Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-12-08
National Guard Plan Fails.

National Guard Plan Fails.
1t Is proposed to meet the require.
ments " national defense by distribute
ing annually In the way Of salaries
and wages, between SJ0,0O0,0O0 and
So0,OO0.oO0 to the National Guard of
the states and 10 bring the Guardsmen
under the partial control of the federal
officers. There are many fundamental
obstacles to the success of this plan
BY It's adoption we are relying on the
militia for military strength and this
same reliance has always failed US,
has caused II waste OF treasure and of
lives and has given the United States
many wears Of needless war. Even as
this measure WAS being agreed upon In
Washington the tutllity of depending
on militia WAS demonstrated, when the
Guard of three southwestern states
was called out. The men were few In
number, inefficient and responded I'M
willingly. There IS nothing In this
law just enacted that viii prevent
recurrence OF other disasters In our
history like those which have always
followed dependence upon militia. 1t
takes Il full year to make dependable
soldier whereas the Guardsmen have
but two weeks OF field training, and
~ weekly drills during the year In
any event. the liberalization of the
National Guard cannot be enforced II
the men do not wish to serve under
federal jurisdiction. They get no pay
and Tie matter stops there.
The day has gone by when we can
reasonably expect to maintain the
great army and the great navy that We
need On the old standards Of pay. The
very wealth and the very people that
the army and navy Nre needed to pro-
tect, heckon the possible recruit away
from the service.
Always Danger Of War.
Another evidence Of the relaxation
Of national perception due to our great
commercial success, is the doubt that
there is any need for national defenscs
We have said to the old world nations
you must not acquire any territory In
the new world and We have shut the
gates OF the United States against PEG.
pies OF the Orient. Each Of these con-
dltions is alone sufficient to embroil
US In war ut amy time. Ii we should
yield up both Of these objections war
would come swifter. Japan Is deter.
mined To be recognized as an equal
with the whole world, besides that she
must find room for an annual surplus
population Of 100000 persons. She
wants our Pacific coast. As n prelim.
inary TO getting II She has planted
over 10000 OF her men in the Hawai-.
ian islands and has established 10000
men on the Pacific coast. The latter
are not like Irish, Swedish, Italian, or
other European immigrants who come
as individuals 10 be welded into the
life of the nation. The Japanese on
the coast are government men. Their
allegiance is to Tokyo, their profits go
to Japan and their pay Is fixed by theiI
government
II japan chose to land an army or
the Pacific coast now, we could not
prevent It. She is ready; we are not
rendy.
Tie man with the rifle on whom we
have in the past placed dependence
cannot save US now. He will be killed
OF by long range guns and machine
guns long before he can get within
striking distance. The MIkado ha,
trained armies, great navy, and the
money. The persistently reported
story of Japnn's inability to finance
war is false.