Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-11-02

fact that there Is an inevitable lack
| Of proportion IN the distribution OF
state troops among the various
branches OF the service. Militia in
| the future as in the past VIII consist
mainly OF Infantry. Cavalry and artil-
Iery TO balance this defect must be
supplied BY the regular army. with
the result that the organization Of
the latter can never he based upon
its use as a complete field army. for
lie must always cotnlflse an undue pro
portion OF cavalry. field artillery and
special branches TO balance the infan-
try OF the citizen soldiery.
"A further reason for preferring the
system OF organized federal volunteers
the System that seems In outline the
simplest. the most direct In action, the
freest from objections OF all sorts-is
that 1t would remove these inequali
ties OF taxation which arise from the
fact that some states maintain minia-
ture armies while others go to the
opposite extreme.
-panoeropsIy Inadequate
'sAs one peruses General Carriers
many-sided discussion. the conviction
grows that our present plan OF rell-
ance apoa militia and upon levies OF
unframed volunteers enlisted after
war has been declared Is dangerously
Inadequate. The author concludes
and it is not easy to find q genuine
point Of disagreement with him-that
q force Of federal volunteers should
be created as a supplement- to the reg
ular army and maintained both In
peace and IN w2r.
= The batteries, troops, companies,
battalions and regiments Of the FED
eral volunteers should be organized in
congressional districts and In such
numbers as may be proportionalIy and
equitably allotted by the president. the
total force not 10 exceed the strength
authorized by Congress. and the on
GERS Of such organizations to be aF
pointed by the president All
laws providing for the use OF the mi.
iitia IN conflict with the constitution.
as interpreted BY the announcement
Of the United States. should be for.
mally repealed and no further attempts
made to provide for the use Of the ma,
tional guard and organized militia for
general war purposes. II should be
clearly understood that those who de-
sire TO serve in war without regard
Co state or national borders must at
tach themselves 70 the federal voliin-
teers
oavors of Common Sense.
There appears TO be nothing rev0-
Iuti0nary in these proportions: on the
contrary. the plan outlined seems to
be in Obvious accord with the consti-
tuition and with the spirit or our gov
srnment It does not SAVIOR Of militaf-
Ism: Il does SAVIOR Of common sense
Apart from Obvious general consid-
erati0ns OF efficiency and ease n ope-
ration. there are aspects Of military
rolicy that can only De understood
|hrD1gh q somewhat careful examine
ton Of detailed facts. Among these
Is the matter Of economy One OF the
principal objections to short-term en-
listments e the Increased expendi-
lures to. which they give rise n tie
form OF pensions fact OF which the
experience Of the government imfne.
1jately after the ciosk Of: the war With
Spain fufniBhes Fpsrettabie but con-
Vincink proof.
eThe fault. however. Is not all with
human nature, but In major part with
/ system which inevitably results In
rtlatiye injustice II it does not lend
tself TO fraud.
Opinion On Pensions.
The authors analysis Of this sub