The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-23

| prominent men in every State in the
Union who will aid us in deciding how
best to get at the public in their To-
calities.
And we are already opening corre-
spondence with Congressmen and pro-
spective Congressman in every state.
as we'll as with all the Governors OF
states, Mayors of important cities and
other individuals of prominence all
over the country in the effort TO Sc
cure their cooperation.
1t is to Congress that we must look
FOR a correction of what we believe
are the present wasteful and erro-
neous methods OF military appropria-
tons and expenditures and the adop-
ton Of a definite military policy;
therefore our correspondence with
congressman Is peculiarly argumen-
tative. backed up with facts which are
within their knowledge and %undeniably
correct. To others we write asking
them to put us, as far as possible. in
direct communication with the voters,
for our appeal Is not issued to the
Few or to n class. but to every citi-
zen OF the United States"
The report Of the navy committee of
the league states In detail the present
condition OF tho United States navy.
pointing out what are declared TO be
serious deficiencies and recommending
measures which are believed to be
necessary TO insure efficiency. Mr..
otimson. in the paper also referred 10
oy Mr.. Menken. refers to the es,ab.
iishment by Secretary of War Eth
iSoot OF the General STAFF OF the army
anu the Army Wa College. and saws:
After some ten years of study and
preparation during which the ideas
ana criticism OF every officer Of IN.
army were sought, there was published
IN 1917 a report on the organization of
the land forces OF the United States.
rms report is supposed to cover all
the matters which should enter the
subject many OF which are now being
discussed by the public for the first
time IL represents tho. best plan that
the best trained military minds OF this
country have been able to give US after
careful study and preparation"
After urging that the plans and
policy promulgated in thi. report be
80 VI sbNliflSbH continues.
Tn rough figures we are spendinr
now aoou 500. 900, 900 per annum on
our army. and about $40. 600. 900 on
our navy. The real question before
the country Is not TO spend more
money on our forces. but 10 spend
more wisely and econom cally tina.
which We do spend. Why should we
not spend this large sum Of so40. 900
600 per year so as TO produce the most
enicient result possibee rather than a
result which Is admittedly inefficient
THE Secretary OF War reported last
November that after excluding tho
troops in our foreign possessions u
mobile army n the United States Will
consist Of less than $1,000. a force but
little more than twice the size OF the
police force Of New York city. He
asks for an immediate increase OF 25.-
900 men and the institution OF n
PRACTICAL reserve system. But the
House OF Representatives under the
control Of the same party as the Sec
rotary OF War, who makes the re-
quests, has completely ignored them
No provision is made In tho pending
appropriation bill. for even these slight
improvements.
ct has been the historic policy ~
this country TO depend upon a volun-
tecr army OF citizens, called out at the
outbreak OF war. to defend II In case
Of serious conflict. and hitherto we
have escaped ultimate disaster under
this method. bur II has been largely on
account OF conditions not likely eve
10 occur again.
NWe can safely assume that any
serious antagon. ST whom we shall have
in the future will not be unprcpared.
and in order to be able to depend
upon citizen soldiery it IL clear that
much more time must be spent in pre-
liminary training and in providing FOR
their equipment in time OF peace.
1T is not enough 10 hold to the doc
trine that II Is the duty Of every man
to die for his country when Il Is neces-
sary to do so. We should spend a
, little Of our lives In learning how to
die for her effectively"
Meantime the call OF the league is
! for 1000. 900 volunteers who are will
ing to aid in putting the leagues pro-
eramme in execution.