The Washington herald., 1907-06-16
SUNDAY. JUNE Is. 1901
Our Militarv Prenaredness.

Secretary Taft in one of his Western
speeches. sounded afresh the familiar
warning that tie American army is in
adequate 20 our present military require
nents. He was speaking. Of course with
out reference 20 American relations with
any other power, and his remarks have
no significance whatever in that respect
He was simply voicing the needs. as he
sees them, of the military establishment
Similar views were expressed in an in
PRODUCTION prepared by Mr.. Taft for
Frederic Louis Huidekoperz article. "Is
the United States Prepared for WAR"
which has just been reprinted in pamphlet
form from the pages Of the North Ameri-
can Review. Mr.. Taft there expresses
the opinion that Congress should make
provision for a small regular army Of
not less than 10000 men, and for an eff
cient reserve of volunteers. together with
a cooperating force of State militia. Mr.
Huidekoper argues for an army Of at
least one man for each thousand Of the
population in time Of peace, and num-
beTing in time Of war at least 250.011 He
advises, in addition, the creation Of a re-
serve OF 10000, composed of men who
have had some experience in the regular
army or in the volunteer service in actual
war.
AIr. HUidekoper's pamphlet undertakes
10 present the American military situa-
ticn from the business standpoint He
Gives ---s-l --a--- 4r,v.----sr-- F.-t- .. -r--,-
the wastefUlness of unpreparedness for
war. Although we are normally a peace
country we have had one year of war
for every four and a half years of peace
since the opening Of our national his
tory. The total cost Of our military es-
tahlishment since 1870. exclusive of pen
sions, has been S. 2f7. .s27.0Sl, and the total
cost Of pensions during the same period
has been $3.50 2-1,i6 A large proportion
Of the enormous total Of our war eN-
peEditgre Mr.. Huidekoper sets down as
attributable 70 mere extravaganza and
mLsmanagement, all of which could be
saved. Ia the writer's opinion. by keeping
the army in a reasonable state of pre-
paredHess. He accepts the insurance
theory IS justifying military expenditure,
presenting it thus.
an army is in reality nothing more than O. ma
rr77i police. ard unless IL Is strong enough 20
maintain order at home and 20 prevent eucroa-h-
ment and m=Hit from abroad, endless evils and
shame must BE- suffered H- the entire people A
strong army protects a nation against such calsmI
ties, and may, therefore. BE- lken7d % a strong
Insurance company conducted hy the government
s zA r-r +T-n
Bureau Of Statistics the trIa valuation Of real and
personal property IN the United States amounted
IN 100 90 20 less 'hsr S2+ 01G103 The mainte-
nance Cf The regular army n 57 553 officers and men
IN 1876 cost ss78lt0jl. go that this charge con
-1rr55 from the standpoint Of insurance alone is -ulg
C. u1r cent an the valuation oi uroperfr. An a1uv
three times the size Of cur present army would. 81 Is
t-'Ga-ed cost less than t1ca the above rate or about
SlH per annm Ou every NG0 q property The
minimum rate NJ insurance uVTu dwelling houses IN
cities IS about $50 and on Offices seldom less than
g a year on each Sleo 1f property insured If the
reader Is a business man. let him C-mrare the rates
which he PAYS the insurance companies with those
charged b. the United States government and ask
himself vhetaer he considers Sl2i an rvrmtant
yearly -s-e Tor che security which would Dr. afforded
to the nation ty am army Of 1900 trained rczl-
lars
M HuiGekoper brings together a mass
Of data. not fattering to national pride.
in support Of the contention that our
armies have been Woefully deficient in
military training AZ the beginning of each
of the wars in which we have been en-
gagged. and that the militia is not TO be
depended upon. even for defense. The
militia. he thinks. should be relegated TO
the third line Of defense. and nothing
more should be expected of it. 'No
sound business corporation he SAYS.
would dream for an instant Of intrust-
ing the management of its affairs to Of
7cials So comparatively inexperienced
and consequently so inferior, as the Off
GERS Of the militia and volunteers.
We think Mr. Huidekoper has some
what Overdrawn the possibility OF an in
vssi0n Of this country by the infantry
forces Of a foreign country. such as Japan
or Germany, either Of which he thinks
able tG land an army OF regulars on
American soil with which the existing
American regulars would be entirely IN
able TO cope. Such an invasion seems to US
rather theoretical than possible, though
Japan would undoubtedly have us at Sc
rious disadvantage in the Philippines. With
adequate naval protection, we ought II
he as secure from invasion as England
for the thousands of miles Of ocean. sepa-
rating our mainland from both Europe
and Asia constitutes formidable first
liae Of defense.
Mr.. Huidekoper's little pamphlet con
tains much that Is Of value TO students
Of the problem Of American defense from
the possible foreign foe, and its arguments