The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-18
Copyright by LHustrirte zeitun9.

titude Of units, whose trained and per-
feet ones would inevitably b. sacrificed
to the errors and weaknesses of the
imperfect oncss
The division is the true weapon OF
war. 1t alone contains in vitality cor
rect proportion the various troops that
must sustain each other when cannons
and explosives begin that arbitration
from which there is no appeal on
earth. 1t is the division, and the d.
vision alone. that possesses all the
limbs and organs-the signal corps
and cavalry that are the eyes and
ears; the infantry ami engineers and
sanitary corps that are the body and
feet; and the artillery that is the
shifting fists.lo
In the City Hall Park in New York
n speaker. lifted above the crowd that
watched the newspaper bulletins, was
cursing the army amid savage cheers
He cursed its Generals and its men
because they did no, fight. He cursed
the Government. The crowd listened
and forgot that again and again they
had been warned tina, this would Ice 4
war should ever come.
With the bind wrath of helpless
llltu lIl'N CtN4u IfbS'I tIl4N NIIil at
this moment. when everything should
he done, nothing was being done. They
shouted approval when the frantic
orator screamed, Tell Washington -
order EN- TO fight Fight, Fight
That's what they're for"
The crowds could perceive only that
they had an army that did not strike
with guns. They could not know that
hp 4 i.l 4 titrDf
ing a better fight just then 10y fight
ing to organize than II they Tough,
With guns. They could not know that
to these officers, grown gray in the
service Of their country this fight was
more heart breaking than it would
have been to fight IN the hot blast
of shells.
To organize an army in the face II
the foe is like organizing fire de-
partmcnt when the streets Of a city
are already in flames. This is what
the chiefs Of the amy were trying TO
do-had been doing. day and night.
desperately, ever since the troops had
come together. And in Washington.
in the archives If Congress, there
We're lying shcavcs Of reports, gather
ing dust. that had demanded nothing
except the chance to do II in time.
Here We're regiments Of militia 81
"orgaui2cd" by their States that Il
they were permitted to 20 into battle
as they Were 10 companies of infantry
would face the enemy without a single
cannon to protect them. ~ all the
Eastern militia cavalry IN that camp
only one regiment had a mdChn" gun
CompanyN
Even the regular army was efficient
only in those things that could he
maintained and perfected 10y The
steady, personal efforts of officers and
men. In everything that depended On
legislation it was lacking. Instead II
$50 men to company Of infantry
some had only siXty-iive. Its troops
of cavalry We're not full. 1t had no
siege artillery corps. 1t was a skeleton
army which, according 10 optimistS
was To Toe clothed with substance when
war arrived. Now war had come; and
Ia ClOthe that skeleton with unframed
men would have meant that for every
siXty-five skilled soldiers there would
O. This point has been emphasized N
prdCtiCdNU 'rCTU War Department I'p0t
on organisation for many gears BACK.
Congress H'rcr has dct'd on ne matter.
Ihc Chicf OF Miiuid iU0WS, T. ). /,
trds lorc,d TO rp0rt IN has last rPort
mat: "IHtIc or 10 prOGr'SS appears 10
be mGkiuG tOWGrd correct divisional or
gdlLt ;d'ion" Part m, 1914 R'por on
Or1dni ;GtioH oJW tro states mace app
prOdChGbiy organized N.T wiittd N
correct proportions.
10. The diriSioH IS the Fundamental
army ulit. The moJHc ,lc-
mcnts OF the Regular army sioUhd h0r'
a divisional organization IN time 81
peace. once Of TIE Chi't ~ star,
L. :, A., January 90, 1914.
II, Tables II and Is, pages COS, 900,
annual Report DiriSion OF Muhtd Ne
fairs, 4. =. A, october l, 1914
"Thc states whiCh S'nd h.r infantry
into dctirc SCrriCc WNhou hdrfIG mddc
'r'rU possible '00rt 10 sHpply Il tcUh an
adequate hcid drthi'rY support Wll see
in the needless sacrifice OF that infantry
the cost OF their shOrtsi0htedhoss IN time
Of preparation" /, l.. Mus. Brigddi'r-
General. General stag, U. s, 4,
i.tb