The farmer and mechanic., 1915-04-27

called the NdtlOnai Guard, is intended
= act in connection with the regular
army in forming the first line Of de-
fense. in case of war. That it will be
called into action along with the re-
.ulars. That volunteers will be called
T., after the National Guard has
taken the feld with the regular army
and that it will require months to
,lace the volunteers on a war footing.
Light Horse Harry Lee said: That i
ration is a murderer OF it's people who |
sends them unprepared and unframed |
10 meet in war men mechaniEed and |
esriplined by training"
The present strength Of the regular
army will allow only 10000 men for |
a mobile army and the organized |
militia is relied on to furnish the |
trained men to augment the regular |
force until volunteers can be made |
ready The organized militia now
numbers approximately 12O, 900 Of
hcers and men. That is the paper
strength. 1t is estimated, by cOlnpe-
tent authorities, that only 60.oOo
would be availa bic and that it would
REQUIRE at least 80 days to concentrate
81. 600 regulars and $4,000 militia.
Modern wars come suddenly, and
iu the event of trouble with highly
trained military power we would be
once barrier, now oner the choice
~ half hundred highways by which
a first = ass power could land tGIly
equipped and thoroughly trained ad-
vance force of 200, ,000 men within a
week. or ten days. To oppose this it
would push the United States to con-
ceutrate our force of 10000 regulars
and militia. at any given point within
20 days. These are cold facts, which
the war office of every civilized nation
knows down to the minutest detail.
Points of Weakness.
one of the greatest weaknesses OF
the National Guard is the Indifference
and lack of interest on the part OF
the public. In some communities this
! Indifference amounts to actual ami
mostly. The people do not seem to
realize that the organized militia is
s. most important factor in the scheme
ot national defense.
Absorption in business, matters of
local interest, the spread Of the senti-
ment for universal peace and the idea
that The United States will never be-
come involved in another war are
largely responsible for this lack OF in
terest. Joined to these are the i'm
phcable hatred of the Industrial
Workers of the World, the opposition
of the anarchists and a considerable
part Of organized labor.
Entitled to Support.
iu view Of the fact that, under the
powers of the Constitution, every
able-bodied man in every community
y a member of the militia, and as
such subject to the performance %
military service it would seem that
The few who do perform the necessary
service should receive the hearty
moral and physical support Of those
Who are not SO engaged.
Since the policy and traditions O
our government are unalterably op
posed 10 a large standing army ant
reliance in time Of trouble is PLACED
upon the citizen soldiery, perhaps !
M.ll be well to recall the views o
some of our deepest thinkers an'
greatest men.
Washington's Words.
Al 1893. when his administrator
desiring to maintain neutrality be
tween France and England and tn
allies of that period, was resisting tn
aSgreSSions of the belligerents upo
onr national rights, President Wash
lhston made this declaration to Con
sress: There is a rank due to TIA
nited States among nations Wnlc
VIII be withheld, if not absolutely los
ny the reputation Of weakness.
II we desire to avoid insult "
must be able to repeal it.
Ii we desire to secure peace-or
or the most powerful instruments {
our prosperity-it must be know
mat we are at all times ready II
war"
Il cannot recommend to your motto
measures for the fulflment of Q,
duties 10 the rest of the world will
out again pressing upon you the n
cessity of placing ourselves in col
dltion of complete defense and
eXactng from them the fulfilment
their duties toward us. The Units
states ought not to indulge persu
sion that, contrary to the order
human events, they will forever ke'
at distance those painful appeals
arms with which the history of eve
other nation abounds.''
What Adams Said.
From President Adams speci
message: with a view and as
measure which even in time of VI