The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-09

provide these men We should have at
least two military academies in addition
to West Point and then several schools
Of less comprehensive scope to train
drill sergeants, artillerymen. aviators,
signal men and the other classes Of ex-
pert war men. The graduates from these
schools will be given a year or two of
experience and then returned into pri-
vate life on a small salary in order
that they might always be on call.
Here We would have the brains of q
great army ready on the drop Of a hat
and We would not be a militarist nation
or have a great force of professional
soldiers. ~
II think we would have the best di-
rected and best led army in the whole
world.
so much for the defense of the coun-
try by men: these men would go down
to slaughter without striking a blow
IL they were not provided with the means
Of fighting. The present war has shown
very clearly that the instruments Of
war are not to be made in a day or a
year. Therefore l should have the United
States great storehouse of munitions
of war.
Il should provide the coast and har-
Dor Notifications with the most power
full ornaments that would be devised
and / should provide more field artillery
per capital than any other nation
think we ought to keep in stock at least
half as many guns as the French now
have on the firing line and supplement
these with a great number of forgings
rough turned and bored, ready for a
quick finishing when needed.
These guns must have plenty of am
munition; l would provide for more am
r,v,ft H.
possibly use; 1 would be extravagant in
every ammunition estimate and i would
keep a vast stock-enough for all the
needs Of several months war.
This stock would not be of itself
enough for an extensive war and there
fore l should build large government
plants in various sections of the coun-
try, capable of enormous manufacturing
capacity-I would suggest a capacity dou-
BILE that which we might imagine to he
needed under the most unfavorable con-
ditions. These plants should be equip
ped to make their own acids and should
have great stock of raw materials.
These plants would be only for emer-
gency use; in times OF peace I should
depend upon the private concerns so
that in times of war we might have an
additional supply.
Then our wireless and electric field sig
mailing system should be greatly extended
so that war supply might always be on
hand and in perfect order and condition
Every system of communication, includ-
ing great number OF aeroplanes, ought
to be on hand stored ready for use at a
days notice
Il should give the government the
right to commander any article or
piece of property which might be needed
for war: would not stop al any meas
ure which might ensure efficiency.
so much for the army The first line
Of defense must be the navy, and I
would make our navy among tn. most
powerful on earth, with a great number
of extremely rapid ships of the high
est gun power I would build many fast
mine laying boats and store them in
fresh water rivers. I would have sew
eral hundred submarines. stored mostly
on land. And, of course. ! would nave
an excessive number of mines and tor
pedoes
The manipulation of the mine layers
and the submarines is skilful work md
their crews ought to be part of a re-
serve system by which the men may be
trained thoroughly and then passed into
a paid reserve. with an occasional week
or two Of service to keep them up to
the mark, the commanders to be per-
My system throughout is one of
storage; We cannot keep on a constant
war footing of munitions, ships and
men without great expense and without
the danger of becoming a military ma
ton. But We can make and store our
We can train a reserve or !
men and we can keep both Instruments
and men up to the highest point of eft
Thus We can always be prepared and
yet We shall not be a military nation:
our people will be working and adding
to the prosperity of the country and a
very small percentage OF the wealth
they will be creating would pay the bill
for all of this machinery and the sal |
aries of the experts and caretakers.
predatory nations are masters Of es-
pionage: they will know our prepared
ness and they will hesitate"