The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-08-24
Preparedness

in military matters is infinitely more complex than
efficiency in any civil profession, because it carries
with it not only the handling of intricate machines,
the moving of large numbers OF people. their sups
plies, their. care Thenthey are sick, the Of all
Sorts of implements OF destruction, and the use Of
means OF defense against them, but also the study
OF mental characteristics of men, the methods OF
handling them. l@.
All the great questions Of campaign are tremen-
dously intricate, and if there is anything in the
world that requires thought beforehand it is the
question OF preparedness. 1t is preparedness
against war, and insurance for peace and it is the
best Of assurances. There is no insurance now
adays that is worth much unless people are pre-
pared and know what they are going to do. There
is no sentiment in this country for large stand
ing army There is no sentiment for it in the
army itself. There is, however, strong senti-
nent for intelligent preparedness and the organ
izaton of the resources of the country, that we
shall know what they are, and how they shall be
used. Al that is quite consistent with our ideas.
Our army is maintained in time of peace at less
than half its strength. The mobile army of
the United Statesjis only little more than twice
the number of the police force of the city Of New
York The militia is little stronger, but it rs
maintained at half its strength without reserves.
The reserves would little more than double it,,
and these reserves should of course be provided.
After the regular army and militia on land come
the volunteers. The volunteers have to be COM
handed, and million volunteers-and we had a
million volunteers at the end of the Civil War
would require about $4,000 officers who must be
prepared in advance, and they cannot be developed
overnight, in these days Of intricate weapons. ~:
Such is the substance Of the doctrine Major
General Leonard Wood is preaching in the East
ern States. sowing the seed that appears at last
to be falling upon fallow ground. All of his
speeches advocate the adoption of the Swiss mill
tary system little corner of which few fore
handed ones attempted to have adopted for Ha-
wall during the last session of the legislature
prematurely as it turned out, because the majority
Of those who had eyes to see refused to open them
while ma ority of those who had mouths to shout
with joined in the loud chorus Of "un- American"
At the present time, when half the world STAT
war, the words OF General Wood are receiving
close attention from thinking people. Especially
applicable to few in Hawaii who still follow the
Bryan will-o'- the-wisp of nation "spIinging to
arms and who have yet the idea that the urging
for preparation comes from those who desire war,
is the following, spoken by the former chief of
staff at meeting of engineers in Massachusetts
9 i sometimes think, - said General Wood that
people in this country do not quite understand the
real function of the sold ers and sailors You know
N that business is not to make Our business
is to conduct the tn you people get us
Your industry and your trade in your struggle for
commercial eOntrOl-not individual struggle
but the struggle for conn cree throughout the world
lis the cause and has b, en- the cause of nine
..- of ten of the since history written Sol
diers do not make W ar is made by commerce
and trade. Governments declare it, and armies have
b. to try to conduct and tel inmate it in the best pos
" sible way for their overnments."
81 General Wood also dwells on the national guard
situation. The militia, he says is here to stay,
and it is the duty of the people to back it up. He
believes all employers should encourage their men
OF arm bearing age to join the militia
THE general policy" concludes General Wood
us to discriminate against the militiaman. He
has all sorts Of obstacles to overcome. The militia
will be just as good you want it to be. We are
trying to put regular officer with every regiment
OF militia and one with every squadron OF mounted
troops, and when we get few more officers we
shall be able to complete the assignments in the
country.
II think that if we could get established, event
ually, in this country something on the line of the
Swiss system we could maintain ourselves without
undue stress of any sort. We should have citi-
zenry really skilled in the use of arms, ready t.
defend the country effectively, and could do it
without in any way departing from our ideals
And my personal opinion is that that is the line
on which must develop. In the meantime we
must back up our army and navy and militia We
must start this military training in the schools
We MUST have this body of officers that if we
ever have the misfortune to become involved il
war we shall at least have enough officers for the
training of the volunteers"
Japan's Aid To Russia