Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-24
ASKS BETTER UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN Army And THE PUBLIC
HonoluIu, 7. n, july Y, lsl5.

Honolulu, T. H., July u, 1915.
Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Sir: Please allow space in your
valuable paper for the few lines which
follow: The subject which have in
mind for q partial discussion is one so
broad. deep and wide as to affect the
well being, In an indirect way, of
every individual subject Of American
domain efficiency Of the Ameri-
can army This subject is one so
large and complex that its discussion
may will remind one OF attempting TO
grasp a large ball so large that the
hand will not take hold.
War is, am sorry to say, imminent;
and yet. s0othingiy our evangelists OF
optimism, peace and brotherly love
have hypnotised US with charming
lullaby that to be prepared against
war and to maintain our peace and
prosperity is heinous. crime of sinful
militarism. But no longer do the well
turned sentences Of the diplomatic
note suffice. American lives and prop
efty cannot be destroyed forever. The
patience OF the American people viii
not continue to stretch like rubber
band. II is either fight sooner or
later, or take water" Then the i'm
portant question arises, with what win
we fight? Our little army, efficient
In personnel, is ineffective for lack
of material. Yet when that trying
hour comes we must place our all on
the military forces OF our country.
Therefore, the future Of one hundred
million souls and the destiny of the
nation hinges on the American army
and navy The first days battle might
decide the fate of nation that might
have been credit to the world as a
military power. As an eminent writer
once said Let us take stock sober
n, like men facing big issue, setting
aside the high-sounding flub-dub Of
Fourth of July oratory, and get down
10 plain facts" Could our army. as an
instrument of peace, compete with a
first.class power? Could our navy de-
stroy the high-sea force of a first-class
naval power. and keep them from land
ing on our shores? Decidedly no. we
are too weak at the breech. And what
Is the canseg Congress and the AM
erican people. as well as the .feffi.
cheney OF the heads Of the various de-
rartments In the military service.
The government Of the American
army, being semi-political is unmili-
tary. wasteful. uneconomical Pat.
termed on Anticipated ideas OF the CO.
lonlaf period, its clumsy machinery
has always broken down in the stress
Of war. II exists for administration,
but not for fighting 1t has no basic
policy, either as to strategy, mobiliza-
ton, tactics or building program for
the logical growth Of itself
The head of the American army tthe
secretary of war; must be civilian.
He is a politician, without any specf
fic knowledge OF military affairs He
has full authority to disregard any
advice from even the most experience
ed military man, and there is no law
to compel him to listen to the council
OF either the chief of operations or
the general staff He is omnipotent.
With a stroke of the pen he can ruin
the efficiency of the American army.
The American people do not care
for an army or navy-they are con-
tented to continue to listen to the
peace advocates. as did England,
where, at the present time, public opin-
ion and the traditions of the sea hang
over the civilian head of the admiral
~ like the sword of Damocles.
The day is here when the American
people must get their army on bet
ter basis Legislate and enact laws
fnvorinQ the military establishment.