The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1915-11-12

genial associations and freedom and a
wide and cordial welcome, and they
have become part of the bone and
sinew and spirit of America itself.
America has been made up out Of the
nations OF the world and is the friend
of the nations Of the world.
"But we feel justified in preparing
ourselves to vindicate our right to in
dependent and unmolested action by
making the force that is in US ready
for assertion.
Sand we know hat we can do this
in a way that viii itself an illustra-
ton Of the American spirit. In ac-
cordance with our American tradi-
ditions we want and shall work for
only an army adequate to the con-
slant and legitimate uses of times Of
international peace. But we do want
to feel that there is a great body Of
citizens who have received at least the
most rudimentary training; hal they
win be ready to form themselves into
a fighting force at the call Of the ma
ton; and that the nation has the mu-
%nitions and supplies with which to
equip them without delay should it be
necessary to call them into action. We
wish to supply them with the train
ing they need, and we think we can
do so without calling them at any
time too long away from their civil
ian pursuits.
For 100000 Citizen Soldiers.
at is with this idea, with this con
eeption, in mind that the plans have
been made which it will be my privi-
lege to lay before the Congress at it's
next session. That plan calls for only
such an increase in the regular army
of the United States as experience has
proved to be required for the per-
Torrance of the necessary duties Of
the army in the Philippines, in Ha.
waii, in Porto Rico, upon the borders
Of the United States, at the coast for.
tifcations and at the military posts Of
the interior. For the rest it calls fol
the training within the next tire,
years of a force of 100000 either
soldiers to be raised in annual contin
gents of $4,000 who would be aske,
to enlist for three years with the col
ors and three years of enlistmen
with the colors would not be organ
lied as a standing force but would b
expected merely TO undergo i~ntensiv.
training for a very brief period O
each year. Their training would TAX
place in immediate association wit
the organized units of the regula
army. It would have no touch of tn
amateur about it, neither would /
exact Of the volunteers more thai
they could give in any n year from
their civilian pursuits.
"And none of this would be done i
such a way as in the slightest degre
to supersede or subordinate our pres
ent serviceable and efficient Nationa
Guard. On the contrary, the Ma
tional Guard itself would be used a
, part Of the fundamentally by whicI
training would be given the citizen
who enlisted under the new condi
tons, and l should hope and expec
that the legislation by which all thi
would be accomplished would put tn,
National Guard itself upon a bette
and permanent footing than it ha
ever been before, giving it not onl,
the recognition which it deserves blu
a more definite support from the ma
tional Government and a more defin
tie connection with the military or
ganizatiOn of the nation.
what we all wish to accomplish i
that the forces of the nation should in
deed be part of the nation and not
separate professional force, and tn.
chief cost Of the system would not b
in the enlistment or in the training o
the men but in the providing of ampl
equipment in case it should be neces
sary to call all forces into the field.
/ The Naval Problem.
Moreover, it has been American
policy time out of mind to look to tn,
navy as the first and chief line of de
fence. The navy of the United State
is already a very great and efficien
! force. Not rapidly, but slowly, will
careful attention, our naval force ha.
been developed until the navy of tn,
United States stands recognized a
one Of the most efficient and notable o
the modern time. All that is needle,
in order to bring it to a point Of ex
traordinsry force and efficiency a
compared with the other navies of tn,
world is that we should haster ~,