Evening journal., 1912-01-22
SEN. DUPONT
ON MILITARISM
Sees Need of Changes In Laws
That Nation May be
Prepared
SPEECH SHOWS CAREFUL
STUDY OF TIE SUBJECT


vide for raising the volunteer forces
Of the United States in time of actual
or threatened war showed a careful
study of the military laws and OF
the military establishment in this
country and the necessity for changes
IN it, In part Senator DUPONT said:
"Mr. President the act Of April %,
1898, defines the land forces of the
United States to be. first, the Regular
Army, and, second. the Volunteers;
but the act of January 21. 1903. in
relation to the militia known as the
Dick law. as amended by the act Of
May 81. 1908. provides:
"That when the military needs Of
the Federal Government arising from
the necessity to execute the laws Of
the Union. suppress insurrection, or
TO repel invasion cannot be met by
the Regular forces, the Organized
Militia shall be called into the service
Of the United States i'm advance Of
any volunteer force which it may be
determined TO raise.
1T will be seen. then. that this last
legislation, providing for an Organ
lied Militia or National Guard. makes
radical and most important change
IN the composition Of the land forces
of the United States. and constitutes
as our new and second line of mill
tary defense the Organized Militia,
which is placed on novel and en-
tirely different basis by the above act
and it's amendments.
"Mr. President, a discussion of the
legislation which has been enacted of
late years with regard TO the Regular
Army-much of which is important
is not germane to the subject l am
1,ow treating. with the exception of
that portion of the act approved Feb
ruary IA. 1903, which creates the
General staff Corps Of the Army. and
TO this | will return later. 1t may
be remarked, however, that while the
military instruction Of the officers
and men of the Regular Army, has
never before attained the degree of
individual excellence now existing,
its organization, as a whole. is open
to the criticism that 1t is not a well
balanced force for service in the
field. Now. a 'well-balanced force is
a technical expression which means
that such force has a proper and
sufficient complement Of each Of the
three arms of the service-Infantry
Field Artillery and Cavalry-together
with the various special organiza-
tions. such as Engineer troops, Sig
nal troops and others. which are
ancillary to the greater arms Of the
service.
The inquiry may be made as to
how this proper proportion OF the
various arms of the service is deter
mined. In reply. it may be said that
this proportion is reached by careful
study and examination of the opera
tions of military organizations in the
field, and from the actual experience
i'm battle of the armies of civilized
Lations. The conclusions thus reach
ed by all competent military au-
tborities throughout the world. are
that a well-balanced military force
demands at least four field guns to
1.00O rifles. The French Army has
five field guns to 1000 rifles and the
German Army six. Applying these
principles to our Regular Army, We
find that it is largely deficient in
Field Artillery as compared with the
other arms Of the service. and that il
would be at a serious Disadvantage
against a force equal in numbers in
which the proportions of the various
arms were more scientifically adjust
ed. our Army having about two field
guns to 1000 rifles. which practically
speaking, means that we have ap.
proximately only half the Field Ar
tillery that we require TO properly
support the Infantry and Cavalry
now authorized by law.
"The Organized Militia is armed
equipped. and uniformed like ouI
Regular Army, receives military
training from Regular officers, ano
has had more or less experience il
drills and maneuvers with Regular
troops Further. the Organized Mi
litia. under the provisions of thC
above legislation, can be called ou
by the President for any period that
he may specify to erecute the laws
of the Union. suppress insurrection
or repel invasion. and can be order
ed not - y pcyonG the Units - theii
respective states but. # necessary
beyond the limits of the United
States. This large body Of nationa
defenders. so far as its opportunities
GO is in most excellent shape and o
fa-reaching utility and value.
"The Organized Militia is ever
more open to criticism as an ili-bal
anced military force than the Regu
lar Army. aud while. Sd far as tn
regular establishment is concerned
proper proportions Of the various
arms could be provided by appro
pirate legislation, this would not b
possible in the case OF the ORGANIZED
Militia. as it is evident that on ac
count of the expense involved tn
states could not keep up large bcdie
Of cavalry and light artillery. and
Is therefore inevitable that the grea
bulk of the Organized Militia mus
ALWAYS belong TO the Infantry AM
Coast Artillery. As matters HOY
stand, through no fau,t OF its own
the Organized Militia on peace foot
ing has only about twD field guns 4
1000 rifles. an actual deficiency @
about geo field guns: and if il be pu
on war footing-which would ncarl
double its present infantry strength
n would have about one field gIn I
1000 rifles, deficiency of neatly GO
field guns.
Although the President has III
right to call out the Organized Nj
iitia for an indefinite period, it
evident that this period could not b
lnduly protracted without great per
sonal sacrifice and Inconvenience I
The majority of the officers and me
composing the militia, without NOR
Or less disturbance in the CONNER
cial. professional and industria
helds from which thev were sudden
ly Withdrawn. and without subiectin