The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-09-05
WASHINGTON LETTER
Our Correspondent Writes Concern
ing Armed Force.

llt OIlllCu SIdICo 10 do
strong a nation in natural resources
looking to the public defense as there is
in the world. Our people, while engross-
ed pursuits of peace, are still animated
with high courage and, IN case of neces-
sity, would disclose as much military
spirit as anvInation on earth. In fact,
supreme confidence in themselves is one
reason for the Indifference of the nation
as whole, to our military arm of the
service. The situation Of the country
adds to the feeling of security. No
powerful nation outside of Great Britain
would have a friendly soil on which to
land an army on this side of either ocean.
From the days of the Revolutionary
War to the present, the Government
has been remiss in building up and equip
ping an army of any considerable size
The discussion of the Army. both in
Congress and in the public press. is
anfriendly, and vet, the Army of the
United States has never been men.
ace to the liberties of the people.
When the settler started west to oc-
cupy and develop the land, our little
Army performed wonderful feats of
valour in protecting the settler. by hold
ing in check the hostile Indians, from
the Atlantic, across the Alleghenies,
through the plains, across the Rock
les, until they struck the Pacific
Ocean; also in the defense of rail COM
munication, putting down lawlessness,
and enabling the American citizen to
develop facilities which to-day guarantee
the prosperity of our people.
From the period of the Civil War
until the outbreak of the Spanish War
the effort of Congress was constantly
eXerted to see where economies could
be introduced in the way of reducing
both the officers and men of the regular
establishment, this course being pursued
so continuously that in 1898, we had an
army CT only %, 600 men inadequately
otficered and with absolutely no organ
ization worthy of the name. All other
nations had organized on modern basis
tomeet the conditions of modern armies.
The old muzzle loaded rifle and the
muzzle loaded cannon had disappeared.
The rapid firing gun and long range
artillery gun had come in, making
obsolete the organization that in case Of
war the militia of the states should
conform to the regular army, and when
it was believed that war must come,
even governors of states urged Congress
TO change the law and provide that the
organization of the regular army should
conform to that of the militia of the
states. In fact, the organization
of the militia was modern and in
advance of the regular army. The
attention of Congress had been called
10 this state of affairs repeatedly, but,
so secure was that body in its,..belief
of the proves of this nation, that some
prominent members Of Congress de
clared on the floor that we did not need
any org anization to whip anybody on
earth; but. when war did come, Con
gress awoke to its responsibilities and
Immediately passed law giving mod
ern organization Of the army.
In 1901, a reorganization bill was
passed which made complete reyolu-
ton in the military army, and this was
believed to Ge of SO through going a
character as to settle, for many years
in the future, the question of army
organization. In time of war, the size
Of the Army was limited to 100, 600; and
in time of peace the President could
reduce the number, so that it has aver
aged about so, 600. The responsibility
Of the Government has grown enor-
mously since the Spanish War, and IN
place of being an insular government,
We now touch the world at so many
points that we cannot avoid response
bilities thrust upon Us. The little Army
compelled to look after the Philippines,
the Hawaiian Islands, Porto Rico, and
Alaska, in addition to the United States
proper, is perhaps the hardest worked
army IN the world.
Later Congress passed what was
known as the General Staff Bill, very
necessary measure, in order TO CO.
ordinate all branches of the Army and
render it an effective machine: but, this
measure in some respects has not
worked as satisfactorily as it should.
One reason Is, l think, because the Gen
eral Staff is anxious to have an army in
the United States too much on the scale
Of the armies of Germany and France
and the great military government of
Europe. Many of the General Staff
seem to be animated more with the
desire to secure promotion and increase
ofrank than is justifiable in this country.
The United States will never have an
army large enough to form the organi-
cation on the plan of Germany or France.
The Army of the United States on a
peace footing is about 50, 600, Germany
is about 800, 600, Japan even more, and
France about the same as Germany.