The San Francisco call., 1904-06-22
THE ARMY AND NAVY.

In the meantime. m1ndrul LnaL nlOfdA powers
unsupported by physical strength DO not al
ways avail against selhshness and aggression
we have been augmenting the rorces WHICH
We have brought our navy to high state
OF efficiency and have exercised both army ana
navy in the methods of seacoast defense. Inc
ioint Army and Navy Board has been bringing
the two services together in good understahuins
and the common study OF the strategy H,5 IRS
preparatfon and the cooperation which Will
make them effective in time OF need. Our
sbiDs have been exercised in feet and squad
ron movements. have been improved IN MARKS
manship and mobility ana nave pen ,, SoI
stantly tested by use. Since the last nauond.
convention met We have eonpleI,ea ana .,ll5 alISu
to navy batteships. cruisers, : n. honI.
tors "a torpedo destrOyers and torpedo Doats'
while we have put under construction L" oal-
Four wears ago our army numbered over
100 900 men-regulars and volunteers. 20 per
cent OF them in the Philippines and China
finder the operation OF statutes limiting the
period OF service. it was about 70 lapse oaeS
into it's old and insufficient number or -I,VVV.
and its old and insufficient organization under
the practical control Of permanent STAN de-
partments at Washington, with the same dlVi-
sions Of counsel and lack Of co-ordinating and
directin, power at the head that led to con-
fusion and scandal in the war with SPAIN
During the past -FOUR years Ihe essolS s9 ,sSsn'
by that have received pracIcal erect
The teachings Of Sherman and OF Upton nave
been recalled and respected. Congress has
and a minimum at 60 O0O that maintaining
only the minimum in peace. as We now DO
when war threatens the President may begin
PREPARATION by filing the ranks to the maxi
mum without waiting until arter war mas
begun, he had to wait in 1s9S; PerIns-
details from the line. with compulsory returns
at fixed Intervals to service with troops. so
that the requirements OF the Held and the
camp rather than the requirements OF the office
desk shall control the departments OF admins
tration and supply. corps organlzatlon mas hsS
OF artillery at the head. 30 that there may
be intelligent use OF our costly seacoast de
lenses. Under the act OF February Il, l9oO,
a general staff has been established. organized
10 suit American conditions and requirements
and adequate for the performance or the long
neglected but all-important duties OF directing
military education and training. and applying
the most advanced principles or military scienct
to that necessary preparation for war which Is
the surest safeguard OF peace. The command
OF the army now rests where It is placed by
the constitutional the President. His power
is exercised through a military chief OF stan
pledgcd by the conditions and tenure OF his
office to confidence and loyalty 70 ms ,,S., CO.
mander Thus civilian control or the military
army upon WHICH we must always insist is
reconciled with that military efficiency which
can be obtained only under the direction OF
the trained military expert.
THE MILITIA LAW.
Four years ago we were living under an
obsolete militia law more than a century old.
which Washington and JEFFERSON and Madison
had declared to be worthless. We presented
the curious spectacle OF a people depending
upon a citizen soldiery for protection against
aggression. and making practically no provision
whatever for training its citizens in the use ot
Warlike weapons IN the elementary dutleS
OF the soldier. The mandate of the constitution
which required Congress to provide for organ
izing arming and disciplining the militia had
been left unexecuted In default OF national
provisions bodies OF State troops, created for
local purposes and supported at local expense.
had grown up throughout the Union. Their
feelings toward the regular army were rather
OF distrist and dislike than OF comradeship-
Their arms equipment discipline organization
and methods Of obtaining and accounting FOR
supplies were varied and inconsistent. They
were unsuited to become part OF any homo-
genuous force and their relations 10 the army
OF the United States were underlined and con-
iecturai BY the militia act OF January 20.
1909 Congress performed its duty under the
Constitution Leaving these bodies still to
perforu their duties to the states it made
them the organized militia or the United
states It provided for their conformity IN
armanent organization and disciphne to the
srnnv 81 the United States: 1t provided the
a-svS ~ witch either strictly militia or as
,vol1,nteers they should become an active part
- the army when called upon: Il provided
- their training instruction and exercise con-
iointiv with the regular army: IL imposed upon
tbe regular army the duty OF promoting thei-
sfaciencv In many ways In recognition OF the
serrice 10 the nation which these citizen sol
diers would be competent to render the nation
-