New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-07
A Great Failure Smothered in
Silence

emily cannot BRING hlmSeH 10 Jue poIhV VI
officially admitting the failure Of the Hay
army reorganization law.
Washington dispatches have announced
hat a report from the Militia Division OF
the General staff Of the army, exposing
the fasco Of National Guards federaliza-
ton. is already in the Secretary's hands
II is natural that he should be reluctant to
release that report. It is natural that he
should hesitate TO face the truth and con-
fess it. Yet he Goes confess it by suppress
sion, avoidance and silence.
The one great event in the period which
the report covers has been the attempt 10
enlarge and reorganize our military es-
tablishment in accordance with the pro-
visions Of the Hay law. Mr.. Hay got his
makeshift law through Congress, hoping
that nothing would happen in the near fut-
ure 70 put it to an acid test. But develop
ments in Mexico forced such q test before
the law was three weeks old.
Mr.. Hays ideas have therefore had q
thorough trial. The vital question at pres
emit to those who administer our military
system is whether the Hay law has sue
cecded or failed. IF there were any pos
sible way to demonstrate success, the re-
rort of the Secretary of War would IN
doubtedly have teemed with eulogy of it..
But ono can read the report through and
encounter nothing which looks like COM
mendation Of the system Of military or
u ,i-a fOr
mischief has thrust upon the United
States.
Secretary Baker does not say that the
Hay reorganization has been in any way
success. Nor does he put on record his
evident belief that il has been an unre-
loved failure. His silence, however, is elo-
quent. And the figures he gives Of the
modified strength Of the militia and Of
the present strength of the regular army
prove conclusively that the grotesque first
line army provided for by the Hay law
does not exist to-day, and certainly never
will exist--except on paper
The Hay measure contemplated the crea-
ton of federalized Guard to number
eventually about 425, 900 men. On August
81. 1916. there were on the Mexican Dor
der 5,446 National Guard officers and
105.OSO men. In the other military de-
partments there were 1867 officers and
2S.176 men-making a total Of zoos off,
GERS and 49,, 256 men. On January l, 1915,
there were 9.1O3 officers and 123,105 men
N the organized state militia. So that, in
spite Of all the efforts made last summer
to increase the strength Of the Guard,
there was gain in men Of only 10,151 and
loss in officers Of 1000
There IS no hope now Of recruiting the
Guard up TO the peace strength authorized
by the Hay law The regiments which
have returned from the border will OWN
die rapidly in numbers as enlistment terms
expire. The militiamen have learned their
lesson. They know now that the condi-
tons Of militia service do not fit them to
do the work Of first line mobile army
that il is preposterous 70 expect them to
rush from their homes 70 the front, to be
amalgamated with the regulars. The
Guard organizations are doomed to disso-
luton unless they are restored TO their old
status Of second and third line reserves,
doing local duty and under state control.
Mr. Bakers figures, given without any
comment, also show that the regular army
has not been recruited up 70 anything like
its authorized strength. Taking alarm at
the conditions existing on the border after
the Columbus massacre, Congress passed
on March II last joint resolution which
provided for the recruitment OF all regu-
lar army units up 70 war strength. That
ioint resolution has failed, however, 70 pro-
duce results.
The authorized strength Of the regular
army on June 80 last, including the Medi-
cal Department, was 5,ols officers and 1872
500 enlisted men. But the actual strength
was only 4,s43 officers and 97,0lS enlisted
men. Apparently new enlistments have
little more than balanced losses from the
examinations OF service. For the year
1857 the authorized strength Of the
regular army, including the Medical De-
partment. will be 1852 officers and 13S,S97
men. Where are the 10000 men 20 come
from who are needed this year 10 fill up
the ranks Of the regular establishment?
II is pity that Secretary Baker did not
discuss in his report some of the real prob
lens Of army reorganization. Secretary
Garrison gave the country two annual re-
ports which were models in the way Of in
tcligent and constructive criticism. Con
sitto,g are NEARLY "a had today as they
we're before the Hay law was passed
worse in some respects, because the fatal
backward step Of National Guard federal
ization has been taken.
Congress needs light on the details Of the