Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-23
The Unprepared ngIo-Saxon.


When the Anglo Saxon, whether his
home be in America or on the British
Isles, goes to war he has a grim way
Of keeping everlastingly at it until the
enemy is crushed. but it is noticeable
that his preparations for the war are
generally made after the trouble has
begun and after he has received a few
costly reminders that he is engaged in
serious business. England, commonly
regarded as a great military power, is
now going through an experience not
unlike that of this country in the eX-
citing days of 81 and '9S. She is hav-
ing to make halt to get the necessary
men to carry on the work begun in
South Africa, just as this country had
to halt after Bull Run and after it
dawned upon us that hostiities were
inevitable with Spain. 1t seems to be
an incurable defect of Anglo-Saxon
qualities. No doubt Germany or Rus
STA or possibly even Japan would have
doesn't follow that any American or
Briton would care to change systems
with these countries on that account.
The Anglo-Saxon is too much in
cined to disregard the old adage about
preparing for war in time of peace.
Both this country and England have
LOT hai
navies than for their armies. Navies
cannot be improvised as armies can, or
else it is logical to suppose that this
Partially toward the navy would not
exist. Englands regular army for
home and colonial service is only 200
900 men, much smaller than those
maintained by Germany or Rus: ia.
When we remember that cOnsidera Die
forces are required in India, Egypt,
and other parts of the great empire the
army of 100000 is exceedingly small.
Yet in England the same statesmen
and papers which are now scolding the
government for being so unprepaIed
tempt to increase the standing army.
1t was the same way in this country,
only last year. Great Britain is not
having a new experience any more
than we had last year. 1t is sim ply
q similar case of not profiting by eX-
perience. 1t is probable that 100000 or
nv )o-
l;sh j. South Africa before the Beers
and their allies are brought to terms,
but the English war officers would
have been called insane if they had
made such a statement, a few months
ago. This means a great amount Of
preparation and the organization Of the
reserve forces, as we'll as the mobiliza
ton of the regulars, all of which ought
to have been done before the war was
entered upon
So unprepared for the war with
Spain was this country that by the
time the fighting began it ought to
have been ended. \ little preparation
would have saved much money and
blood. but the conservative, short
sighted enemies of 'militarism' pre-
vented the maintenance of a regular
army anywhere near a size suitable to
our needs. And now, after the costly
lesson just learned there is the same
blind, unreasoning opposition to a reg
ular army of 100000 men as proposed
in the report Of Secretary Root. Such
army is a small one for our great
nation. 1t would be small if we had
no interests off the continent of North
America itself. Now is the time to
profit by the lessons Of the past and
prepare for war in the time of peace.
Only two years ago the idea of
America or England being in war
seemed SO remote as to be almost an
impossibility. Yet since that time both
countries have found themselves in
volved in conflicts of epoch making
magnitude. The bugaboo of militia
rism'' is not worth a second thought IT
can have no possible significance t.
Americans.