Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1915-04-17
TENANT APPROVES
OUR ARMY SYSTEM
Says America Is Right In Not Main
tanning Large Standing
Army


NOTE: The Right Honorable Ha1-
OLD ). remnant British parliamentary
under secretary for war, Is Lord
hltCuehei Official spokesman in the
House OF Commons The following
interview IS, therefore. OF peculiar in
lerest, particularly since it indicates
remnant ) approval Of the American
system OF volunteer army.
LONDON, April 9.-.America ia
right in not having great standing
army, made up OF men forced into
service
America is right in not demanding
that all her young men shall give
the best years or their lives to mil
ltary service. America Is right in go.
ing ON about her business, depending
upon the expectation that, when war
does come, her voluntary system can
be depended upon.
These are the conclusions that
Americans may draw from this state
ment from the British war Office.
made to the United Press today:
unprecedented strains have been
put upon the voluntary system in this
war, and It has triumphantly with
SloOu inc OrQeal.
England and America are the only
two first class powers in the world
that follow tho voluntary system--
the system Of keeping militarism in
the background and depending, in o.
pinch, on having their citizens como
forward, Voluntarily, to serve the
country.
The statement was given mo bv
the Rt. Hon. Harold j. Tennant, par-
tlanentary under secretary for war,
the Official spokesman Of Lord Kitch-
ener on tho floor of the House Of
Commons. When you ask Harold J.
remnant questions about the war and
the war department, you're meeting
MIN on his home ground. He's the
minister whose duty it Is to tackle
the t0rnadoes OF inquiries that are
asked by members Of the commons:
Lord Kitchener answers questions in
the House OF oLrds.
One OF the best features of the
British war office administration
since the war began has been the
close cooperation between Lora
Kitchener and Mr.. Tenant. They
are personal associates. When Mr..
remnant, some days ago, conformed
to the latest usage in London society
by acquiring pair of horn-rimmed
spectacles, Lord Kitchener followed
suit. And when Lord Kitchener in
Inmates man, that man must be
respected friend. What Harold
remnant doesn't know about govern
mont affairs from Lord Kitchener. he
Is likely to get from Sir Edward
Grey, Englands foreign secretary.
During the strenuous days Of the war
1t has been Sir Edward Grey's sole
relaxation to go to his club nightly
and play a game Of billiards with
Tennant.
Mr.. Tcnnant began the interview
by asking me question:
What do you think" he said, "is
the future Of our military policy
which it most interesting to Ameri-
cans"
1t came to me to ask him about
the voluntary military service which
only England and America, Of all the
nrst class powers, have dared to FOL.
low. The other great nations must
force military service on their citi-
zens. The English-American plan
was being tested by England in the
greatest war in history and I thought
America would like to know how the
voluntary system was standing the
strain.
unprecedented strains" said Mr.
Tenant, have been put upon the vol
untary system in this war; it has had
to undergo a much more severe trial
than ever previously contemplated
and 1t has triumphantly withstood tho
ordeal.
Take first the territorial force
said Mr.. Tenant. "The territorial
force. it may be explained CORES
ponds to the American militia. There
were roughly at the beginning of the
war quarter Of million Of soldiers
in that army, good many thousand
below its paper strength. OF these
some had been enlisted for some
time and had gone through tho r..
auired drills and training in camp.
others, who had enlisted more recent
iy had done more than a fortnight'a
camp training and some ~ thor, ho =