Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-14

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by additions to the garrisons In the
canal zone, Hawaii and the Philip
pines.
The report directly mentions the
European war but once.
1T would be premature" cit says.
Ito attempt now to draw the ultimate
lessons from the war In Europe. II
Is an imperative duty. however. to
heed so much of wnat it brings home
! TO us as is incontroVertible and not
/ to be changed by any event, leaving
for later and more detailed and COM
| prehensive consideration what its lat
er developments and final conclusions
may Indicate" 49,
In addition to strengthening the reg
ular establishment, the secretary urges
that steps be taken at once to create
more adequate reserve army. He
dismisses as impracticable talk of i'm
mediate disarmament, and as ground
less fears of militarism In America,
1 and recommends military preparedness
on the ground that eternal vigilance
Is the price which must be paid in Or
! der to obtain the desirable things Of
i, life and to defend them"
Whatever the future may hold in
the way of agreements between ma
tions, followed by actual disarmament
! thereof, Of International courts OF ar.
bitration, and other greatly-to-be-
desired measures to lessen or prevent
conflict between nation iand nation" "
says the report, I'VE all know that at
present these conditions are not exist
ing. We can and will eagerly adapt
ourselves 70 each, beneficent develop
ment alo4g these ines; but to merely
enfeeble ourselves in the meantime
, would, in my view, be unthinkable
folly. BY neglecting and refusing to
provide ourselves with the necessary
j means of self-protection and self.
defense we could not hasten or in any
way fayorabys influence the ultimate
results we desire in these prospects.
] Present War Strength.
The present full war strength of the
United States is summarized by the
report as follows: r.. ..,
The organized militia scf the vari!
ous states totals S323 sfiieers and ! 49,
0S7 men, The enlisted men therefore
required. in, order to obtain the fnan-
cial aid which the Congress authorizes
the secretary of war to extend under
certain conditions, to attend "a drills
a. year and 5 days ANNUALLY in the
field. ! If all of the National Guard
|ceuld be summoned In the event Of
war and should all respond Ian inaon-
ceivable RESULT, and il they were all
found fairly efficient in the first line
that is, the troops who would be en-
pected to Immediately take the field
We could summon a force in this coun-
try OF regulars and National Guard
amounting to 9S1S officers and las, 1872
men. This would Include. only reg
ulars of lighting force stationed in the
United States proper. 10 ). - 1881
And this is absolutely all The
only ether recourse would then bSsi
volunteers. and to equip, organize,
train and make them ready would!
take, at the smallest possible estl.- !
mate, SIX months. -. 3 r 4
Anyone who takes the slightest
trouble to investigate viii find, that in
modern warfare prepared enemy
would progress so far on the way to
success In six months If his antag-
onist had to wait six months to meet
him, that such unprepared antagonist
might as web coacede defeat without
contest /
AZ to Efficiency. - s. :
or the efficiency OF the present
army Mr.. Garrison says: ~.
While our existing organization is
CT the exceedingly small numbers al
ready mentioned, It Is unquestionably.
In as excellent condition as any SINH
lar number of men in any other MILL
tary establishment in the world. Were
II not for q desire to,ayoid inyidlousz
comparisons I should say that man for
man 1t Is better than any similar ex-,
listing military establishment in the
world. / do not believe that anyone
VIII dispute the statement that the
army has never been in better condi-
ticn than It Is today. from the most
recently enlisted man up to the high.
est officers. There is an esprit de =,
corps, an eagerness to constantly |
strive toward perfection, a willingness
to undertake and satisfactorily per-
form any. and every duty. that is most !.
commendable and encouraging" |
Need for Larger Army. ,.-.. ..
Passing to the need for a larger !,
army, regular and reserve, the secre-
tary discusses at some length peace
and the use Of the word "militarism,
touchings upon the mooted question Of
whether military preparation tends to
prevent war. - |
1T is, of course. not necessary to
dwell on the blessings Of peace and
the horrors Of war;, he says. Every
one desires peace, just as every one
desires health, ;eontentment, affection, |