Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-08-05
VOLUNTEER ARMY
PRESENT Day NEED
AUXILIARY TO REGULARS THE
GREATEST DEFICIENCY IN
MILITARY SYSTEM.
MEXICAN SITUATION sTlRs
AE.MY OFFICERS TO ACTION
EcPe to Secure Legislation Permitting
Equipment and Drilling Of Force to
be Used in Emereeneies-Say coun-
try Will Awake One Morning With
War on It's Hands.
Especial Correspondence

Especial correspondence
Washington, Aug. 5.-Now that there
are renewed threats of trouble with
Mexico, army officers are crying out
for the enactment of legislation which
;hey say is greatly needed. They take
The position that legislation for the
proper organization Of volunteer army
is especially felt at times like these
when the country may awake almos,
any day and find itself involved in diff
ficulties which will require use of
troops across the Rio Grande. True.
such use of troops may never be re-
CURED. but on the other hand it is the
general feeling in army. navy and con-
gressional circles that the Mexican
situation is a mine OF danger which is
ilabie TO explode at any time.
Volunteer Army Needed.
What is NEEDED. the army officers
aver, is careful legislation for the or
gsniZation of a volunteer army in time
OF war Further legislation touching
the national guard is also needed.
Chairman Hay of the house committee
on military affairs has lately intro
duced bill providing system Of or
gaming a volunteer force. This meas
ure tho it does not go as far as some
of the army men think it should, it is
generally admitted would be vast
Improvement over existing legislation.
The situation as to organization OF
a volunteer army in time OF serious
need illustrates the fact that 1t is we'll
nigh Impossible TO get congress walked
UP on military matters except in time
Of actual danger. The doctrine of pre-
pairing for war in time OF peace Is
given little heed. This country has
never. according to army authorities.
had the problems of dealing with the
volunteer forces worked out with fore
thought and system. Back in civil war
days, legislation was hurried. much Of
it was hitched to appropriation bills
and one situation after another was
dealt with as it arose. When the
Spanish war came on, the country was
again caught mapping and the organi-
cation Of the volunteers was dealt with
IN emergency fashion. The result was
that the administration was over
whelmed with candidates for shoulder
straps pulling and hauling for places.
unfit officers were commissioned, the
organization Of regiments was need
lessly expensive. and the conduct OF the
war was reproach on the American
military system, in spite OF the fact
thai there were no disasters in the
field
Problem Of Long Standing.
Since the Spanish war, many efforts
have been made to work out the volun-
teer problem and to formulate sys-
tematic legislation which would, on the
outbreak Of war. make 1t possible
easily to raise regiments. to do it
without getting the army swamped by
the politicians. and would insure al
once a reasonable economy combined
with efficiency Of the personnel OF of1i-
Gers and men. Quick and systematic
orRaniza ton must be assured, accord
ing to the military view, II this coun-
try Is to make any showing In the
next war Of first class or even mod
crate proportions. Roosevelt urged leg
islation TO this end, and DO did Tart.
Stimson, and others. In fact, every
head Of the war department In recent
years and every chief Of staff down to
and including Gen. Leonard Wood
| have been insistent on having congress
take hold Of the volunteer problem
and work out q comprehensive scheme
! for quick enlistment and effective or
| ganization and differing.
Regulars Are Prepared.
Congress has never. however. seen
! ft. to bestir itself. Army men hope II
! will do something the coming regular
session, especially as Secretary Garri-
son is showing himself to be one Of the
most vigorous and able heads the wal
department has had in recent years.
secretary thoroughly alive to latter da,
/ military problems. Then, there is fed
eral pay legislation for the national
guard and legislation whereby the
guard can be taken out Of the coun-
try for service when needed. Congress
has been slow to give these matters at
tention.
| The regular army was never more
ready then it is today to take the field
quickly. Under the new plans Of or
ganization, II necessary. an order from
Washington to General Murray on thu
Pacific coast and General Barry al
New York would set the forces in mo-
ton in few hours. Nothing would
be done haphazard. But the volunteer
problem can not be worked out with