New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-15
.Democracies and Preparedness for
War.

In the current number of "The Infantry
Journal" Colonel f. +. Hatch draws GER
tain conclusions of interest to Americans
from a study of the military systems OF
Australia and Switzerland. 1t is often as
sumed that democratic ideals are incom
patible with military efficiency. But in
the two advanced democraces of Australia
and Switzerland the problem Of military
preparedness has been attacked as ear
nestly as it has been by nations with mill
tary castles and imperiaistic institutions.
Australia has a population of about
100000 and Switzerland population of
about 100000. But owing to system
Of universal service and keen popular
interest in national defence. each of these
little countries has created military sys-
tenn which is turning out a better army
than the United States has with its popu-
lation of nearly 100000 900.
1t is not the democratic spirit which
stands in the way Of military efficiency.
The people of Australia and Switzerland
feel the necessity of standing on their
Guard against aggression, and have cheer
fully imposed on themselves the obliga-
ton Of universal military service. The
people Of the United States have been un-
willing to cut loose from the deusion that
our geographical isolation protects us
from attack. They take as a gift of fort
une guarantee Of territorial invioability
which most other nations have to pur-
chase by the most thorough military
preparation. We are self-deluded in great
" overrating the value of our geographi-
cal position. Yet so long as public opinion
remains blind to the very real dangers
which our lack Of preparedness invites,
it is useless to expect Congress to alter
our take-t-easy military policy.
Colonel Hatch is an advocate of univer-
sal service But he realizes that in the
present state of popular feeling only a
distant approach to such system Is prac-
ticable in this country The most that
ne suggests in that direction is the use Of
our Congress districts as local organlza-
ton areas and the requirement that each
district shall furnish a quota of at least
759 men. volunteers or conscriptS, for ser
vice terms of seven years After the first
draft only 146 men would need to be fur
nished annually. On that basis reserve
army of 330,l65 men would be provided
giving US. with an enlarged regular army
of about 10000, first line defence force
of a little over half million men.
Some scheme of this sort may find APP
proval later. 1t is modest imitation OF
what Australia and Switzerland have
found it easy to do. As an alternative,
good for immediate consideration. Colonel
Hatch suggests that the state militia or
CARNATIONS be thoroughly nationalized.
Australia and Switzerland are both feder-
ations Of states or cantons. But neither
tolerates the waste and complications re-
suting from a state-controlled militia sys-
TEN. Congress has natiOnaliZed our militia
organizations to a slight extent, but the
federal government exercises no real con-
troll over them in time of peace, and can
not hope TO bring them up TO an accept
able level of military efficiency. Were the
state national guards to be converted into
a federal guard or a United States re
serve. real uniformity in training and
quality could be attained, and, In Colonel