The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-06
An Adequate Army.

The military policy which Secretary
GARRISON proposes for the country
originated with the greatest Of all
American authorities, General EMORY
UPTON. His report upon the subject
Is a classic. After studying u check.
cred experience in war and giving par
ticular attention 10 the four years
struggle between the States, SO costly
in life and treasure. he recommended
that the military system of the nation
should consist Of the regular army,
Federal volunteers and the militia.
That was nearly forty years ago.
General UPTON was not needed. The
Spanish war found us In a woful state
Of unpreparedness, with a mobile regu-
lar army of $4,000 men and n half
trained militia whose only function
under the Constitution was, aside from
domestic law enforcement and the as.
sistance 1t might give in suppressing
insurrection. the repelling Of invasion.
As the republic would never tolerate
a large standing army General UPTON
proposed an auxiliary force which he
called Federal volunteers, to be or.
ganized in each Congress district, sup
ported by the national Government,
and subject to summons by the Presl
dent for service outside the country,
II necessary. Both Secretary Of War
Roof and his successor. WILLIAM III.
TAFT. approved Of the plan in outline.
In 1912 1t was brought to the atten-
ton of Congress In a bill that pro
yided for the organization of 10000
Federal volunteers with officers ap-
pointed by the President. The bill
passed the House but met with defeat
in the Senate because of the opposition
Of certain Senators who were averse
to taking from Governors control OF
volunteers raised In the States. and
who even argued that the bill was
unconstitutional. Mr.. Roof took issue
with them in n powerful speech, point
ing out that whenever war comes
we are obliged TO increase the army.
which is not subject to the restrictions
resting upon the use Of the militia"
and maintaining that there was sane
ton In the authorization in section
8 of Article I. ito raise and support
armies" for the organization Of Fed
eral volunteers In time Of peace. Now
1t has fallen to Secretary GARRISON to
urge a comprehensive system Of ma
tional defence in the shadow Of the
great war in Europe.
The details of Secretary GARRIsoN's
plan are not now published for the
first time. He calls the proposed aux
iliary force the continental army In
stead Of Federal volunteers. and the
new name is preferable for obvious
rea sons. The strength OF the force
100000, to be raised in "increments'
Of 133, 900 a year, the short periods
OF intensive training during three
years and the furlough for an equal
time terminating the enlistment, every
body is now familiar with. Mr.
GARRISON proposes that the regular
army he increased gradually to
strength. all branches and including
auxiliaries Hospital Corps, Quarter
masters Department, Commissariat)
Of 100000 men, which would give the
continental United States 10000 mo
bile troops and u coast artillery o.
10000 men. He would allow the Ma
tional Guard more Federal assistance
than It now receives.
The cost Of this system, including
appropriations for the National Guard
would be $13O,835,71 the first yea
and $lS2, 234.650 each year when II
complete operation. 1t would give thu
country in an emergency nm immedi
a,ely available army Of 100000 traine'
soldiers, exclusive Of the Natlona
Guard. As to the question Of the In
creased expense for our military forces
1t was we'll said by Major.Genera
WILLIAM II. CARTER in The American
Army that with respect to outla!