Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-08-09
Mccormick Calls Attention to
Points Of Striking Similarity
in Lack of Preparedness of
Two Countries,
LIBERAL PARTY STINGY
IN GIVING TO ARMY
Hereditary Opposition to Large
Military Organization Re-
SponSibIe for ParSimoniouS
Policy Of Government
By ROBERT II. McCORMTCK.

by ROBERT II. MCCORMICK.
lCopyrght 1915. BY The Chicago Tribune
London July 9--Thc situation ml
which Great Britain finds itself i'm this
great war is so similar 20 that In
which war would place America that "a
study of it Is of special interest
To be sure the difficulties under
which Great Britain Is laboriug are
not as great as ours would be. and She
has the use ana protection of nor eX-
traordinary navy which we, In like|
circumstances. would not have How
ever the points Of similarity are many
and striking
War came upon England under al
liberal government This government
had been IN power seven years. lt|
stood for all that is best i'm our pro-
grcssiye and i'm the liberal side of our
democratic party.
1t passed a home rule bin for Ire
land. II had brought TO the front re-
ligious equality i'm Wales It passed "a
series OF measures for the subdividmg
of land oWnerships II stood at the
very front in its euactmcutn for the.
benefit Of WorlIngmcn n found
means for increasing revenue by tax
ing those best able to pay. Il was. to
be sure. not free from the leaven OF
those who believe impracticableness
and progress TO be the same thing, but
II was able 60 retain the support OF
this element without seriously yield
ing 10 its demands 10 It's permanent
credit II maintained the supremacy
of the netional fleet 1t thought nee
essary however to neglect the ARM
IA many essential details I'm order to
provide funds for its altruistic pur-
poses
Artillery arm weak.
Parsimony was especially SHOWN to-
ward the artillery arm In the battery
organization adopted and In the guns
themselves The field pieces in use
were greatly inferior To the French
f5s. which could have been obtained
by paying the cost of equipment,
the field howitzers were ineNact ln
shooting but more damnng To- the
makers Of the budget was lack Of
high power field glasses and range
finders
Parsmony. backed by aristocracy,
WAS responsible for such small pay 10
officers that only men with some in-
dependent means could afford TO be
officers, and hence from these was
required less technical skill than de-
m1uded of officers IN the continental
countries
Tile British army recognized its own
weakness. and for years had preached
reorganization upon the Pruasian sys-
tenn
The present government must face
the fact that IT did not even stand ncu-
unl In this contest. but led tho oppo-
sition to the reform War found the
English regular army at home only
t50.0 900 strong IL found territorial
troops, semi-recruited and senior
ganzed regiments which. however.
could not be called into foreign war
without their consent.
Patriotism shown.
However. lest the casual reader pass
too harsh judgment upon the parla-
mentHry politicians who sent to thelrI
death soldiers less trained and equip
ped than their enemy, let us give them
credit for greater patriotism and fore
sight than the American congress has
ever shown.
The English army was not divided
into number Of small army posts, iu
order 10 furnish pie TO as many con.
gressmcn as possible, but was kept in
units so battle tactics could be learn
ed
with an Europe organized in com
prehensive fashion. the reason for
Great Britain's backwardness is to be
found in the hereditary opposition to
"A standing army, which. incidentally, |
We inherited along with other English |
eustoms' in o false sense Of security |
behind The barrier of the channel, and |
IN q sense Of racial superiority and
which viii be referred 10 !
Iatcr and more influential than the |
rest in recent years, a group which |
found mental and sensual pleasure. aa
well as financial and political profit |
Ia preaching propaganda Of national |
atavism.
shortly before the war broke outl
came the army crisis over home rule |
Sir Edward Carson organized "a mill |
Jary force to resist ts endorsement |
When the government began military |
steps 20 enforce II the army baked |
Field Marshal Sir John French re-
signed the position of chief Of staff
other officers resigned their commits
5ions
The secretary Of war tried to find
i middle ground between the home
rule people and the enemy, failed, ana |
his portfolio.
The radical party. which saw no
farther than the seashore. demanded
HE instant dismissal Of the army and
the immediate organization Of a
force to cOerce Ulster
Prime Minister'S Responsibility.
The prime minister rs the keystone
ii the arch Of the British parlIamen
.ary system Upon him devolves the
of preventing the struc.
lure from tumblug 10 the ground
II must be- said of Mr. Herbert As
1uith that under these terrible times
he has held together the most antagO-
listic elements ever present in 70 gov
1rnment Following the attitude which
mas allowed England 10 exist az de-
nocracy for centuries IN continent
II autocracies, he put nation beforel