The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-12-07

Z, 1905.
should become endangered. France,
Germany and the other fellows say
exactly the same thing. Everybody
processes to be Mortified at the very
mention of war; yet everybody prepares
for one. That proves that everybody
admits the possibility, aye, even the
probability of an armed conflict. To
build up and maintain a modern army
and navy is very expensive affair;
and the worst of it is that very expense
is continuous one.
With whom are we going to have
war? Of that we do not even have an
idea; neither do any of the other coun
tries. Itmay be against single nation,
and it may be against coalition of
nations; it may be against an inferior
adversary, and it may be against SUI
perior forces. Our geographical posi-
tion affords an excellent security for
our home shores, which could be
invaded only by a combination of
several nations. This fact is fully
recognized in Washington, and that is
the reason why our solicitude extends
itself principally to the strengthening
of our navy, while the, other nations
deem it advisable also to maintain
immense standing armies. Itis difficult
| 70 nd hof
have occasion to use our superb naval
| fighting machine, no matter whether it
is on this continent or in distant coun-
tries, we should not also have need of a
strong army, either for defensive or
offensive purposes
At the present time we have stand
ing army of about 81, 900 men, includ-
ing officers. Besides that, our combined
states can send into the field about
10000 superannuated militiamen.
That is very small number compared
to the millions of trained and fully
equipped soldiers, which all except one
of the other great powers, can mobilize
at almost moments notice.
A nation is never sufficiently pre-
pared for war by merely furnishing the
money for the maintenance, equipment
and armament of her forces, without
at the same time properly preparing
and developing the material. This
material, the best part of every army,
is the men who represent it, and that
material is not furnished by the
government, but by the nation. The
army can drill and discipline her re-
cruits, but is unable to make good
patriotic soldiers out of men who are
not imbued with the qualities good
soldier should possess, or who are
mentally and physically defective.
The service in our standing army is
not compulsory, nor do we have con-
scription. Therefore it is not an army
of the people. We hire our soldiers.
By offering extraordinary inducements
in the matter of wages, board and
treatment, we have been able to obtain
a physically good material. Unfortu-
nately, in time of peace our people take
little interest in the army, and the men
who join it for the sake of the high
wages, are generally looked upon as
rather worthless individuals. 1t Ger.
tainly is fact that hardly any Ameri.
can, who can make good living fol
+ himself, will ever even think ofjoinine
the army. The consequence is that
. our army does not possess the necessary
= corps d'esprit We do not like tc
+ acknowledge this fact; but figures talk
!, very eloquent language. In the ons
q year ending June 30th last, no less thar
3 $685. soldiers, over ten per cent of tht
a total army strength, have deserted
y from the ranks.
. It can be safely predicted that thes'
o excessive desertions will continue
= until there has been radical change O.
public sentiment towards our army
The punishment of the deserter alon'
will not suffice; the public must con
slider and treat him as social outcast
a criminal against the honor ant
/ dignity of the commonwealth.
The country which goes to war, hope
to win. But victory always falls to tn
strongest on the scene of battle. A
It human capability is imperfect, tn
Al result of war will not depend a
IT much on the greater heroism of one o
it the combatants, as on the inferiority Q
st the other; of two weak adversarie
,e the least weak will always be th
ls victor. No matter how strong, or ho'