Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-10

AN Increase of the enlisted personnel
Of the army by 5,oo0 men would accom-
plish threefold results. It would, as be-
fore mentioned, bring UP to full strength
the existing units of the mobile army In
continental United States and thus sup
ply more adequate force. Second. IT
would afford training for the officers in
the command of such units as they must
command in time of war and would pre-
vent, as far aslthe Regular Army is con-
cerned, the crowding of the ranks with
raw levies which always disorganize and
render inefficient the organizations into
which they come. Third it would be a
wise investment from. the standpoint of
economy. in that no material increase of
overhead charges would be necessary,
and the addition of these men could be
effected at per capita cost to the gov
eminent of about one-third the per capi-
ia cost under existing conditions.
by the time these 5000 men could be
procured the mobile forces in the United
States as hereinbefore pointed out, would
number "a, Coz; so that after the addition
the mobile army in continental United
States would consist of 1902 men.
With the army thus increased, We
would then be able to undertake the next
and that the preparation OF a reserve.
The present legislation with respect to a
reserve has proven utterly useless for the
purpose, 1t having produced in twenty
four months only 16 men. and there Is
little or no hope that it will ever properly
accomplish it's purpose. The reasons why
1t will not do so 1t Is not profitable to
discuss
II am firmly convinced that If we can
use the standing army as a school
through which to pass men who come in
to it with the knowledge that If they are
proficient they can be discharged at any
time after a year or is months. we will
begin at once to build up the necessary
reserve, and will, for the first time in the
military history of this country, have
something approximating balanced or
ganization. esssxg
Il am, therefore, firmly convinced that
we should have immediate legislation
dealing with the matter of enlistment and
reserve. "A practically similar provision
should exist in every state which main
tains an organized militia. 1t is Just as
essential that the organized militia
should have proper reserve to fill up its
ranks as it is that the Regular Army
should
81 am convinced with equal firmness
that we should adopt some one or more
of the methods which have been suggest.
ed for the training of more civilians to
become officers in case of necessity. The
potentiality of the student military
camps and of the schools and colleges at
which military training is obtainable
suggests fruitful source of accomplish
ing this purpose
II realize that one of the matters which
will be much debated in connection with
this whole subject will be the matter of
expense. / do not overlook this, but |
think that those who are charged with
responsibility on behalf of the public
should realize the greatness of that re-
sponsibility; should realize the unanswer-
able indictment that will lie against them
IL they shrink from mourning expense for
what is vital to the Nation. When one
has reached the conclusion, as l have.
that minimum of military preparedness
is essential. the question of its cost is
secondary and cannot be permitted to be
the determining factor. No citizen will
or can properly object to the expenditure
of money for vital national purposes"