The Washington herald., 1915-01-31

Wilson describes could have prevented
the German army from crushing
France long before this? The French
knew better than Mr.. Wilson evidently
does, and surely events have proved
the wisdom of their course.
What does the President mean by the
statement that we must depend in
time of national peril upon a citi-
zenry trained and accustomed to
arms?" Does he advocate in all sin
cerity a system identical with that pur-
sued by France, Germany. Russia, Aus
tria, and ItaIy-what is commonly
known as a standing army? That is
what his words mean in reality. but the
phrase is so ingeniously framed as to
be very deceptive and it conveys a
sense quite different from the actual
meaning of the words.
Might still Makes Right.
Might still makes right after 1900
years of Christianity. and no nation in
its whole history has ever neglected
its strength without paying the pen
atty. None but regular soldiers can
adequately prepare for war. and no
intelligent man would be foolish
enough to think that Germany could
have put up the resistance she has done
except for the wonderful preparation
which she made in advance. Never
once have we prepared for war before
hand. and is this lesson to pass un-
noticed?
When President Wilson states that the
country has been misinformed," he says
what is to a large measure true. The
average American knows virtually moth
ing of the military history of the United
States, and in most Of the high school
books our military blunders and disas-
tiers have been studiously minimized or
completely concealed. Mr.. Wilson pro-
fesses TO be a historian. Let him
answer what history will record IL he
persists in his present attitude. In strong
contrast to him is the attitude taken by
one Of his Cabinet officers Hon. Lindley
NJ. Garrison, whose latest report as Sec
retary OF War is one OF the most splen-
did that has ever been made and Just
the sort of thing one would expect from
a man like him. Mr.. Garrison has dared
to tell the truth concerning our land
forces and takes issue fairly and square,
ly with his chief on the subject of nation
al defense. In his report he says that on
June 90 1914, we had in Continental Uni
ted States 1,495 regular army officers
and q, ,405 men; that the organized mill
tia amounts TO S,323 officers and 119,OS7
men. He goes on to say "and that is
absolutely all. The only other resources
would be volunteers, and to equip, organ
ize, train, and make them ready would
take, at the smallest possible estimate,
six months.
ANY one who takes the slightest trouble
to investigate will find that in modern
warfare a prepared enemey would prog
ress so far on the way to success in six
months. II his antagonist had to wait
six months to meet him, that such un-
prepared antagonist might as well con-
cede defeat without contest"
What Mr.. Garrison says is absolutely
true and does any American for one
minute think that a force Of 15s,310 off,
GERS and men. three-fourths OF v4lich are
only partially trained. is sufficient de-
Tense for great nation like ours? 1t
Is high time that we Americans should
arouse ourselves to our defenselessness
on land Surely the present war in Eu-
rope ought to offer sufficient example to
stimulate us in this respect. and both the
people Of the country and President Will
son might well heed the remarks made
in the London Morning Post Of December
Il. 1914 which says:
eve. cannot believe the British gov
ernment would sanction any sort or