Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-25
What of tho Army Bill?

The Times-Dispatch had something to say in
defense of the officers and men who compose
the National Guard organizations 1t was
necessary TO make that defense only to the
ignorant and the partisan; those who have
some acquaintance with the guard and its
membership knew in advance all that this
newspaper said. Perhaps it is more neces-
| sary to say something for the bill itself for
it has been misquoted and misrepresented
with as much enthusiasm national guards
men have been maligned.
What, then, are the facts about this meas
ure, particularly they affect the regular
army? In the first place, the units are more
than doubled. Instead of thirty-one regi-
ments Of infantry. there are to be sixty-fve;
instead of six regiments of field artillery,
fifteen; instead of fifteen regiments of cav
airy, twenty-five: instead OF 10 companies
of Coast Artillery, 363. The engineers are to
be increased from three battalions to seven
regiments and two mounted battal lions The
aviation corps jumps from twenty-six officers
TO las, and the medical corps from 444 10
4S5. In other staff corps there are CORES
ponding increases. Machine gun companies
have been added to every regiment Of the
line.
In addition TO the new officers made neces-
sary by the new Contingents $50 officers are
authorized. to serve as instructors in military
schools and colleges and with the National
Guard. regular army reserve is estab-
lished into which the recruit passes auto
matically after three years of active service
For four years thereafter he is liable to be
recalled to the colors There is further pro-
vision for increasing the reserves by direct
enllstments The bill contemplates and pro-
vides for 10000 reserve officers excluding the
officers of the National Guard
whether the bill provides for 175.0O0 men
or 2o6.000 men in the active regular estab-
lishment is not of immediate consequence
Everybody save Colonel Roosevelt and few
editors who Jump when he barks, knows that
IT is not possible, in the present prosperous
condition OF this country. to recruit the regu-
lar army up to either OF the two figures
named. II might he done, perhaps, by lower
ing the enlistment standards, and, Of course
II could be done by decreeing some form OF
compulsory service but not otherwise II
the nation should lose large part of its
prosperity and unemployment become wide
spread, instead OF almost unknown, the case
would be different but even the Colonel al
though he does advocate compulsion would
hardly advocate the use OF economic pressure
to drive men into the army's ranks
An army is not a collection OF words and
hsures, printed on paper engrossed on
parchment II consists OF men, primarily.
and men are not to be obtained by the mere
passage OF an act OF Congress The truth
is that Congress has looked the facts in the
face. while most Of the critics OF Congress
get their inspiration from either their homes
or lnelr rearS.
What we have criticized and continue to
crlilcize Is not so much the acts OF Congress
as the spirit Of Congress. 1t has had to be
kicked into doing what it should have done
gladly and spontaneously. II has provided a
military establishment that, if not ADEQUATE
to our needs, is at least adequate to our
present abilities, but il has done this against
its own will
lis chance to redeem itself is in the navy
bill We can have as big navy as Congress
VIII authorize. The five battle cruisers of
Inc House measure should be retained by the
Senate, but the Senate ought 70 add two or
three Dreadnoughts. There should he larger
provisions Of submarines, and scout cruisers
and hydroaeroplanes The fye-year build
ing program of the Navy Department ought
10 be restored.
Preparedness is something like patriotism.
1t must he in mems hearts before it can bs
revealed in mems deeds. Congress should
show this people the way
Now they are using wood pulp 10 make
bread Everything conspires to raise the