The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-31

luenuCal with tnat pursued Dy FRANCE
Germany. Russia, Austria and Italy
what is commonly known as a stand
ing army? That is what his words
mean in reality, but the phrase Is so
ingeniousiy framed az to be very de-
ceptive and 1t conveys a sense quite
different from the actual meaning OF
the words
Might still makes right after nine
teen hundred years of Christianity, AMI
no nation In its whole history has evvs
neglected its strength without paying
the penalty. None but regular soldiers
can adequately prepare for war. and
no intelligent man would be foolish
enough to think that Germany could
have put up the resistance she has done
except for the wonderful preparation
which she made I'm advance. Never once
have we prepared for war beforehand.
and is this lesson 20 pass uunoticed?
When President Wilson states THAI
"the country has been mlsinformed' he
says what is to a large measure true.
The average American knows virtually
nothing OF the military history Of the
United States, and in most OF the
school books our military blunders and
disasters have been studiously mini
mixed or completely concealed. AIR.
Wilson processes to be a historian Let
him answer what history will record
If he persists in his present attitude.
In strong contrast to him Is the at
titude taken by one of his Cabinet otfi-
GERS, Lindley NJ Garrison. whose latest
report as Secretary OF War is one OF
the most fearless ever made, and just
the sort OF thing one would expect
from man like him. Mr.. Garrison
has dared 10 tell the truth concerning
our land forces, and he takes issus
fairly and squarely with his chief on
the subject of national defence.
In his report he says that on June
20, 1914, we had in continental United
States 1895 regular army officers and
20 .4O5 men; that the organized militia
amounts TO s,323 officers and 11g,Os7
men. He goes on to say land that II
absolutely ALL The only other resources
would be volunteers and To equip, Or
ganize, train and make them ready
would take, at the smallest possible es-
innate. six months. Any ono who takes
the slightest trouble TO investigate will
find that in modern warfare a prepared
enemy would progress so far on the
way to success in six months II his an
tagonist had TO wait six months to
meet him. that such unprepared an
tagonist might as we'll concede defeat
without contest"
What Mr.. Garrison says is absolutely
true. and does any American for ona
minute think that a force of 15s,3I0
officers and men. three-fourths OF which
are only partially trained. is sufficient
defence for great nation like ours
1t is high time that we Americans
should arouse ourselves to our de-
fencelessness on land. Surely the pres
ent war in Europe ought to offer sufii-
Client example 10 stimulate us in this
respect. and both the people of thu
country and President Wilson might
we'll heed the remarks made in the
, London Morning Post of December II,
! 1914. which says:
I'VE cannot believe the British Gov
| eminent would sanction any sort OF
| truce. even for a day. while the Ger
| man armies are in France and Flanders,
and II our American friends are in
clned to twit us with failure to MAIN
| tain our word az to Belgium let them
consider what would happen II they
were called upon suddenly to defend
tho guarantee OF the Monroe Doctrine
against a great Power like Germany,
say in South America. Why, the United
| States would be far more helpless to
| drive the strong invader out of South
or Central America than England finds
| herself in the case OF Belgium.
Are Americans now in a position to
vindicate their word against violence?
Let them ask themselves that question
! before they condemn us out of hand
| We see that President Wilson in his
message 10 Congress declares that the
country must depend upon the voiun-
teer system for defence. His argu-
ments make us smile, and they also
| tempt us TO weep.
"Just az President Wilson speaks OF
moral insurance against war so the
| Liberals used to say that their defence
was not to he the navy, but the pre-
cepts OF international law. and II Eng
lishmen may presume to warn their
good friends and cousins In the United
States out Of the bitter wisdom OF ex-
perience the warning would be this:
That a nation can only live It's own life
IL II has power TO protect that life.
Therefore our good friends tbs
Americans would be wise not to play
with such pretty notions as that war
may be interrupted for a Christmas
| truce, or that II may be averted by
moral assurances. but rather prepare
aglnst 1t. since adequate military
preparation il the only means yet de-
vlsed by man TO avoid the horrors ~
war"