The Washington times., 1914-04-23
THE VIRTUE OF PREPAR-
EDNESS.

1t cannot but crafty American
pride to note that this country is
thoroughly prepared to make the
most instant and effective use of
every unit of military and naval
power it possesses. The contrast
between conditions today and condi-
tons on the eve of, and after, the
declaration of war with Spain, is
startling. We have substituted
readiness for unreadiness, organiza-
ton for chaos. certainty for hesita-
ton, general staff for a headless
and inexpert military system. The
authorities have been for years per-
fecting a system which has now
shown how magnificently it can
meet any demand on it.
1t has been told by historians of
the Franco German war that Won
Moltke was in bed when word was
brought to him that Napoleon had
declared war. The grim old soldier,
if the story may be accepted, turned
oyer in bed, pointed to a pigeon-hole
in his desk, ordered that the papers
therein he taken out and executed,
and then resumed his slumbers.
The dispatch of the feet to Mex
leo, the instant readiness to mobilize
the army, the splendid efficiency
that officers and men have demon
strated within the first hours after
resort to force became necessary
all these things show that our own
military establishment is now on a
footing which deserves to be COM
pared with that of the great war
machine of Germany. True, the
army is small; but it may be sup
plemented in short order by the
militia forces of the States, which,
since the war with Spain, have been
placed on vastly different basis,
and are today trained to a higher
efficiency than they ever presented
before.
The object lesson we are getting
in the improved conditions of our
military administration is in itself
worth great deal. 1t will enhance
our cwn national sense of dignity,
and impress the outside world with
realization that the United States is
real power, ready to put forth big
and effective effort when need arises.
In this connection it is difficult to
realize, unless one has been an init
mate observer of the progression,
how greatly the efficiency of our
State militia forces has increased in
the last fifteen years. Both the
States and the General Government
have contributed to this betterment
The new law for the further amalga-
nation of the State forces into the
national defensive force has just
passed, and will further contribute
to creation Of second line of fight
ing strength only inferior to an
equal additional force OF regulars.
The potential military strength of
the United States is theoretically to
be measured by the number of men
of military age who could be put
into the field. In fact, however, no
emergency is conceivable in which
such a vast force would or even
could be handled in military opera
tons. The real measure of our
available strength would better be
secured by calculating the number
of men who, in military schools, in
colleges, in the military organizations
of the States, in the regular army,
and in service in the armies of other
countries, have had a measure of
military training calculated to make
them quickly available for actual
campaigning. The total of these
would he found to number some
hundreds of thousands, and a call
for them as volunteers would bring
a great proportion of them into
service.