New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-31

tente, which, having large standing armies,
were unprepared for defence against attack
by nation known for many years to be max
ing extraordinary preparation for what II
has now undertaken? The cost Of any prep
aration is insignificant. This is, at least, one
OF the richest nations, and il is nation OF
spendthrfts The money worse than wasted
on Intoxicating drinks, If the manufacture
and sale were prevented as in Russia, woulc
be enough to pay the cost Of preparation az
long as 1t is required, which would be pro-
vided for in considerable part if Congress.
men would abstain from supplying the pork
barrels of their constituents while the funds
were needed for defence, which, With other
wastes by Congress, as estimated by Senator
Aldrich, amount 10 S3000OO,0OO wear. But
why consider the cost?
The President tells what should be done
by way of preparation. He may be a great
statesman and an accomplished writer, but
what does any civilian know of the means to
be employed for defence in a case like this?
The preparation should be according to
plan of our most eminent naval and military
authorities. They would say the Presidents
plan is worthless so far as the army is con
cerned The matter of the first Importance,
as q civilian can see, is 10 provide navy
sufficient to prevent the landing of a hostile
army on our shores; this, with a coast line
OF several thousand miles. requires a much
larger fleet than We are likely TO have within
the time that may be allowed for prepare
ton. If the Kaiser should effect n landing
on our Atlantic coast with 900 or 100000
of his veterans he would lead them where he
pleased and fill the land with devastation and
slaughter, as in Belgium and Northern France,
ard force indemnity from our cities suiIi-
cient to pay the cost of the war, in spite of
such an army as the President would have
to oppose him and all other opposition.
The regular army would be scattered over
the country and our possessions as now; and
the Presidents Continentals, after three
years, il we were invaded only after so long
a time, would consist Of $4,000 under in
struction two months, 900 under instruc-
ton two months IN each Of two years, and
1873, 600 under instruction two months in each
of three years. scattered in groups over the
whole country and never assembled. They
would make 1000 companies of 100 each,
there would not be graduates from Wes:
Point enough for their instruction.; and with
three officers to each company 10000 officers
would be required besides the field officers
and the staff, which must be supplied prin
cipally from the ranks.
The unfitness of an army thus composed IS
illustrated by the militia regiments of the
North at the beginning of our Civil Wai.
Only those that had armories or other
equivalent conveniences for discipline and
drill through the year, suci as were pro-
vided in the cities and large towns were in
any degree fitted for service; and the men
Of ordinary militia regiments, from using
tactics different from those prescribed in
the Army Regulations, and common to the
regular army, were frequently worse than
raw recruits; such training as they had re-
ceived hindered their learning the way pre-
scribed.
The printed roster of one of the Northern
States that furnished soldiers equal TO those
of any state gives the statistics OF a regi-
ment whose officers at first were members OF
a three months regiment at the beginning OF
the war. 1t was called a reorganization OF
the first, The roster shows that II as
long in the service as any other regimen,
of the state: that it had in all l.572 officers
and men. that ,375 died OF diseases. that 242
were discharged for disability. that Is died
of accidents, that 3s were taken prisoners
that % were wounded, that died of wounds, !
and that . were killed in action. These two
we're officers. and both were killed away from
their regiment, and besides these the roster
mentions no other killed. What could be-
hoped for from 100000 prepared for service
az the President would have them, who never
had seen service!
But there is talk OF peace and diserma-
ment. Peace may come when Christian prin.
siples are practised by all nations, when
tone seek greater dominion, and no people