The evening times., 1898-05-26

to compare our present establishment,
when completed, with the armies Of
other nations, inclusive OF all their
reserves. As they have accepted the
duties, responsibilities and dangers Of
communal life in a common-sense spir-
it, which We have not, and have adopt
ed the maxim of Washington. In time
of peace prepare for war;" which. also.
We have scorned, such a comparison
would make our 27S.500 soldiers look
like such drop in the worlds bucket
that we will not attempt it. Only In
relation to Great Britain, which, how
ever has heavy contingent reserves.
such as Indian and African native
troops, and colonial irregulars and
militia, not counted with its regular
forces, do We make even now anything
like a respectable figure. In compar-
ing our strength with that of the mill
tary powers of the Old World we shall
confine our statements, as to the latter.
as stated in a table compiled by Lieut..
Hamilton. OF the Fifth United States
Artillery. and corrected from the latest
data in possession of the War Depart
ment, December. 1897.
From these sources we learn that at
the beginning Of the present year the
active army and first reserves Of Great
Britain (not including the native In
dian army, etc.) amounted to 4,91S Of
ficers and 215.2sl men, Germany had
22,672 officers and 1,946. $50 men; France
q. $50 officers and 2,02o. 400 men; Italy
is, 400 officers and Sos, 800 men: Austria
Hungary, 1876 officers and s62. 800 men.
and Russia 2S.700 officers and 1.116.S24
men,
By the side of these warlike hosts,
which, it must be remembered, are all
trained and seasoned soldiers. our little
band of 27s.5O0 regulars. militiaman and
new recruits seems of small conse-
quence, but. probably. considering
American intelligence, patriotism and
the relative strength of our present
antagonist, it will be found quite ads-
Quate to the task before it. But, when
that task has been performed. it is
be hoped that our Army will not be
allowed to disappear like mist, as did
that other splendid volunteer army
which existed in 1866. This time We
should think of future national possi-
bilities. and. in reducing our military
to a peace footing, bear in mind the
fact that if We do not need a large
standing army, that will be all the
greater and grayer reason for maintain
ing real, tangible and reliable reserve
army, in which the service of able
bodied male citizens shall be compul-
sorry.
We must never again allow ourselves
to be caught in the foolish position that
We were in 1861 and again in 1885, We
must not allow hayseed provincialism
in the future to deny possession of
modern arms and equipment to the
country. We must all insist that the
only reasonable excuse for a small ac-
tive establishment. will be found in the
maintenance of an excellent and thor
oughly trained and inspected national
reserve. The government cannot too
soon set its experts to work to devise
such an organization, which. to be
useful, must be under the control of
the central authority. In that connec-
ton The Times may have suggestions
of detail to offer in the future. For the
present it is sufficient to call attention
in a condition of defenselsssness that
has subjected it to the amused con-
tempt of all Europe.