Omaha daily bee., 1898-05-29
TIE MILITARY pnnrER.

iHE miIlIAhl fOU Eh.
At this time all discussion relating
to the military power OF the government
possesses peculiar interest. The fact
that we were unprepared for the war
with Spain, having neither soldiers
munitions OF war for entering at once
upon a vigorous prosecution of HOSTILE
ties, has raised the question whether in
future II will not be wise to make bet
ter provision than we have hitherto
made for maintaining n military estab-
lishment ample in all respects for I'M
emergency hat may arise. There are
advocates Of n larger standing army,
while the opinion Is very general among
those who have given any attention to
the subject that there must be a de-
cided Improvement in the organization
of the militia force of the country,
whether the regular army be increased
or not. There will probably be 40 dis
sent to the proposition that the govern
ment should never again be so unpre-
pared in munitions of war and the sup
plies for e%quipping IN army as 1t was
when existing hostilities were declared.
Undoubtedly this is n question that
will command the serious consideration
of the country when the wal is ended
and meanwhile every intelligent discus
sion of it should receive attention. An
article by Captain Parker Of the United
States army in the North American Re-
view presents the matter from n military
viewpoint. He argues that the Amer
lean people are becoming aggressive and
anxious to assert themselves and their
prowcss, to do which there must be n
proper method of raising and training
armies. At the close of the civil war
this was a formidable military nation,
with a million and a half of men trained
In the profession of arms. Thirty-three
years of peace has, in the opinion of
Captain Parker, impaired the military
talent of the nation. Referring to the
plans for IA permanent enlargement Of
the regular army and for the reorgan-
ization and increase of the national
guard, Captain Parker says they are
illusory because inadequate. Reviewing
the intricate system by which the union
armies were recruited during the civil
war-a very costly system-Captatn
Parker suggests a plan which he thinks
would promptly provide, in time of war,
a large army at once available for ac-
tive service. This plan contemplates
building up the regular army by recruit
ment in each of the states. Without
going into details it is to be said that
the suggestions of Captain Parker ap-
pear to be generally good, but the infer
ence conveyed that the United States
must be prepared with a military estab-
lishment to rival the great powers of
Europe will not be favorably regarded
outside of military circles.
In respect to this question Of future
military power Of course II great deal
be adopted when the present war is
ended. If the American people should
decide to permanently hold conquered
territory it will be necessary to maintain
Il large military establishment, as we'll
us n large navy. In any event a very
considerable increase in our sea
is certain to be made. There is u dem
oHStTdteu ~HtceSSitS loE lnuJ. bul IL
we do not adopt the policy of territorial
expansion there appears to be no good
reason why we should materially, if ut
all, increase the military establishment,
though his does not exclude the idea
of making provision for rapidly mobiliz-
ing an army in the event Of war. In Il
conflict with Europe 1t would be a big
navy and not ii big army that we should
nnaI