The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-15

spread his feathers for time. but he
viii new them soon after"
IN In hif annual message. December g..
people the adoption of n plan for the
national defense. referred to the
m ,,iiliiip art as a branch of science;
by practice alone" and in his final
message. four years later, said:
Regular troops alone are equal to
me sxigenc!es OF modern war. as we'll
for defense as offense. and when sub
illusory and ruinous, No militia viii
ever acquire the habits necessary to
resist regular. force. -. The
business Of aghting is only e to
be attained by constant course
OF discipline and service. have never
yet been a witness TO n single instance
II is most earnestly to be wished that
the liberties OF America may no longer
be trusted; in any material degree, to
SO precarious dependence"
In this belief Washington died. a be-
lief which had only been strength
ened by experience in an eventful age.
But the wisdom OF Bacon and Wash
ington was spurned, and in. 1913 the
the American capital and routed In
piecemeal over 100000 militia. just as
the Romans had done with the hordes
good were the walled towns. stored
arsenals and armories. goodly races Of
horse, chariots OF war, elephants, ord
Guiding the patriotism of the American
citizens? All these were but sheep In
a lions skim" because the men were
not stout and warlike."
The lesson was learned, but soon
again forgot, and ere another genera
ton had passed away the sincws Of
mems arms" had failed. and the po-
litical theorists had taken charge of
the national defense. We know of
their administration, which was but a
repetition OF history.
Lucius Himilius Paulus, the Roman
commander. in p. C. 16S. addressed the
people as follows:
I'm every circle. and truly, at every
table, there are people who lead armies
camp ought to be placed; what posts
ought to be occupied by troops: when
and through what pass Macedonia
should be formed; how provisions
should DO conveyed by land and sea;
and when 1t is proper. to engage the
only determine what is best to be
done. but IL anything is done In any
other manner than what they have
pointed out. they arraign the consul.
as if he were on trial. These are great
impediments to those who have tho
management of affairs: for every one
cannot encounter injurious reports with
the same consistency and frmness OF
mind as Fabius did. who chose to let
his own authority be diminished
through the folly Of the people, rather
than to mismanage the public business
with a high reputation. I am not one
of those who think that commanders
ought never to receive advice; on the
contrary. l deem that man more proud
than wise who did everything of his
own single judgment What, then, Is
my opinion? That commanders should
be counselod.. chiefly, by persons Of
known talent; by those. especially. who
are skilled in the art of war. and who
have been taught by experience: and
next. by those who are present at the
scene of action, who see tho country,
who see the enemy, who see tho adj
vantages that occasions offer. and who.
embar ked, as It were. in tho same ship.
are sharers of the danger. If. thero-
fore, any ono thinks himself qualified
to give advice respecting the war
which ] am to conduct, which may
prove advantageous to the public, let
him not refuse his assistance to tho
state, but let him como with me into
Macedonia. He will be furnished by
me with a ship. horse, tent; and
even with his travelling charges But
IL he thinks this too much trouble
and prefers the repose of city life to
the tolls of war, let him not, on land
assume the Office OF pilot, The city,
In itself, furnishes abundance of topics
for conversation; let him conane Its