The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-16

tory as Mr.. Stimson developed his next
point. the navy.
"Of course the first line of our national
defence IL the navy. Our whole policy IL
based on that assumption. In order to
defend this country the navy must he FIRE,
to fight the enemys fleet wherever that
enemy can be fought with the best chance
for American success. our navy must not
be tied down to our coast When war
comes there will probably be "A howl from
every part of our seacoast. just as there
was in the Spanish war. that part OF the
navy he assigned to the defence OF that
particular locality. Such n demand II
yielded to would at once destroy the de-
fensve power OF the navy.
1T would he equally disastrous to yield
to the argument that We so frequently
hear. that we should only build a non-sea-
going navy, a coast defence navy. as II is
sometimes called. Such an argument
would lead to the same disastrous folly.
To limit the seagolng ability of our own
fleet is simply to give our enemy the OPP
ton OF attacking when he thinks his
chances are best for success rather than
of leaving that option with us
The speaker summed UP the needs OF
| the army.
First--A moderate increase of the regu-
| lar army. lie instanced with approval
Secretary Garrison's recommendation for
] @SsVNV dlulNltHdl men ana DUlttTts
Second-Foundatlons must be laid for a
volunteer or citizens army. which must
| fight any war the United States will have.
Lack of Trained Reserves.
"All our advisers agree" he explained.
that In case war should break out with
any first class nation capable OF threaten
ing our safety at all we should md II
necessary to raise promptly on the out
hyaak pf the "a N nf nh EOo uuO
men. including the regulars as "A part Of
this force. At present we have in this
country. besides our $4,000 regulars. only
4 10000 militia or National Guard. Not
/ more than $4,000 or $4,000 of this militia.
to speak most hopefully. are even reason
ably efficient or well trained Other than
/ these we have no military reserves Of any
/ kind whatsoever.
The trained rifeman mentioned hy the
/ President In his message last week Is to-
/ day conspicuous in this country for his
absence. Modern wars are not fought
/ with sporting rifles. The minute man can
I no longer take down his old tlintlock and
/ ma himself match In weapons with the
trained regular who opposes him"
/ He said all were glad that Presiden,
Wilson seemed to recognize that som.
7 scientific system OF training should he
/ put into effect. Switzerland and INC
Australian Commonwealth have IT, lie
was still moro glad that Con Wood
FOR several years has been preaching a
similar ideal for the United States I,
would have 20 come.
The third need is to provide and Law
up in reserve sufficient supply Of arms
and ammunition and other equipment Ia
outfit the citizen army In time of need
/ The United States has the best rife in
the hands OF any army, The 2 inch field
gun II the best. An American Invented
the machine gun and other Americans
| developed the aeroplane.
But what good" he asked. will our
nventiveness do us when the crisis comes
II our inventions are all in the hands
of our enemies and none in our owr
| hands,
MIR Stimsou concluded:
Remember that in the history OF our
/ Anglo-SaNou race IL IL not the soldier
/ who has made the wars on the contrary
| i ~ tle merchant. thc capitalist, the
politician who have made tho war. and
the soldier who has made the peace
There Is 10 danger Of militlr.sm' m a,
country whore by law and by tradition
the soldier is kept 50 rigidly subordinate
TO ihe civil authority as in our owa."