The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-23

national defense Two schools of
thought are rapidly developing
throughout the country as u result of
,hp great conflict now raging in Eu-
rope The leaders of the 'peace-at-
auv.price" doctrine maintain that an
era Of universal peace is at hand.
.herc is absolutely no possibility of
car, but wind up their argun ants by
saving that in ca"e war should come
our present defenseS are entirely ade-
ouate A sudden call to arms would
bring out millions Of men over night
This improvised army would make
ruirccmcat of the invading enemy in
q, lew days, then return to their daily
yocatons
The leaders Of the opposite school
t4ke the position that uninterrupted
neace is by no means assured. That
modern war has become an exact
science. and an efficient soldier can
no more be developed in a few Gays
than can the average layman be made
a capable lawyer, physician, or civil
engineer 10y q few hours hasty coach
iHg.
The peace at any price" people
hank on the theory that there can be
no panic in Wall street so long as
tner, is gold in Alaska, or suffering
from cold while the coalficlds con-
tain coal.
The advocates Of "prcpared dne&s'
take the view that time is required
20 fully arm and train a large army,
and that scientific warfare racessi-
tates special training.
i is not the purpose OF this series;
of article to butt in" on this con-
troversy, but to place before the pc, =
ple Of North Carolina correct infor-
nation As TO just what t..elr State
forces are, and what the National
Guard of this State is trying TO ac-
complish.
Since the foundation of this great
republic, it has been the policy OF
our government to rely on small
standing army and the militia, or the
citizen soldiery. This dependence on
1he citzenry soldiery has always been
the military policy Of all English.
speaking peoples, and we inherited
IL from our English forbears. The
present administration in Washington
has very recently reiterated this
policy for the next two years, al
least. the reliance of the American
people in the matter Of public de-
Tense rests. as conditions now stand
on ou' small but most efficient regu
lar army and the National Guard
This being so, it should be a matter
Of no little interest to the people o
this State TO know just what Norti
case Of trouble.
The regular army numbers. ap
proXimately. $4,000 men. After man
ming the coast defenseS and prOvid
,ng garrisons for our foreign posses
aions there will be left of the regu
lar troops, 10000 men for service il
che field The forces of the Nationa
Guard number 120, 900 men. All told
therefore, if the present plans worl
out perfectly, we could place In tn
field at the call Of the president $50,
600 men. This constitutes, at present
the organized land forces Of tn
United States. The regulars and tn
organized militia would constitute tn
first line Of defense. This is the pla
OF action as thought out by the mill
t,ry authorities.
a Big job.
Now assuming that the Nationa
Guard Of the entire country is rea
sonably efficient, and that all respon
10 the call to arms, the above pla
as all very we'll, so far as it goe
however, 10000 men would not {
drop in the bucket in case Of
war of any magnitude. Whlle IN
Iirst line Of defense is holding tn
enemy at bay. q volunteer army woul
have to be raised, clothed, armed, an
equipped, drilled, instructed in tt
modern science OF war. the use
high-power weapons and deadly e
9losives.
Il is not at all likely that a call
arms would cause to drop from II
SKY. like mamma from Heaven, sue
heeuful articles as arms, ammunltlO
clothing. food. forage, horses, mule
and automobiles. These things wou
nave to be supplied. With the Vi
expected demands on the railroa'
'or the movement Of troops the
would, undoubtedly arise congestit
Oh traffic. shipments would be della
Cd and the very dickens would be
pay. The millions Of patriots WI
tnsh into camp overnight will ce
Calnly have to exercise patience Whl
Iheir ratiOns are being assembled 81
equipment sent to them. In Il
meantime, the regulars and e
Suardsmen will endeavor to hold &
enemy in check. Under such circur
sta.ces, would 1t not be'wise to ha