The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-08-26
SUPERIOR TO ANY ARMY OF.
FiCSRS IN THE WORLD.
SAYS SECRETARY TAFT
And the heavyweight Meant .ev
cry Word he Said. Are Better
Equipped In intelligence and
Efficiency.

Wa l'lngton, p c, 'Grg. &c
"oncars OF our army are better
Aduirped IN an respects und are
pore efficient than American
army officers ever were In the
history {. the couutry. III mill.
lry skin and ability they are su.
,'erior to any officers Of The arm
N nf ibe world syH. .u.. r.t
Secretary Taft beio q rstarting
IN Ms tour of the world took par
donable pride in making the state
ment. 1t was uttered In no boast
ful way, but was uttered
.uerely 40 u statement Of fact
which careful inquiry and com.
pnrison have made evident. a.t
aH The Secretary went on to s1y
that American army officers now
know more about their business
than they ever knew before. that
they arr more thououghly trained
than any officers heretofore have
been and he y,ntured the asser
,ion that Amcrican ariccrs are
better equippcd in Intelligence
md ehcicncl than the officers Of
tny other army.Iof toe werld."
Secretary Taft made 1t clear that
The i, Al embarrassment under which
the American army labors nt pre+
rnt 4, a lack of experienced enlist
ed n9u, At present" said he, I'VE
have an army ot only lilt! five thou.
sand men. We ought to have sixty
i've thousand. az provided by law
W course | understand the amount
hat T. used in support of n small ar
my: We have no need at the mo
uent lor a large army aud it is urg
I'd that, ii war should break Out, We
could raise quickly an immense vol
untrcr force rhe civil wnr is indi
tated an example Of what We may
DO via q volunteer force.
"Mmd YOU, am not looking for
war. Il may lee long time before
this country again becomes involved
IN wa: hut We ought 10 be- prspar.
d for eycntuanties We can not
raise equip aud disclplmr au army
in few hours or IN a lew week.. Tie
lrmic, which Comprised the Union
forces durins the civil war conshtu-
"a tn bcst volunteer fighting torc
ever assembled on earth; hut lr re-.
auired months oven YEAR tprl
them IA become immurvd "a the tri. /
ais ad hardships and lire ul real /
war Of course we could raise 4
volunteer army. in an emergcncy. .
but T. would take time. Meanwhile /
we ought to set the reguar army 1
up 10 It's maximum strength. under |
the law, 10 w this II will bee nee.
'S'sary 10 make the serNi ice attract.
I've Conditions must be made such
IN thr service as to bring into n !,
military establishment the highest
standard OF men in any army lu
lgder 10 bring about this result, per,
laps some changes will have to b.
made In the laws. providing Tor more
pay for the enlisted mon and other
'hangos In conditions
VA secret Is made of the fact that
: VIZ rous effort is TO be made in
hs near future ~ indgcs congress to
lutholiLr the re.estahilshmeut OF the
'aute,u in the armv n Is maintain,
ID by army officers who have stud
ed the situation mat me abolition OF
he canteon has done more 10 rpntc,
army life matuncrt4ye 70 the Nllist-
u mon ihan amy uJh,v one thu1g
''rom srcreatry ratt down, puotic.
ally every officer ot tha vaI depart
ucnt and every ofticer of the arms
'ocors the '"st.flu.m OF N, ra,t.ru
rhey know from practical rvcrJ. Jsy
'xperlynee What me sipaRQlA, IL asf
.heSe Is not q department or post