The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-01-17
Adjutant General Bond in Line
with Spirit Of a Baltimore !.
Newspaper Man.

CElAR1EST0N, Jan. 16.-Believing
Ii to be OF special interest to all the
members of national guard, Adjutant
General John c. Bond has sent a large
number Of copies OF an editorial which
appeared in the Evening Sun, of Ball
tfmore. for distribution among the
military organizations OF West vir-
Einia. The heading of the editorial
Is The National Guard and in the
article It is proposed that the volun-
teer militia forces be largely increas-
ed and the whole organization be
Drought up to high standard OF Ell
ticiency. n
The editorial is as follows:
This country's hostility to a large
standing army is partly inherited
from English thought and feeling, and
/, partly due to the conviction that 1t
Is unnecessary by reason Of our iso-
lated position. In England largo
etanding army has been viewed for
generation with suspicion, because Of
the fear that 1t might be used against
the liberties Of the people And even
In the face OF the tremendous forces
Organized on the continent and ready
Tor use almost at moments notice,
British statesmen refused to institute
compulsory military service or to in
crease the regular military force to
anything approaching the numerical
proportions Of the German, French
and Russian armies This attitude is
{ in accordance with English traditions
and with the spirit which has inspired
English political development, which
has placed the preservation OF popu-
lar freedom above the fear of attack
or the desire of aggression.
SBut what the English might have
done-and what they probably will do
after this war-was to provide for the
systematic encouragement and slim
nlation or military training by sucn
recognition as would have tempted all
classes of citizens to become members
Of volunteer organizations. Had this
been done as thoroughly and persist
emily for the last ten or fifteen years
as the situation demanded, Great
Britain would not have been forced to
wait for months to put forth her
power until she could lick" raw re.
cruits into shape, and until the "hay-
foot, straw-foot' men from her shops
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ssss Iqslll =. =. mliltary eoucation.s
SAFE Middle Course.
We are not likely, in the near
future, at least, to find 1t necessary. to
call million men together against
an invading enemy. But II the unex5
pscted ever should happen, it Is vital
important that we should not be
II the condition in which Great Brit
ain found herself at the beginning OF
this war. There is a safe middle
course between British army prepar-
Sdness and German over-preparedness
ana tnaa Is py increasing our voiun-
test mll,tla forces ana bringing them
" 70 the nignest standard OF enc
3ency.
This is a course which is In strict
Rccordance with the principles and
genius of our government and which
IS free from the dangerous tendencies
Of militarism pure and simple. The
man who belongs to our National
G1ard Is not set apart or separated
from his fellow citizens, as is the
case to some extent, with the man
who becomes professional soldier.
re does not lose touch or sympathy
"ttn ctNiielile, ne uoeS not scnanSe MS