El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-04-09

available so that our nation may find
/ in the hour Of emergency, when the
call goes forth. that immediate re-
/ suonse from its trained military forces
| which viii afford strength and security
/ to all in the satisfactory knowledge of
/ their ability to cope with whatever
presents itself
Must Look Into the Future.
at is our national boast and pride
! that we have to maintain only a small
! regular army. In the great inter
national questions which this nation
I will in the future more than ever be
] called on to consider, effective naval
! and military forces viii be factors
more important to secure prompt re-
/ suits than latent resources of men and
/ money.
Should Strive for Efficiency.
! Assuming that it is not a desirable
I policy for the United States to main
tain q standing army much in excess
of that now authorized by law, and
| that our first reliance for offence and
/ defence Will properly be our navy,
/ economic reasons as well as a neCes-
sarv provision for national defence re-
Quire US to make our military estab-
( lishment the most effective for its size
in the world, and capable Of the great
est immediate expansion compatible
with the retention Of its effectiveness.
Make Up of Our Army.
Under the act approved Feb. 2, 1901,
United States consists of Is regiments
Of cavalry, 80 regiments OF infantry,
the coast artillery, and six regiments
of field artillery.
1.-THE average strength of the army,
Officers and enlisted men) for the fiscal
year, 1918. including the hospital corps
(34l9), cadets United States military
academy $3.50, Philippine scouts (560O).
quartermaster corps (2218), was $3.50
Pence Ha4fs.
1.-THE United States alone Of all great
nations reduces its peace military es-
adjustment to about one-half the pro-
posed war strength by skeletOnizing all
units, regiments, battalions, and com
panies and makes no provision for the
supply of electives necessary when
such units are called into war service.
such a policy can have nothing to
commend it on either economic or
political grounds and, if continued.
must eventually prove disastrous to our
nation in its shOrt-sightedness
"'The most effective peace OTganiza--
ton for every army unit would be that
which approaches most closely the or
ganizatiOn of that unit when on a war
footing. The great European powers
provide from three to three and one
by maintaining reserve system which
supplies men that have previously
served in the regular establishment
and who subsequently become enga ged
in civil pursuits, rendering military
service only as emergency requires.
Compulsory Service Desirable.
These powers all require compulsory
military service with certain exemp-
tiOnS-So- many years with the oolors
and 50 many with the several reserve
forces.
would It not be a wise measure If
our different states required every
able bodied citizen between p and IS
years Of age to serve three months in
the National Guard of that state, a por-
ton OF this time to be at a summer !
encampment with United States regu- !
lar troops?
Reserve Forces Necessary.
What reserve system could the !
United States best adopt to mobilize all B
regiments Of the regular army at war /
strength with the least delay for war? /
It has been the practice Of this gov /
eminent to keep no further track of a
soldier on the expiration of his enlist
ment- Every year a very considerable
number OF men are DISCHARGED thor !
oughly trained in the duties of certain
arms of the service. If sufficient in
ducement were offered many of these
men would gladly re-enlist for service
rs reservists. Many discharged soldiers
would be glad to retain a membership
in an Organization with comrades,
where they might also qualify for a re-
tired pay during old age.
1.-THE actual monthly compensation
]
dollars month regular pay would be
sufficient, without allowances of any
kind When called into war service
he pay and allowances would then be
he same as for the active list
Reward Reseryists.
after serving one enlistment on the
active list, service in the reserves
should count for retirement, and re-
irement authorized after thirty
7ears combined service on the
h1 --aA T-ssz
% be computed on the basis that three
5ears on the reserve list equals one on
he active list. Thus a reservist who
las served three years on the active
you'd, when retired, receive wo-fifths I
If what he would have received had (
lis entire 80 years service been on the Z
-c1Ve list, Complete regulations for
he administration of such a reserve
ire merely a matter of detail
'One thing is absolutely certain, and
hat IS that we must have an adequate
eserye If We are to consider ourselves
any way properly prepared for a
lossible war"
Cobb Defends Administration.
To customs collector u. L. Cobb was
'lVen the closing place on the pro-
ram ana ne was assigned the sub
ect speeding the going guest" The I
Ollector took occasion to go on record
s opposing any effort to disparage
ne president or any of his cabinet in ]
heir handling of national or inter
auonaI affairs. He declared that FL :
'asO should not lose sight of the fact
hat the government conducts its poll
les and affairs and sustains itself in
he eyes Of the world, while Ell Pasoans
axe small part in controlling the
eStlnes Of mankind.
me collector answered the criticism
nat had been made of the president
nd MS advisers by telling a story Of
n incompetent lawyer who was ap- /
olnted from Indiana to serve as :
eoeIal Judge in New Mexico He said =
nat the Judge knew no law but was 4
onstantly abusing the attorneys who :
ppeared before him. Judge you =
nouldn't be too hard on the lawyers; ! i
GU might be a lawyer yourself some
me- me-, a lawyer said to him one day
men any of my friends stand up
M Jump upon the Democratic party
TINS country I feel like telling them