Evening star., 1915-11-21

| tunlty Is gwen 1or me discussion OF
| every problem in connection with the
subject, but the space limitations of
this article will not permit more than
brief extracts here and there. In q
final chapter on = Suggested Organi-
zation of Land Forces" the author
| writes this:
"One of the most important reforms
| to be made in respect to the mobile
army within continental United States
| is to put definite end to the present
country, as a rsult of which the Ameri-
| can army is absurdly administered
from almost every conceivable stand
point except that of the communities
1.-THE time has come when the inter-
ests of the United States must be made
paramount to those of petty localities.
| and the present system Of wholesale
! and totally unnecessary expense ter
| minated.
"It is an absolute impossibility that
the army can be economically admin
| istered or attain that efficiency which
| it ought to possess until full four
| fifths Of the garrisons and posts IN the
! country are abolished.
| obviously, howl will be set up by
| every community which Will be de-
| priyed of the revenue emanatfng from
the expenditures of the troops sta
must now be squarely faced. and our
Legislators must determine whether the
| country is to continue to be MIXED
| for the sole benefit of certain local in
| terests.
'"The War College, after a careful
study, has estimated that a saving OF
about s5.500.080 per annum would be
effected If the present mobile force
were concentrated in eight posts.
! Suggestions for Organization.
| Mr.. Huidekoper then goes on to de-
nf To n
forces" This Is as follows:
| "(D Proper practical training Of the
infantry. cavalry and field artillery
com mbined.
"(2) Rapidity of concentration Of the
army upon the northern or southern
ciflc coasts.
| "(3) The best use of the regular army
as model for the general military
training of the National Guard.
ment of the regular army as nucleus
for the war organization of the organ
lied militia and such volunteer forces
as Congress may authorize.
"(5) An economical administration
giving the maximum return for the
money expended.
| "(6) A peace organizat tion in keeping
| with effectiveness in war-in other
words. one which will permit the army
as whole to be instantaneously avail
| able for active operations either with
| in or without the United States"
Mr. Huidekoper outlines a plan for
the distribution of the forces, going
into this subject as completely as he
has apparently gone into others. The
book is embellished with many maps,
picturing the various campaigns in
which United States forces have been
engaged.
Refers Only to Land Forces.
Only the land forces are dealt with.
and the condition of the land forces Of
the United States at the beginning of
1915 is described. There is a chapter
devoted to military policy. legislation
and events from 1902 to June /, 1915,
! and separate chapters on military leg
islation in connection with each of the
wars the United States has had.
One interesting feature of the book is
an account of the Peking relief expe-
ditfon. There has been a popular idea
that United States marines were first
over the wall among the troops Of all
the different nations which participated
in the. attack upon Peking. but Mr..
Huidekoper does. not say SO. On the
contrary he writes:
"At IL am. two companies of the 14th
Infantry, under the immediate COM
mand of Col. Daggett, had scaled the
wall Of the Chinese city at the north
east corner and the flag Of that regi-
IHenL was INc HTSC foreign COlOrB Un-
furled upon the walls surrounding Pc
king
Mr.. Huidekoper in his book adds to
some of the recent literature Of the
Bible concerning military unprepared-
ness which has emanated from the
White House and from Oyster Bay.
First to Quote Ezekiel.
Inasmuch as his preface is dated
June 9, 1915, and his book was written
between January and June of this year,
it might also seem that he has some
claim to being one of the first to quote
Ezekiel, which he does, in the same
way President Wilson and Col. Roose-
welt recently quoted that authority
| upon the necessity for military pre-
paredness. At the same time Mr.. Huide-
koper also quoted this additional au-
| thority:
when strong man armed keepeth
his palace his goods are in peace:
But when a stronger than he shall
| come upon him. and overcome him. he
taketh from him all his armour where
| in he trusted, and dividerh his spoils."
Luke, 11:21, %.
Then he said unto them. But now. he
| that hath a purse. let him take 1t, and
| likewise his scrip, and he that hath no
sword. let him sell his garment and
buy one" Luke. 22:36.
(. Mr.. Huidekoper says:
"It Is impossible to emphasize too
strongly the fact that the improve
| ments so imperatively needed by our
| land forces require time. American
indifference to national defense has
permitted many golden moment to
escape"
| One Of his statements. in which the
| time element would seem to be of the
greatest Importance, is this:
ut has been conclusively shown that
the United States does not possess suf-
fcient ammunition for an army of 49,
522 infantrymen for four days fight
ing, nor enough artillery ammunition
| to last our 6S4 field guns for two days,
| not to mention innumerable other items
| in which we are lamentably deficient.
The reader is left to draw his own
conclusions"
Blots on Landscape.
From the Fort Worth Record.
The city beautiners who have extend
cd their pulchritudinous measures to