The record-union., 1899-06-25
A SUFFICIENT ARMY.

The increase Of the army strength OF
the United States awakens fears In the
minds of some which are wholly I'M
warranted. The fact is that our army
is smaller relatively to population and
extent of, country than it was forty
years ago by more than so per cent
No one wishes militarism to become an
evil in this country No one who is
well advised Of the necessities and char
acter Of the nation fears that it ever
will be, or that militarism will ever
exist here.
But that we need a greater force
than now provided, even in times Of
peace, is the judgment of the best in
formed minds of the nation. If, un-
happily, we should become involved in
war with another nation we would find
ourselves in a deplorable plight A
great Power with an army Of 100000
men, despite our naval force, could land
an army upon our shores that, while
it would eventually be driven out,
could inflict upon US incalculable in
jury.
We are proud of our volunteer re-
serve force We have reason to boast
Of the army that we can suddenly put
into being, and that at the close of the
necessity would dissolve into civil life
again. But even the most valiant Of
volunteer armies Is at a great disad-
vantage It is not modified so easily
as at first seems, and it is not whipped
into fighting shape in any short space
of time. Our recent experience in the
Spanish War demonstrated that fact,
and proved how insufficient Is the reg
ular force. It is not, in fact, stronger
when fully employed than is necessary
to care for and guard Of the military
property of the nation and the main
tenance of frontier posts.
It is one thing to call into existence
an army, and quite another to teach
it to efficiently handle the implements
of war. No volunteer force can accom-
plish the arts of modern gunnery in
weeks or in months. That arm of the
service requires long and constant
training. Again, in the raising of a
volunteer army the inefficiency of its
equipment Of officers is lamentable,
however much the official force may
be inspired by patriotism 1t was
proved in the late war how deplorably
Uniformed were the volunteer officers
in the matter of camp life and camp
sanitation Even the surgeons of the
volunteers, however skilled as practic-
ing physicians and surgeons at home,
We're for the most part ignorant Of
camp duty, and the result was sick
ness and mortality that is practically
unknown where surgeons have charge
who are specially equipped by training
for camp service.
With a population of 100000 of
people scattered over a vast expanse
of territory; with a sea coast line
longer than that of any other Power on
the globe except one; with frontier lines
along borders of two other powerful
nations; with army posts separated by
thousands Of miles and transportation
distances to be covered only by many
days of rapid rail travel-an army of
100000 men would not only not be a
large force. but really not more than
ADEQUATE to- our needs in times OF
peace,
| Nor would such a force be cause for
alarm at militarisn. Our army for vari-
GUS reasons could not and would never
be involved in political and govern
mental movements, making it polit-
ical factor. The conditions with US are
80 distinctly different from those in