord
ing to age in the active or standing army
or in the reserves when they are called out.
1t is said that every French citizen of the
military age, no matter where he Is in the
world, has at home his company, his gun,
and his uniform that his address Is known
to the Wa Department, and that within
twenty-four hours after a declaration of
war he would receive his and be
on his way to his appointed rendezvous.
France, Germany and Russia maintain
enormous standing armies and are at all
times ready to mobilize them on the short
est possible notice and while the first
corps are advancing, the reserves are called
out and got ready to follow.
Great Britain maintains but a small
standing army, and depends mainly upon
volunteers when she needs an increase of
force. We have modelled our military sys-
tenn upon hers, with all it's costly imperfec-
tions, and while we have SO far been fairly
able to defend our territory and maintain
the Union, it has been at In enormous ex-
pense of men and money, accompanied by
humiliation and defeat in the earlier stages
of all our wars except that with Mexico,
and followed by a system of pensions the
most extravagant the world has ever known.
The late Gen. UPTON, one of the ablest
soldiers and most industrious students of
the art Of war this country ever produced,
made a very careful study of our wars, of
the forces called out, and OF the money
expended, and came to the conclusion tina
our military system, or lack of system, was
the most costly and the most inefficient of
any mentioned in history. He set forth
his views In an historical work of great
value, entitled the military Policy of
America" and after his untimely death
his heirs offered 1t to Congress for nothing
II 1t would accept and publish 1t. 1t Is
needless to say there was no politics in 1t,
and that, although the Committee on Print
ing recommended its publication, the nee
essary appropriation was not made.
But this does not deter the younger Off.
GERS of the army from studying such ques-
tions. Notwithstanding the unwarranted
denunciation OF the army and its honor
anu hOueoty Which, ociouicu btiil iuTlueT
the page of a New York Mugwump
evening newspaper only a few days
ago in a scandalous pre.judgment of
the Carter case, 1t Is safe to say that the
United States Army never had in 1t at any
time so many officers of ability and learn
Ing as it has now, or 30 many who are
profound students of our own mill
tary problems, or who can write well
and i~ntelligently about them. 1t is
worthy of remark and belief that the
personnel of our officers is not ex-
celled for honor, intelligence, and knowl-
edge Of their profession by any equal
number of officers from any other army
in the world. AS a class they are better
educated. better behaved, and quite as
studious as the Officers of any other nation.
And what is greatly to their credit is the