Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-11-10
Plans for the Army,

us ready for assertion.
Plans for the Army,
"And we know" continued the pres
ident, that we can do this in a way
that will be itself an illustration of the
American spirit. In accordance with
our American traditions we want and
shall work for only an army adequate
to the constant and legitimate uses OF
t-rles of international peace. But we
do want TO feel that there is a great
body Of citizens who have received at
least the most rudimentary and neces-
sary forms of military training; that
they will be ready to form themselves
into a fighting force at the call of the
nation; and that the nation has the
munitions and supplies with which to
equip them without delay should it be
necessary to call them into action
We wish to supply them with the
training they need. and we think we
can do so without calling them at any
time too long away from their civilian
pursuits.
1T is with this idea. with this con-
ception in mind that the plans have
been made which it will be my priv.
lege to lay before the congress at its
next session. That plan calls for only
such an increase in the regular army
Of the United States as experience has
proved to be required for the perform
ance of the necessary duties of the
army in the Philippines, in Hawaii. in
Par4o Rico, Upon the borders of the
United States, at the coast fortifica-
tons, and at the military posts of the
interior. For the rest, it calls for the
training within the next three years
of a force of 10000 citizen soldiers to
be raised in annual contingents of 1884,
600, who would be asked to enlist for
three years with the colors and three
years on furlough, but who during
their three years OF enlistment with
the colors would not be organized as
standing force but would be expect.
ed merely to undergo intensive train
ing for a very brief period of each
year. Their training would take place
in immediate association with the or
ganized units of the regular army. II
would have no touch of the amateur
about it. neither would it exact of the
volunteers more than they could give
in any one year from their civilian
pursuits.
And none Of this would be done in
such a way as in the slightest degree
to supersede or subordinate our nres-
ent serviceable and efficient National
Guard. On the contrary, the National
Guard itself would be used as a part
of the instrumentality by which train
ing would be given the citizens who
enlisted under the new conditions. and
/ should hope and expect that the leg.
islation by which all this would be &C.
complished would put the National
Guard itself upon better and more
permanent footing than It has ever
been before, giving It not only the rec
ognition which it deserves but a more
definite connection with the military
organization of the nation.
For Development of the Navy.
1T has been American policy time
out OF mind to look to the navy as
the first and chief line of defense.
The navy of the United States is al.
read, q very great and efficient force.
Not rapidly, but slowly, with careful
attention. our naval force has been
developed until the navy of the United
States stands recognized as one of the
most efficient and notable of the mod. |
ern time. All that is needed in order
to bring it to point of extraordinary
force and efficiency as compared with
the other navies of the world is that
we should hasten our pace in the
policy we have long been pursuing
and that chief of all we should have
definite policy of development. NOT
made from year to year but looking |
well into the future and planning for