New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-02

use in war. and enable the carly or
ganzation, equipment and training OF
second line of at least n million men.
10 expand the regular army from
IT'S present strength Of approximately
IoV,VoO men to force approXimatinC
ouo,ooO mon would he impracticahle:
nrst, because under the voluntary sys-
tom Of cnlistments the maximum force
which could he obtained would be ap-
proNlmately 10000 men, as shown by
the records Of applications FOR enlist
mcnts and reflections: and secondly. be
cause the cost would be out of reason.
The best military thought in this
country is agreed that our first line
troops should be made up in part Of
the regular army and in part Of some
other force. regularly trained and sub
stantaUy prepared for war.
Rig Force on Paper.
And so. pending legislation to pro
vide IN time Of peace this force Of first
line troops. which will imperatively be
needed Immediately upon the outbreak
OF our next war. the War Department
has on paper provided for p first line
Of sixteen divisions. four of which are
20 he furnished by the regular army
and twelve by the organized militia Of
tho country As division aggregates
10000 men Of all arms, these sixteen
divisions would furnish a force Of
252 600 men. which. with the auxiliary
divisions and other auxiliary troops
would total approximately 100000 men.
"This force, however. exists largely
on paper. The four divisions TO be
l.. i D.
two Of the army divisions could be
promptly organized OF the militia di-
visions hut one exists complete in all
us tactical subdivisions; namely. the
VI New York. The VII tPennsyl .
vania) division is approximately com
plctc. but lacking some field artillerY
and engineer troops. The remaining
divisions each include group Of
states. and there IS lack of single com
mand, coordination and properly bal
anceG composition.
underlying the superficial short
comirCs of the militia divisions. there
exist organic defects which should be
rectifed before the forces known as
the organized militia can be reliably
depended upon as part Of the first
line
Mllllld as Nucleus.
As it is conceded" General Organ
proceeds. that the irst-line troops
should be Federal troops in time Of
peace as well as in time of war, and
as the claims of the national guard.
based upon the conditions | have men
toned. should be recognized, IT would
seem to be a proper policy for Con-
grcss. i'm formulating new legislation.
to provide for a new force not TO eX-
coed 100000 men in time of peace, and
70 do this. not under the militia pro
vision of the Federal Constitution. but
under the provision which gives TO
Congress the power TO raise and sup
port armies.
"If such legislation would make pro-
vision for the taking over by divi-
sions and lesser units of all the Off
GERS and enlisted men of the national
guard Of the several states, upon their
application. a substantial nucleus OF
the proposed force would be promptly
provided.
"No prospect of success has ever
in the past accompanied such pro-
posal Public opinion is now ready
for il. Certainly new era OF en-
cheney would rapidly develop # this
plan were adopted. and this would con
stitute the strongest argument with
state authorities in conforming TO the
plan. for il would not only make avail
able for state use the troops sta
toned within the state, but would IN
most cases ultimately provide troops
more highly di ciplincd and better
trained