The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-11-14
He HAS LEARNED
FROM EXPERIENCE.

Democratic newspapers on the main
land find cause for alarm in the report
that President Roosevelt in his first
message to Congress will recommend
radical changes in the national guard
Tha President, it is reported, believes
that the militia should be better or
gained and more frequently and more
thoroughly drilled. and that the regu-
lars should be required TO give more
attention to the maneuvres and cam
paign operations OF actual war.
These newspapers find in this report
ground for suspecting President
Roosevelt of a purpose to reorganize
cur army upon European models. and
find in his expressed opinions signs OF
the progress Of militarism in country
founded upon the philosophy of peace.
They warn the President that military
lessons learned in time of peace are
unsuited to the battlefield; that our
misfortunes in the war with Spain
were attributable not to any short
comings among the men, but to the in
capacity and jealousy of some of those
in command.
Mr. Roosevelt knew better than
most men the evils of unpreparedness
at the beginning of the war with Spain
in 1898. and any recommendations that
he may make as to the reorganization
of the national guard will be based on
lessons learned when the government
was striving to provide an army of
100000 men. with quartermaster's
commissary and staff departments or
ganized to provide for only $4,000.
We are only three years from the
disheartening experience of hurrying
unseasoned volunteers to the field in
1898. and yet there are newspapers
oblivious to all the facts and lessons
Of that experience. The truth is that
We sacrificed many lives, encountered
many difficulties, and fought our way
through unexpected complications be-
cause We were wholly unprepared for
war.
The civil war. in the course of four
years experience in the field. had
taught us that seasoned troops were
more valuable ten times over than un-
seasoned troops; that men drilled and
trained to take care of themselves in
field operations kept their health and
strength, whereas unframed men be-
came sick AMI Gispirited But in the
thirty years of peace we had forgotten
al the lessons. and when the war of
1898 came upon us we were no better
prepared thar we were in 1851.
We hurried men from peaceful vo-
cations and fiJm comfortable homes
into crowded camps. without proper
equipment. and into the field. There
was sickness in camp. There Was
lack of equipment There were all the
usual ills that follow any plan to
throw unseasoned volunteers into hard
military service; and yet only three
years after a practical illustration of
the evil effects of Unpreparedness for
war. we have Democratic newspapers
criticising the President because he is
suspected OF proposing to make our
regular and volunteer service better.
Without doubt the Presidents rec
viii be in line with the
made by hundreds
OF the officers of the national guard in
the several States. There was no lack
Of enthusiasm when volunteers were
called for in April, 1898 There was
no reluctance on the part of the ma
tional guard regiments to march at
once to the front. but when they were
N camp II was discovered that they
we're only partially equipped at best:
that hundreds of men, so far as actual
camp experience was concerned. were
on the level of raw recruits, and that
most OF the regiments had never had |
for brigade OF division
drin.
President Roosevelt. familiar with /
the disadvantages of the present mil |
tia system. remembering his expert |
ences in Cuba and as Governor of New
York. is crtainly competent to make |
4 recommendation that viii be recefv |
ed in the proper spirit BIZ the Ameri- !
can people. and it may be taken for
granted that. whatever recommends |
ton he may make. he win have in i,
mind an American. not a European.
system.
ADJUSTMENTS