Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-23

The battle of Buena Vista was fought with
4759 men against 10000 Mexicans. When
Scott. in August. resumed the offensive.
ii was with LOCO effective men against
36CD Mexicans His army on reaching
the capital was. December 4. reported to
be only 5000 strong. These were the
ma xlmum forces the government, oWmG
to the faulty system, was able TO bring
against the enemy. in spite OF the fact
that we had in service at all times an
average number of 5000 mem as opposed
to $4,000. the largest number of MeXlcans
in service at any one time.
'"rhe cost in money for this war was
s1O2. OJ1 O39. outside of pensions, etc.
The Civil War.
AS to the civil war; Maj. johnson says
1T would have seemed reasonable to be-
lieve that the experiences of our previous
wars would have served to correct the
wasteful and dangerous policy of the
past, but success had blinded our states
men to the valuable lessons. and again
war found us unprepared having Prohteu
nothing by our experience. -
..Oplr army consisted of 1857 men. II
was scattered from the Atlantic 10 the
Pacific. 1t was easy to see that war was
coming. and yet no effort had peen ihaue
to concentrate or put on war 1ootlns out
little regular force, so while by the mlo-
die of April the Confederates' had CON
centrated and equipped :Oco men 1or the
field only a small part OF our regular
army had reached the capital' anu pu,
suing our short-sighted policy the open
ing of the civil war found the president
calling for 1900 militia for three months:
During the continuance of the war All
the errors of the past were repeated anu
even aggravated The bounty system
was utilized in its most vicious form, and
the extent to which bounty jumping was
practiced should suffice to warn all sue
ceeding Congresses against leglsiauoh
which may permit repetition OF scehes
so shameful
LAS a result of the lack of reserves,
and the short enlistment system, the
north enrolled in it's service 2.IIS,to4 men,
which, reduced to terms of three years
equals 2236, 16S men, to fight against
Confederate enrolment, which has never
been estimated to exceed 1.JUoop
1.-The best authorities estimate the cost
of the war exclusive of pensions. at w.
OOO,OO0OO0. If to this we add the $500
100000 paid for pensions, We reach, OF
course to practically $SOOO.O 0OOGo,
without counting the enormous sums paid
as bounties both by the United States and
the states. or the value of the vast area
of public land given as land botinties
IF we consider next the cost of life,
we find that on the Union side alone no.
O7O men were killed in battle while 249,-
AS. or more than twice that number. died
from disease. OF this last ii is authorita
lively stated that at least three-quarters
died from disease incident to soldiers
life which we call preventable diseases.
1T may be stated in connection with
the foregoing that We are the only ma
ton of any standing that fails to provide
reserve of trained officers and men to
meet the requirements of expansion of its
army from peace to war strength. Not
only the great military nations like Eng
land. Germany. France. Russia, Austria.
Italy, Japan. Turkey and Spain maintain
such reserves. but nations like Switzer
land, Norway Sweden. Bulgaria, Servia,
down to the smallest, such as Siam. Peru,
Uruguay and Honduras, maintain them
at all times.
Each year in the United States from
1o.OO0 to 5000 men highly trained in all
that pertains to the military life from the
army. and probably twice that number of
partially trained men from the National
Guard pass into civil life. and their SIKH
and training lost to the government
Under a five-year contract to enter a re-
serve and return to the colorS in case of
a national emergency. the United States
would have a body of from 10000 to
10000 trained and from 100000 to $50 ,,,,I
partially trained soldiers. with which to
raise our regular army and National
Guard to war footing.