Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-27
Definite Policy df Defense

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1 he will cal! into consultation high officers
OF the army and navy, for the purpose Of
formulating a definite and consistent policy
of national defense will meet public approval.
The troubles and deficiencies Of our army and
navy-the navy particuarly-have been due
largely to the absence OF just such policy.
Few intelligent persons in this country
need TO be told that our navy is not what it
should be, but it never has been. To try and
put the blame for this on President Wilson
or Secretary Daniels. even on the last Con-
gress, is so obviously unfair that the effort
falls entirely fiat save in the narrow minds of
bitter partisans
The United States in the last fifteen years
has spent billion and half dollars on its
navy, while Germany has spent billion, but
Germany ranks second i'll naval strength
among the powers OF the world, while the
United States ranks fourth We have wasted
money on political navy-yards while Germany
put her cash into fighting ships.
That is because we had no naval policy.
The worst thing that be said of this ad-
mnistration in this respect is that it has not
supplied the need, but has kept on in the
same haphazard way that its predecessors fol-
lowed. Not only should there be a definite
American naval policy, but it should be con
tinuous and permanent policy. 1t ought not
TO suffer from periodic shifts in the executive
department of the government
There TWO ways by which this con-
tinuity may be effected The first is through
the establishment Of general staff. To this
there are many objections, OF varying de-
grees OF validity, but sufficiently strong in the
mass, probably. to defeat the project. At any
rate, they have defeated IT whenever 1t has
been advocated in the past The principal
objection is that a general staff would sub
ordinate the civil TO the military power and
make the Secretary of the Navy fgurehead.
While the answer to this may be that the
army general staff has been established with
out destroying the power or efficiency of the
Secretary of War; that answer heretofore has
not sufhced.
There is another device frequently urged
the creation of permanent under secretary
ship, the incumbent of which shall be an ex-
pert, holding Office through succeeding ad-
ministrations. The State Department finds
this system dependable and follows it without
definite authority of law. Second Assistant
Secretary Adee has held that Office with the
exception of twelve days when he was Secre-
tary of State ad interim, since August 3, 1886.
For four years before that time he had been
third assistant secretary His knowledge of
the detailed work of the department has been,
and is, invaluable, and he will never be re-
tired so long as he feels competent to dis
charge his duties. An official OF this type in
the Navy Department would be of large as
sistance in protecting the department against
lii-duNlScQ CuduSeS ana WdSte1uI QlSDurSe-
ments.
AS for the army, it should be increased at
once 10 $4,000 or 10000 men That
would give a mobile force OF 100, 900, which
would be sufficient, in all proba biity, for a
first line of defense. The officers corps
should be largely augmented by appointments
10 West Point, by direct appointments from
civil life and by promotions from the non
commissioned ranks.
The National Guard Of the States should
receive new and more generous encourage
ment. Many officers should be assigned to
the instruction OF this citizen soldiery There
should be closer coordination with the regr-
lar army The young men CT the nation
should be taught i is their duty TO serve at
least one enlistment in the National Guard
Employers should give the performance OF
military service by The men in their employ
ment their active approval Rife practice
should be fostered.
This is not militarism, but the avoidance of
that hateful spirit. 1t is preparedness in the
best sense.