The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-16
To Strengthen the National Defens,

The board of army officers charged with the duty of preparing plans for the reorganization of the regular es- tablishment will have it's report ready to submit to Secretary of War Garri- son within the next few months and it is believed that the Secretary will embody it in the recommendations he will make for the consideration of Congress.
 It is known that the subcommittee of the board which is formulating the report will stress the importance of increasing the army in order to promote efficiency as well as to have a stronger military force for mobili- zation in the event that this country is called upon to defend itself against a foreign enemy. Just how large an army the board will recommend has not been revealed.
 This country does not need an army of great size as armies in Eu- rope go. The people would be and should be quick to oppose anything that might suggest an approach to militarism. And, of course, Congress will be slow to adopt any measure that would burden the nation with the cost of keeping up what might be con- sidered a big army. But it is obvious to the intelligent observer that the army as constituted at present, with about S5,000 enlisted men, is entirely inadequate when it is remembered that not more than half the number of regulars are stationed in conti- mental America.
 The war department is desirous of seeing a large increase in the National Guard, but unless employers of young men show more disposition to encour- age their employees to become guards men the organized citizen soldiery, now but 100000 strong, will hardly reach the 250,000 mark. If the Ma tional Guard numbered 100000 men, as it should, there would be little need of an appreciable increase in the United States army. As it is, Con- gress will probably be urged to add 75, ,OO0 to 100000 men to the regulars.
 Citizens who have taken especial in- terest in army matters and who are imbued with the fact that military trainings is wholesome mental and moral discipline for the youth of any country, are advocating the extension of military schools. And it may be assumed that Secretary Garrison would favor a measure providing for government endowment of all schools and colleges making a feature of mill tary training. Several states main tain excellent military institutes, but the number of cadets in these schools would probably not total 10000. If the system of military education were to become general in high schools and colleges, the time would soon come when call to arms would bring out a million volunteers ready for war service instead of vast army of ''raw recruits"
 The leaders of peace leagues in- educating practically peace at any price-the pacifimaniacs-will strenu- ously oppose any movement that would mean preparedness for war They would be glad to see the military academy at West Point and the nava academy at Annapolis abolished al together. The idea of instructine young men in military tactics strikes them with horror. But fortunatel, the great body of patriotic American. take a different view. They are pa
 cifists of the right sort. They art for peace, but peace with honor. Ant they appreciate the importance of {
 reasonable amount of preparedness. |
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