The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-28
NAVAL DEFENSE
is CREDITABLE
But Land Forces of United States Are
So Small as to be Regarded with
Ridicule, Says Gov. Dunno
Of Illinois.

|
Boston, Aug. 2s.--Gov Edward r.
Dunno OF Illinois advised greater mill
tary and naval preparedness in his adj
dress at the governors conference here
this week. In part, Gov. Dunno said:
"Since the commencement OF the ire
mendous war now waglng in Europe, and
the danger OF our country being en-
broiled therein, all classes of people in
the republic have been seriously consid.
ering the appropriateness for war which
seems to exist in our country.
'If war were to be declared against
this country by one of the six greatest
nations of Europe it must be conceded
that the United States in its present con-
dition Of land and naval forces would be
in a sorry predicament. For offensive
warfare our land forces are so small as
to be regarded with ridicule Our naval
armament might succeed for time in
damaging cities and fortifcat ions upon
the seacoast Of possible enemy in Eu-
rope, but separated SO far as we would
be from the base of supplies such often
siye naval warfare could not be of last
ing duration.
I'm defensive naval warfare, we might
| for a time make a ereditable showing
upon our own coasts; but If any of these
great nations should effect landing OF
any considerable army, for weeks at
least such an invasion would be unop
posed. This serious situation of affairs
has given even the most ardent advocate |
Of peace between the nations grave con-
Germ.
"The present militia of all of the diff |
ferent states Of the United States is |
wholly inadequate for the defense of the
nation. In 1913 the total militia of the
National Guards of all the states aggre-
gated approximately 10000 men. Such
a number of men would be wholly in
adequate for the defense of the nation in
case OF war with any frst-elass power.
ITO rely upon the regular army OF
100000 men, and a militia of 10000 men
in case of war with a rst-class power
would be an act of supreme folly. The
citizen soldiery of the republic must be
reorganized, regenerated and enormously
increased. There should be at least
body OF en-soldiery trained to the Il
use of arms, organized and maintained
throughout the different states of the
United States in the aggregate Of at
least 100000 men. How can this be
without imposing too great
a hardship upon its members and upon
the taxpayers OF the nationi 1t can be H
by the adoption of two
measures.
First: BY requiring every college and H
in the United States which
receives from any state or from the fed
sral government any support or appro-
pristion of money, to give a military
training TO its students during the four
years of the university or college course.
As part of the physical and mental edu-
,ation OF the student he should be com n
oelled, if in such an institution, as part
If his curriculum, to devote sufficient II
line to enable him to become a we'll N
soldier in time of war. That Y
his can easily be accomplished is proven :
~ what has already been accomplished 4
n some of the universities.
"0ne of the greatest needs of the Brit
sh and Russian armies at the present
line is their need of trained officers to
axe charge of the enlisted men. We H
hould profit by the examples furnished
n this awful war now prevailing in Eu.
ope. For defensive purposes at least we
hould have an adequate number of well
rilled men, graduates of our educational
Institutions who could in case of war q
axe charge of and whip into shape the @
oldiers who would fly to the defense of hi
beir country's integrity. eli
Another method of increasing the b.
umbers and efficiency OF our state mi. CT
tia would be for the federal government 90
, make more liberal appropriations for
be maintenance of the same. On the CA
yerage the militiaman in the state OF Ia,
linois does rot receive 10 exceed SIS a az
ear. and that only when be is in active iii
'rviee M,
This beggarly allowance is not at an
active to the ordinary farmer, mechanic -,
clerk -
"All of this should be changed. II a.
ilitiaman were paid 81 for every night II
vat he spent in military training in his
IN hall or arsenal with a provision i .e
at he would receive no compensation =. ~
lless he attended az least 40 nights dur. ia
e the year, ] believe that instead Of
5000 militiamen we would have .50O,-
q or 600 000H