The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-01
Cuardsmen Keenly Realize
Country Is at the Mercy
of Any Invader.
CAPT. BUTTONS VIEWS
Points Out Only Seven of
Every Thousand Men
Are Experienced.
~ SYDNEY EsPY.

Washington, Dec. 3l.-That the ma.
tioual suardsmen of the nation know
the poor condition OF the United
States In the event Of war with a FIRST
class lighting power. Is made plain by
Captain G. Edward Buxton. Jr. Of
Providence. r. l., u. 8. battery OF
coast artillery. In a communication
TO an army of,icer here he dwells at
length upon the inefIiciency OF our
lighting material. and says:
"Of the 100000 able bodied. ma
tive, or nsturalized citizens OF military
age In the United States. only seven
and q fraction out of every thousand
have received even the military train
ing OF the organized militia. This
body numbers today about 100000 en-
listed men. and 5000 officers. Only a
part Of this handful is efficient.
Major General Leonard Wood.
chief of the general stan has publish
ed his annual report. 1t contains a
well timed appeal, direct TO friends Of
the militia. He says that II the regu.
lar army and organized militia at war
lSCo0to "St0 SoAbSo w as No Noeos
there would be a shortage of more
than so per cent in the Geld artillery
necessary to equip them. The real
gravity OF this statement becomes ap-
parent when we realize that the force
In question represents from a sixth TO
q tenth OF the forces required to sue.
cessfully fight any Of two or three
leading military and naval powers.
The report says that II will take con.
gress so years at the present rate Of
appropriation to provide proper equip
ment and ammunition for the field ar.
tillery. and an equal period to fur.
nish enough ammunition for the coast
artillery.
Three Reflects Needed.
General Cronkhite. who is attach
ed as inspecting oficer with the chief
Of artillery. told me that including the
artillery reserves OF national guard
there are less than half Of one relief
to handle the coast artillery now in
position. 1t requires three reliefs in
case Of war. and one relief cannot ply.
sically sustain over fifteen minutes
Of continuous firing at the rate OF a
shot every thirty or forty seconds
There are su1icient coast artillery
men In the entire country to cousti-
tute three reliefs for guns now in pc.
sition around New York hsrbor.
I'VE can best realize how serious Is
our present situation by drawing a
few modern comparisons. In 1895. we
Unexpectedly clashed with Spain. a
second rate power, An authority has
somewhat fancifully described US in
that conflict as going out like the Cid
to meet skeleton clad In the robes
OF royalty. II required five or six
weeks OF desperate activity to place
about $4,000 men In Cuba To gain
IN idea OF the tactical caliber OF our
antagonist. 1t Is sufficient to say that
the Spanish army in Cuba numbered
more than 100000 men. and yet the
American forces outnumbered the en-.
envy In every engagement of import.
ance. At the end of eleven months
our army numbered 2l1.000 men. par.
TALLY equipped and learning the rudt.
ments OF camp life and soldering
The best equipped volunteers carried
the old Springfield ride and used black
powder. A regiment brisaded with
the First Rhode Island Volunteers for
long period. went on guard with
nothing more formidable than corn
stalks. In that war we. lost fifteen
men from disease TO one from bullets.
In the Russo-Japanese conflict, ia.
pan landed In Manchuria 100000 vet.
Grams. eight days after war was de.
clsred all perfectly equipped and
trained. She lost four men from bull.
let's to one from disease. so perfect
Was her organization. discipline and
prerartiou
Trained Men Needed.
The day In which raw levies could
SUCCESSFULLY oppose trained and dis.
ciplined troops has disappeared. For.