El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-02-17
8 BY PREPARING
R BEFORE IT IS ON Us
hg Recit es the Reverses u. S. Troops
Past Thr Ough Lack of Prepared
ses of the Spectre Of Militarism;
, the Ell Paso Woman's Club.

the world today is unprepared Amer
lea
This was one Of the striking asser-
lions in the speech on military pre-
paredness given by Gen. j. ). E c-L.s1-.
ing. brigade commander Of the forces
here, before the meeting OF the Liter
allure and Current Events department
Of the Woman's club wednesday ar
ternOon in the auditorium OF the tlIsI
Christian church. An audience OF men
and women filled the church. The meet
ing coming between Lincoln's blrlh-
dav and WashingtOn's birthday was
made q patriotic occasion, and, after
Gen. Pershing's spirited talk on pre-
paredness. the 20th infantry band
nlaved THE Star Spangled Banner
and the audience, standing, sang the
national anthem. Cen Pershing went
straight to the point without wasting
words and his audience frequently in
terrupted him with applause. Contin-
uing, he said.
Must BE Prepared
ITO be prepared for war is the most
effectual means Of preserving peace.
A free people ought not only to be
armed. but disciplined; to which END
a uniform and wen digested plan is
requisite. This was the advice George
Washington gave his countrymeh IN
discussing the welfare OF the nation
i'm his first annual address to congress.
I'm a better position to appreciate the
consequences Of unpreparedness imam
George Washington. during those
critical years Of war, the lack~ot pre-
vious military preparedness had beeh
borne in upon him with Impressive
@He had learned that high sounding
phrases and rhetorical declarations OIL
patriotism, no matter how sincerely
uttered. could not take the place OF
wei drilled efficiency. and that the
unframed enthusfc 1 OF youth was
poor substitute for military knowledge
and military discipline. The revolu-
ton began i'm real earnest after the
colonies had made clear their purpose
through the Declaration OF lndepeh-
dence The time for decisive actlon
had come and the first step should
have been to organize an effective mil
itary force. but unfortunately the peo'
pie did not realize that an aggrega-
ton of civilians with arms could not
hold their own against disciplined SOL
diers under efficient officers.
What Happened TO Raw Men.
j. AT the very beginning, Washing
ton was forced by the British on Ions
Island to retire to New York, and the
accounts of the movement as given in
our histories lead TO the conclusion that
IL WAS a mastery retreat, but in let
ter to the president Of congress, NASH
iugton describes the results in the tol-
lowing words: Our situation Is truly
distressing. The check our detachment
sustained on the 27th ultimo has dis
pirited too great a proportion OF our
troops and filled their minds with APP
DrchensiOn and despair. The militia,
instead Of calling forth their utmost
efforts TO a brave and manly opposl-
ton in order 10 repair our losses, are
dismayed, intractabie and impatient 70
return. Great numbers of them have
gone off in some instances almost Dy
whole regiments. by half ones and by
COMPANIES at a time A few days lat
over to New York. the Continental
army took fright and, scarcely firing a
shot, fled liz the utmost confusion
Militia a Failure.
"There is little doubt that Wash
ington fully appreciated the difficult
ties that confronted him, for he at
once most earnestly presented to con-
gress the weakness Of hastily organized
militia as follows: To place any de-
pendence upon militia is assuredly
resting upon a broken staff. Men just
dragged from the tender scenes Of do
nestle life. un3ccustOmed TO the din
OF arms. totally unacquainted with
every kind Of military skill (Which is
followed by want OF confidence in
themselves. when opposed by troops
regularly trained. disciplined and ap-
pointed. superior i'm knowledge and SUI
perior in arms) are timid and ready
to fly from their own shadows. Be
sides the sudden change i'm their man
ner Of living, particularly in their lodg-
ing. brings on sickness in many, inn
patience in all. and such an unconquer-
able desire Of returning TO their re-