The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-12-12

ssoSAoA VI OtuNl Ing AAShuc VIII
advanced II we refrain from adopting
a proper military policy. but will be
set back II we do 30. II Is difficult 10
comprehend on what basis such be-
lief can reasonably rest. and therefore
1t Is difficult to reason about II. 1t
seems to rest upon the idea that it
we are feeble and weak in &c ia. we
will be strong and persuasive in coin-
sci; that by avowedly negle, ing 10
prepare to protect our rights We will
be the better able to secure sheir pro-
lection by appeal, by arbitration. o, /.
by argument. No one need have the
slightest fear that our voice for peace
ful settlement of the quarrels of ma
tons will receive any the less atten-
ton becauee wc staud for the right
d are prepared to maintain 1t at Any
proper cost. %. ~ contrary, the
voice OF such, a one is always listened
to and usually controls.
IF the determination arrived at by
those whose knowledge. skill and es-
perience makes their Judgment prac-
tically conclusive is accepted. we
should have in this country a force
OF at least 100000 men ready for in
slant response to call in the event
OF war or the immnence Of war. II
is surely not necessary to state the
many reasons why this force may not
be supplied BY regular standing army
OF that number constantly under arms.
There is no legal way that the national
guard can. in time OF peace. be gov
erned, differed, or trained by the na-
tional government; and there is no
legal way, excepting by volunteering.
that 1t can be made available to the
nation in time of war to any greater
extent than specified In the constitu-
ton. which confessedly falls short of
the necessary uses to which an army
may have to be put in the event Of
war with foreign nation.
Substitutes for Regulars.
at becomes necessary. therefore. 10
devise some method OF making avail
able for the use of the nation In time
OF war a national force in supple
ment of that part Of the national force
towit, the regular army, which is con-
stantly under arms; part Of tile
army, in other words. to be ra.sei AMI
maintained by Congress and governed
in all respects In accordance with its
directions. When this system is de-
vised and made operative the nation
would militarily be in this situation:
1t would have, as the constitution PIC
vides, an army raised and maintuined
by 1t. composed Of certain number
constantly under arms. and very
much larger number definitely identi-
fed in personnel, provided with equip
ment and organization, possessed of
some training, and subject to instant
call. The safes would have the or
ganized militia. developed with feier-
al assistance to the highest practlc-
able point of efficiency, available Tor
the purposes specified in the cons.,-
tuition, and SO circumstanced that IN
the event of war with foreign ma
tion they could, by their own yolitioh.
Immediately take their place With the
other military force Of the nation
The report takes up. in detail the
plan Of military preparation already
made public and endorsed by Pres
ident Wilson. and declares the SWISS
and Australian systems are founded
on governmental institutions md pow
ers differing so radically from ta,se
in the United States that any attempt
to adapt either to American use void
mean great delay.
Enough has been said to demon-
strate,". the secretary concludes. that
to get something done now-something
that is well worth while-the best
course is to recognize. and operate
under existing conditions. The other
course is to imagine vain thing and
accomplish nothing"