New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-17
FOR An EFFICIENT ARMY.

If we are going to have war. let us have a
carried on by soldiers. not by politicians
This country has had bitter experience of the
evils Of conducting campaigns with amateurs
All the humiliating history of the land opera
tons Of the War Of 1912. the failure Of the in
vasons of Canada. the burning Of Washington
were due 10 green troops bad discipline and
incompetent officers. The early days of the
Civil War repeated the lesson. Prominent citi-
Zens organized companies and regiments from
among their neighbors and turned them over TO
the Government as organizations II took
months to make them fit for anything, and all
the while they had to be treated by the au
thorities not as soldiers, but as constituents
condescending TO give their servants. the Army
officers some assistance. If the same men had
been available for the discipline and compan
ionshlp Of the Regular Army they could have
been Of service In a fraction Of the time and
tremendous wastes of blood and treasure might
have been averted The volunteer Organiza-
tons were the necessary outcome Of circum-
stances and did the best they could for their
country. and are honored by 1t, but that is
reason why the defects Of old methods should
be ignored.
Yet when expert opinion devises a scheme To
Increase the Army in case OF war, with view
10 securing its greatest efficiency in the short
est space Of time, we find 1t bitterly opposed
In Congress on behalf Of militia organizations
and politicians who want their neighbOrs To
set them on horseback and call them General"
Consequently the Hull bill was recommitted In
the House Of Representatives as the alternative
10 It's defeat. Now It has reappeared. much
less valuable than 1t was, but still good 80 far
as it goes. Instead Of giving US force Of 104,
900 men, II provides for an increase to only A.
600, by skeetoniZing the present companies and
introducing volunteers directly among the vet
Grams ms originally planned, only in smaller
numbers 1t will be National misfortune II
militia companies and mprovised regiments for
the greater part OF any military work which
we may have TO undertake.
Already mllitiamen asking If the Presi-
dent has power 10 send them to Cuba, and his
power is at least doubtful 1t Is common TO
hear men who speak Of volunteering specify
the kind Of service they want to perform. Such
questions and specifications are all very well
for home service, and that Is what militia are
intended to do in the main. But when It comes
to putting an army into n foreign country, TO
getting beyond the comforts Of civilization, men
are needed who can be sent anywhere and have
no divided allegiance, no claim to special con
slderation, no questions Of law TO discuss. War
to-day is a more serious business than ever be
fore, and more depends on the training and dis.
cipline OF men than ever before Tactics have
changed, the militia methods Of organization
have been superseded, fighting Is done by scat
tered squads, in which one or two trained regu-
lars can make handful Of green men effective,
while complete squad Of halftrained or mere
ly armory-trained men would be helpless and
hopeless The sergeant and corporal are a
tower OF strength In modern warfare, and they
must be veterans. Therefore it is necessary
that additions to the Army should be made