The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-12-16

ih'o orlgades, divisions. field armies
dho nave STATS and supply systems
created for them.
rms Is a fair statement az what
our fnliitary policy has been. and Is
ne war Department year By wear
mas presented to thA legislator q
Of conditions. Minor changes
nave been made. but no definite policy
looking towards the gradual forma-
~ oi q proper military system has
EVER peen adopted. Ii. tomorrow. war
should bteak out Congress would
again nave TO enact hassy and ill-con-
sloered laws We would have to FIJI
up ana create organizations form raw
ana unframed men. We would have
10 form the higher tactical
nons. with new STATS IN many cases
Of political appointments:
there Would be delay. death and de-
ieat- NO nation is going TO wait until
we are ready, but will strike and
strike quickly-and where? That waI
90 not know, and will not know until
the blow is struck"
Where We Are Short.
The mobile or field troops of the
regular army now in the United
States has been organized into divis-
ions. | must pause. here for a brief
explanation.
A division is the smallest ~orsani-
Zatlon which includes the several arms
OF branches Of the service in the pro-
portion required in war. 1t is com
plete in all it's parts and is capable
Of working independently. An army
is made up by grouping several divis-
ions. A division is the war team whose
formation is the result of the worlds
experience IN war; and its proportion
OF infantry, cavalry, field artillery,
and special troops, is substantially
the same in all the armies of the
world. It's strength varies in different
nations from about 1900 to 10000
men. In our service a total of 1915
men and officers is required for a
division of war strength. At the
present time we do not possess a d.
vision of war strength. At the pres
{ ent time we do not possess a division
in the regular army which is com
plete. Our divisions lack a suitable
proportion Of all arms except cavalry
; They are short in all the specla
l troops engineers, signal roops helt
hosnitals. ambulance companies am
munition rains and supply trains
. They are many thousands OF mei
: chort because Of the fact that not
I single company of infantry, troop O
: cavalry. or battery Of field artillery, l
nermitted to be kept at war strengtl
in time Of peace.
Snch being the state Of affairs HOY
can it be remedled!
The necessary steps can be pllell
summarized as follows:
First: By asking Congress to nh |
e war ~trength the very incomplete Oh
visions already existing so as TO pre-
vide a total of $4,000 mobile or mel
troons of the regular army actuall
e in the United States. This lncreas
q would give US a proportion OF Oh
soldier Of the mobile army 20 eve
1.7OO of population, and Wouio stA
u leave us very far below the proper
u ton existing in all other coun.ile
rs If the world. h proportion Is q
follows:
y In Great Britain II Ireland, I
: every 2O5 population.
In rma / to every 20 popuis
r. ton. ;o
In France. / to every so populatlol
d In Russia. / to every 100 popuis
u. In Japan. | to every $50 populs
10 ton.
After such an increase we Won
stilI be very unprepare0, put We lid
y better ask for a little with a chance
- getting IL. lHdn ~ - -
"a need and get nothing.
II Measure of Plain Justice"
90 Second: By asking Congress TO pr
vide for paying h officers and lnt
n Of he organized militia for the TN
he enent by them in armory training al
home study. This is a measure
IT. fnlain Justice, which has been pos
m noned for too man years. me lral
" ING Of a modern soldier has long SIN
he nsssed beyond the stage OF the cor
III nortably picturesque. 1t IS haI
earnest. interesting work today. L
studv of books, printed ~instrucuo
&c and maps is required even of the p
th vate soldier in the ranks OF the M
be tia. The training includes carer
,ot demonstration Of the powers OF |
80 finest arms and cannon that mode
science can produce. II requires
study Of hygiene Incidentally OF gre
sd value to every man as a citizen,
"a primarily il is to him as a soldier. l.
,1t the physical and thought energy tar
ne from his business and recreatl
10