The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-12
BY QUINCY $. MILLS.

q n. infantry, the infantry. with dirt
behind their ears.
Oh III. infantry. the infantry. that drink
their weight in beers
Oh. the cavalry. artillery and the bloomin'
engineers.
they -ouldn', HEX the infantry In a nun
dred thousand Yeas.
S a company OF the business
II men students at the Platts-
burg military camp swung
past singing this ditty to the
tune Of a son Of "A gamboleer" for
he benefit of a group Of regular cav
Lrymen by the roadside. a tall. square
snouldered officer of the United States
Iny who was observing the GOOD
aatured passage at arms smiled
But his smile was not entirely of
amusement. II hardened almost into
grimness as he remarked:
But what about II If you haven't
60, any infantry. cavalry, artillery or
engineers TO speak off"
The song furnished an opportunity
for this concise statement OF the pur-
Jose OF the series of instruction camps
opened on the shore of Lake Cham
plain early in the summer and still
continuing. These camps were not
naugursted for the purpose OF train
ng civilians to- become officers in a
volunteer army should one become
necessary. although some of those
who went to partake of the instruc-
ton may have thought sc when they
started out. The training of volun-
tter officers is only a side issue ol
the present course ut Plattsburg'
|. VIA, Gen. Wood and his aids really
want to do is SO to impress on the
Students the futility of attempting 10
oppose fully trained and organized
troops with raw patches Of unframed
volunteers that they will endeavor on
returning to their regular walks oil
lie to do what they a to bring
about a system OF universal military
training in this country.
Right al the outset 1t is well TO kno"
The motives that impel those at ht
head Of our quasi-milltary establish
ment 10 such a course. Let the ON
Ger Who heard the song about I'M
prowess of the infantry and who com
mented on il explain those motives
For reasons that are obvious he mus
remain nameless here, but 1t can d
stated that he is one who speaks witt
authority.
4 DO not believe, nor do the officers
Of the United States army generally
believe, that we are going to be IN
VOWED IN d war with Germany in TN
immediate future he said, ana
strange as II may seem TO say SC
therein lies our greatest danger. l
Germany has any account To squar
With MS We had vest pray that TN
squar.ng start now. The greatest peri
/ that this country has to face to-da!
Is that the present crisis will pass
that the American people will forge
i. Their danger and will relapse into thei
" based confidence in their isolation
from the rest of the world to save
them from attack.
III the American people do persls
N their ~lngrained Carelessness Of mill
larry developments throughout the res
Of the world and refuse to prepare Il
protect themselves they will pay a ter
riole price. II seems Unavoidable tina
IN tho honorable march of events WI
snail have our grave internationa
complications within the next three
Years.
If peace is established In the rest o
me world within that time, as 1t /
more than likely to be, the Unite
states Will stand alone among the ma
lions rich and unprotected. The othe
hduons will have tremendous debt
70 pay. What would be more naturs
man to make US pay them? This sug
seSt1on IL not an idle dream. tn
events Of the last few months hav
proved that national necessity, as con
! celVed by national rulers, knows n
Jaw except that of might.
80 Tar as the theory that peace
preferable 70 war is concerned tn
oHlcerS Of the United States arm.
agree thoroughly with all those VIII
preach peace, But suppose that tn
,.uhtry has no choice. What then
II II cannot defend itself all the live
nat II spent in the Revolutionary an
eWl wars for the cause OF freedom
VIII nave been wasted In vain.
II Is not necessary that In orde
70 protect itself the United States di
m.o It's citizens from the time the