New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-24
The Security League Programme.


will he interpreted i'm some quarters as an
Endorsement of Secretary Garrison's mill
tary reorganization plans. such a claim
is only partially justified. The Security
League appreciates. as does the public
generally. NJ. Garr.son's sincere desire TO
improve the rational defence. Il IS at one
with him in the opinion that the state
militia organizations ought TO be counted
cut as q part OF our first line army 1t
accepts his view that the voluntary system
Of enlistment will have TO be abandoned, If
the United states is 20 create real army
CAPABLE Of repeling an invasion under
taken by a first class military power.
So far it and most other advocates OF
military reorganization 60 gladly with the
Secretary Of War. These beliefs are com
ronplaces with all who have studied our
military history and are familiar with the
enormous waste and scandalous failure
which have resulted from our attempts 70
make war with unframed troops and
crudelv improvised military organization.
1t is cause for gratitude TO find the head
Of the War Department in an adminstra-
ton whose chief still clings TO the old de-
lusions about the efficacy Of "citzenry
casually trained 10 arms advancing mill
tarv ideas which are emancipated. sound
and modern.
In the application of these ideas, how
ever. Mr.. Garrison has been greatly ham
pered by his political environments he has
felt obliged to temporize and compromise.
His scheme Of military reform falls far
short Of the army's needs and the coun-
try's needs. The Security League was
strongly urged by advisers Of the standing
Of ex-Sc,retary Root and ex-Secretary
Stimson to approve the Garrison plans as
= fair measure Of what is now obtainabie.
II is 10 the credit OF the congress Just
ended in Washington that 1t did not yield
70 this counsel Of timidity. It went on
record a. heartily approving Secretary
Garrison's efforts "to obtain an increase
of the regular army. the correction OF our
faulty enlistment law. the establishment Of
an adequate army reserve and the accumu-
;ation of an adequate supply OF ammuni-
ton. artillery and material But 1t could
not condone the vital defect in the War
DEPARTMENTS scheme. which is its failure
20 create that adequate military organiza-
. ton and to provide that minimum first line
Of trained troops without which Continen-
N tails, militia, munitions reserves and all
other accessories would be in time Of peril
e nearly negligible value
Though commencing Mr.. Garrison for
going as far as he has gone, the Security
League could not In justice to itself refrain
from expressing its conviction that he has
not gone far enough. To its Endorsement
of his work it appended this all-important
Qualification: But we believe that in ad-
dition TO the proposed quota of coast artil-
lery and auxiliary troops the mobile regu-
lar army within the United States should
comprise at least four complete infantry
divisions, as recommended by the War Col
lege report Of 1915
That is the crux Of the whole military
\ problem. Until we have an adequate mo-
bile force for first line purposes the army
cannot fulfil its two most essential func-
ions-that Of furnishing a real defence
gainst invasion and that Of serving as a
khool in which officers Of all grades, es-
- ecially Of the higher grades, can be edu-
Gated to handle troops under the conditions
Of modern warfare. Any military reor-
canization which is worth the name must
begin with the regular army. Until we get
a real first line It will be a waste OF energy
end money TO experiment with scheme for
improvising topheavy second and third
lines.
The Security League dealt generously
and courteously with Secretary Garrison,
approaching the sincerity Of his views. 1t
could not be expected TO make a similar
allowance for Secretary Daniels, whose
career in the Navy Department has been
a continuous exhibition of ineptitude and
unintellgent straddling. The country took
Mr.. Daniels's measure before he had been
In Office three months. Everything that he
has done since has fortified that first judg-
rnent. He Is a muddler and blunderer
So far as naval progress is concerned he
has contributed nothing, and he cannot be
expected to contribute anything
The leagues resolutions ignored the Sec
rotary. but recommended the proposals
which he has fought persistently since ne
has been in office. 1t favored the creation
If a General staff Of the navy, an increase
of the personnel in accordance with the
IDEAS of the General Board and the adop-
ton Of the General Boards building pro
rramme, which the Secretary suppressed
when it was submitted to him last sum
mer.
II the United states is 70 secure itself
against the perils which will threaten 1t
when the present world war is over, we
must put asif, the old notion of trailing as