New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-05

within the next three years Of force
IF 100000 citizen soldiers, 20 be raised
in annual contingents of $4,000, who
would be asked to enlist for three years
with the colors and three years on fur
Tough, but who during their three years
of enlistment with the colors would not
be organized as a standing force, but
would be expected merely to undergo
intensive training for very brlef
reriod of each year. Their training
would take place in immediate assocla-
ton with the organized units OF the
regular army. II would have 20 touch
of the amateur about 1t: neither would
il exact Of the volunteers more than
they could give in any one year from
their civilian pursuits.
National Guard TO Aid.
"And none of this would be done IN
such a way as In the slightest degree
TO supersede or subordinate our pres
ent serviceable and efficient national
guard. On the contrary, the national
guard itself would be used as part OF
the fundamentally by which training
would be given the citizens who enlist
ed under the new conditions. and |
should hope and expect that the legis-
lation by which all this would be ac-
complished would put the national
guard itself upon a better and more
permanent footing than IL has ever been
before, giving it not only the recogni-
ton which il deserves, but more defi-
mite support from the national govern
ment and a more definite connection
with the military organization OF The
nation. 49,,
"What we all wish to accomplish is
that the forces of the nation should IN
deed be part of the nation and not a
separate professional force, and the
chief cost Of the system would not be
in the enlistment or in the training OF
men, but in the providing OF ample
equipment in case it should be neces-
sary to call all forces into the field.
moreover, it has been American pol
lev time out of mind to look TO the
navy as the frst and chief line of de-
fence. The navy Of the United States
is already a very great and efficient
force. Not rapidly, but slowly, with
careful attention, our naval force has
been developed until the navy. OF the
United States stands recognized as one
of the most efficient and notable OF the
modern time. All that is needed In
order to bring it to point OF eXtraor,
binary force and efficiency as compared
with the other navies of the world Is
that we should hasten our pace in the
policy we have long been pursuing, and
that chief Of all we should have def
mite policy of development, not made
from year TO year, but looking well into
the future and planning for definite
contamination. We can and should
profit in all that we, do by the expe-
rience and example that have been
made obvious TO US by the military and
naval events of the actual present.
Mobilization Of Resources.
at is not merely matter of building
battleships and cruisers and submarines,
but also a matter Of making sure that
we shall have the adequate equipment
of men and munitions and supplies Tor
the vessels we build and intend to
build. Part of our problem is the prob
lem Of what | may call the mobiliza-
ton Of the resources of the nation at
the proper time il il should ever be
necessary TO mobilize them for national
defence. We shall study efficiency and
adequate equipment as carefully as we
shall study the number and size OF our
ships. and believe that the plans al
ready in part made public by the Navy
Department are plans which the whole
nation can approve with rational en-
thusiasm.
"No thoughtful man feels any panic
haste in this matter. The country Is
not threatened from any quarter She
stands in friendly relations with all the
world. Her resources are known and
her self-respect and her capacity TO
care for her own citizens and her own
rights. There is no fear amongst us.
Under the new world conditions we
have become thoughtful of the things
which all reasonable men consider nee
essary for security and self-defence on
the part Of every nation confronted
with the great enterprise OF human I'D
erty and independence. That is all.
as the plan we propose sane and rea-
sonable and suited 10 the needs of the
hour? Does il not conform to the an
Gent traditions of America? Has any
better plan been proposed than this
that we now place before
the country? In il there is no pride of
opinion. II represents the best pro-
fessional and expert judgment Of the
country. But | am not so much inter-
ested in programmes az ! am in safe
guarding at every cost the good faith
and honor Of the country. IL men diff
fer with me in this vital matter | shall