New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20
A BIGGER ARMY WANTED.
FIFTY THOUSAND NONE TOO MANY MEN
FOR AN EMERGENCY.
A TRAINED FORCE NEEDED TO CHECK AN hN
EMY's ADVANCE UNTIL RAW TkoorS
COULD BE SEASONED FOR AN Ac-
TIVE

con,prises all told but 5000 men, AS Coih-
pared with tho armies Of other lchdi"s IL"
lions this force is insignificant. and In inc eNc VI
sudden hostities it would be impossible Tor Con-
cross "a nrovde n large regularly trained force
While men and money might both be easily Cd
tainoe there would stlll be lacking the precious
time which has been wasted by |ohsi'sS 49,
Congress In taking this first necessary ana '''-i'
por,ant step, and should be compeiieu 10 law
the situation with an army composed almost en-
tiro,v of raw troops differed by men good ana
.ruo but whose military knowledge. derived chiehy
from the drill regulations includes compdF"'"e'y
nothing of the manner Of obtaining cio'h''S az
equipments. subsistence stores medica' S"ppe''
etc for their commands. OF selecting ana arrdhsinS
camps with due regard TO sanitary principles OF the
Jurisdiction and forms OF procedure OF miii'"iS
courts-martial. and OF n thousand and one 'h'hsS
that will constantly arise and with which an ON
cor must be familiar in order TO preserve the hca'h
comfort discipline and efficiency OF his commahd
In the event of sudden INVASION where IA"
troops would have to be rushed to the theatre OF
operations and into action. 1t is safe 10 say that
the country would lose through sickness ana eN-
nosure far more men than It would by the bullets
Of the enemy
The frightful mortality among the Spanish troops
I'm Cuba during the rainy seasons accounts TOT tho
ability OF mere mob Of insurgents with htue
clothing, food, medicines or arms. to wage Tor over
three years an unterminated war against n coun-
long ago to have crushed the rebellion under other
climatic conditions. The Cubans are thoroughly
Injured to hardships and to the climatic conditions
Of the island; the troops sent there from spun
were not and the difference In the mortality rate
from sickness in the two forces speaks wonders LOT
the better seasoned Cubans. The Spanish soldiers
when landed In Cuba mostly the rawest re-
cruits: they are at put to work cheapy uni
formed 10 learn the duties they have To perform.
The Spanish Con. nssary Department Is notori-
ously poor and inefficient the medical supplies iew'
and the troops are plunged into the swamps ana
fever districts without regard to the season OF the
year or the prevalence OF fever The nat lral result
is that their losses tremendous relative 10 the
forces employed No doubt our regulars could cam
pagn in Cuba with only small fraction of the loss
sustained by the Spanards. due 10 our nearnos5 10
our base of supplies and our superior knowledge
and application of sanitary and hyglenic principles
even during active campaign
At different times Regular Army has cam
pagned in almost every part OF this country, and
while Il has suffered many hardshps. the ability
successfully to campaign under the most adverse
conditions imposed by nature. by men VINO are
trained for IT, has been amply demonstrated. SO
the many good men who Will some day inevitably
be lost in the militia and volunteers might all be
saved If our trained force sufficient to meet
and check the advance OF the enemy until the raw
troops could be properly seasoned for the hard
ships OF an active campaign. Who will be re-
sponsible for this loss II Is not difficult TO de-
termine. 1t will not be the fault of the Regular
Army; 1t will not be the fault of the men VINO per
ish. nor of their superior officers: 1t will be the
fault Of the Government, in having permitted 10
exist until too late a system so pernicious in Its
short ghtedness vicious In It's deadly results
The fact that men willing 10 die for their coun-
try in time Of national need and peril does not in
any measure relieve the Government OF that coun-
try from the sacred duty of every Government TO
hfet tla
lives of such good and loyal subjects Some of our
Congressmen cry. out against any increase OF our
Regular Army, believing, In their narrowness, that
the people Will applaud their efforts at lessening the
expenses OF the Nation. They speak in public and
through the press of the Army as The menace to
workngmen."
Tho history OF our country proves the reverse OF
this TO be true; the record shows not a single In
stance OF oppression by military forces in time
OF peace other than the oppression Of certain re-
strlctions rendered. necessary during tho recon-
struction period Immediately following an epoch OF
take warning for the spirit of the times and Of the
Vote of the people Of the tinted States doubt not
that an act to increase the Regular Army TO 5000
% ST eTSh want mt our Nation 10Y on par
with any in the old World In every respect. We
command instant recognition OF all just claims.
The best men In Congress to-day stand as firm
nen n' in their respective houses They will CON
tinue so to stand until this country springs onward
Hmerican stride by increasing both its military
and its naval power to degree consistent with IT'S
dignihed position among The great family OF ma
lions, and rendering absolute protection to every
inch of our seaboard. to the whole of our land
open port throughout the civilized world.
Reorganize the infantry on the three-battaIion
officers and men IN peace time to become thor
war footing. our drill regulations written for,
and prescribe, drill for infantry so organized. and
Why should we continue the o anfent organ5aom
nnd fortify every seaport and put behind the de-
the guns. Maintain the cavalry, at its present
strength. rather than reduce IT, as has been spoken
more than 10 train either of the other branches
Of the service, and with our already small force Of
Gus 70 suffer it to be depleted Manufacture or
purchase every article or armament and war ma
terla at home, thus developing home Industries and
furnishing employment TO thousands OF men of all
trades.
ago. but among these changes Is TO be noted the
fact that nations have nor grown less Jealous and
cure rights just az surely as it requires hnan-
the individual or the corporation. but the former
must be furnished by he Nation to the individual,
right to demand it from his Government.
The commerce OF weak nation suffers from
peace and 20 secure 1t other nations must be made
to know and feel that 1t will cost them more than
they can afford 80 to with u.s. that they will
gain no glory, territory money but that. on the
contrary, they will probably be the losers. The
conditions one hundred years ago were such that
Washington said: There is rank due the United
States among nations which will be withheld. II not
a bsolutely lost. by reputation of weakness. II
desire peace. OF the most powerful instruments
in our rising prosperity. II must be known that we
are all times ready for war"
The history OF the last century and the conditions
OF today emphasize this sage advice General Lord
Roberts, speaking FOR England at a meeting OF the
Military Society Of Ireland. said:
1T IL not to those who know that address my
SCI O only heard
have never been brought face 10 face with me stern
realities OF war. on all such would impress the
serious the terrible results Of preparedness for
war so graphically described by the lecturer.
Money can do much. but money cannot buy back
lost possessions; money cannot restore furnished
honor: money cannot wipe OUT the stain Of defeat"
1t may be urged that the conditions OF our
fin xyil the of a lnrrc