New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-12
Must Be Ready to Use Our
Intelligence and Ability
to Protect Nation.
TRAIN CITIZEN ARMY,
HE TELLS AUDIENCE
Militia System Criticised as In
efficient Before Suffolk
County Association.

1--WE do not want a largo regular
army. Ii must be OF sufficient size to
do the peace work Of the country and
it's possessions. 70 keep order within
our borders and to garrison Panama
and the islands under our flag" said
General Leonard Wood at the dinner OF
the Suffolk County Association at the
Hotel Astor last night. "But we do re-
quire body Of trained citizens and
great reserve force of officers, unless
we wish to send our people a useless
sacrifice into the war which will some
day come upon US.
"The military history Of this coun-
try has never been taught honestly and
truthfully, so that as nation we are
not aware that for what we have won
in the past We have paid frightful
and unnecessary cost We are not
aware that in the Revolution every
year brought fewer volunteers to the
flag. in spite Of increasing bounties; or
that the War Of 1912 was fought IN the
same haphazard and inefficient way. In
our other wars we have been willing
enough, but frightfully inefficient
Militia System Criticised.
General Wood then gave his frank
opinion of the present military organ
ization of the United States. THE
militia" he said, ais sound at heart
but it has behind it fatally inehec-
tive system. If the regular army were
controlled in the same way II would In
short time become utterly useless.
There is good stuff in the militia, but
il is so terribly handicapped that II
Is almost valueless. 1t must become
Federal force, not a state organization:
"The shirt in the nation that would
respond TO q call for volunteers IS ad-
mirable, but now that the ocean can
be crossed in few days and IN time
when other states are prepared Tor war
and equipped with arms that require
months for manufacture II Is lneredi-
bly, rash TO depend on this spirit lot
safety.
General Wood advocated the Swiss
and Australian types of military tram
ing as the model which the United
States should adopt In closing he ut
tered this solemn warning: Great
misfortunes fall upon nations as they
do upon individuals. We cannot avoid
or explain the trials that are before
US, though we must be ready to use our
intelligence and ability to protect our
selves TO the best advantage. No clti-
zen can shirk the obligation toward his
country or shift it TO anothers shout
ders. God forbid that we should en-
gage IN war, but IL there is anything
we consider of value or worth saving
| in our nation. let us take reasonable
precaution 10 save il before it is too
late"
Fleet Needs $4,000 Men.
Rear Admiral Casper T. Goodrich,
Y. S. N. (retired), spoke IN favor OF
universal military training for this
country. AT the present time" he
said, "the first line battle feet is re-
( ported TO be 5000 men short. When
the second line is added, it is probable
that the nation would need not less
1 than $4,000 sailors if war were de-
clared against any first class power.
Nv here are we going 10 get the men
to man our ships, or the men trained in
/ far larger numbers for the trenches!
England considers that it takes not less
/ than ten months 20 fit a man for the
| front, and to send unprepared men
/ there is nothing less than condemning
/ them to death without giving them q
chance.
"The average American boy Is Meth
I or obedient, helpful or well hammered
/ We have learned that these things can
not be taught in the homes. Some
/ thing else is needed, and that il uni
versal training. | would have all
American boys OF eighteen years of
age who are physically tit, serve for
one year under the colors in the army
or in the navy"
Talcott Williams, director Of the
School of journalism, emphasized the
! desire Of the people for peace, If II
could be maintained with honor. peace
is the normal condition TO the Ameri-
/ can" Mr.. Williams said. "He takes up
the sword only to secure more last
/ ing peace Our cavalry is on Mexican
/ soil to-day only SO that we may have
an end of disorder within our borders.
/ The preparedness which every intelli-
gent man desires is in itself insurance
for peace, neither an invitation or a
challenge for war"