New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-05

meet and rcpel any invading army
which can be landed upon our shores.
Il need not all be kept IN the condition
Of standing army. A rart OF IT must
be active, but the major part may be
a reserve force.
II must have officers, too, and they
must be experts. The day OF the voiun-
teer officer, brilliant as has been ms
record in some cases hitherto, is past.
West Point men are needed. IA order
10 supply them General Woodhul !!
would at once increase the NUMBER OF
cadets al West Point from 700 TO $500
Then he would radically revise the
curriculum. The course should be two
wears. Those who are then graduated
and 20 no further should become ON
GERS OF the reserve army. But there
should be post-graduate course OF
two years more, entry 70 which should
not be optional, but should be condi-
toned upon excellence in the former
course. The honor men would be
chosen for il. and these, az its end,
would become the officers Of the &C
tive army. Thus the famous school on
the Hudson would be made 70 provide
expert officers for an army OF a million
men.
Finally. and this is the controve sial
crux Of the whole matter, General
Woodruff would adopt conscription.
That is. Of course. the logical corolIary
10 the abandonment OF the volunteer
system. Nor will the author concede
that It is contrary 10 the American
IDEAL. Upon what principle does con-
scription rest? "The natural obligation
OF every citizen to serve his country IN
peace CT in war" Indeed. he insists that
conservation is the most democratic, the
fairest. the most equal and the only
logical method OF raising and maintain
ing modern armies. II draws more
equally and more evenly upon the man.
hood Of the nation than does the sys.
TEN OF voluntary enlistment. II would
have, moreover, a mighty influence tor
developing loyalty among all classes
Of the people. Genera Woodruff cites
the recently reported declaration OF a
prominent citizen of New YORK, born
in this country, 70 the effect that he
would not volunteer for service IN
war between the United States and a
certain foreign country. Should TINS
man be corscripted, one of two things
would surely happen. lie would either
be compelled 10 fight, or else he would
be snot. Ny own impression IS that
he would decide to fight rather than pc
shot in the back with his face TO the
wall"
Eric Wood is a civilian, and he frank
ly commits himself TO the verdict that
no civilian is competent to give de-
cisions ia military matters. In TINS
little volume, it is true, there are many
opinions and decisions upon military
matters. But they are those or mill
tary experts, with whom the writer has
been in close touch in his singulariy
intimate and detailed studies OF ar
mics, battles and campaigns during the
early part Of the present war. In the
wars of this country we have invariably
suffered from too much civilian con-
troll. or participation, or meddling, IN
military affairs, and we have been
saved and made victorious through
fortunate circumstances rather than
through military merit.
We won the Revolution and the War
of 1912, he maintains, at least as easily
as We did because Great Britain at
those times had other and more power
full adversaries commanding the major
part Of her attention, and we won the
wars Of lS4S and 1898 because we were
pitted against weak antagonists. These
are, Of course, historic facts which II
is more pleasant than prudent TO ig-
more. To count upon the repetition OF
such conditions in the next war would
be folly, and the year 1915 is not a
good time for a fools paradise.
In his demand for military control Of
military affairs Mr.. Wood logically be-
gins at the top. The Attorney General
of the United States IS a lawyer, sup
posedly chosen because of his legal
knowledge and experience. The Secre-
tary OF the Treasury is generally a
banker, or at least man with banking
experience and with approved knowl-
edge Of finance. Why should not the
same sane rule be applied TO those
other two departments which are per
haps the most professional and techni-
cal Of all? He would have, therefore.
at the head of the War Department an
army officer and al the head OF the
Navy Department a naval officer, Sc
lected for their special fitness and be-
cause of their proved ability.
IL will be recalled that in France,
before he could begin the battle of the
Marine. General Joifre went so far as
10 threaten TO resign his command in
order 10 compel the retirement Of an
incompetent and meddlesome civilian
war minister. After fifteen months of
unsuccessful campaigning France re-
allied that her difficulties had largely
been due TO civilian interference. and
therefore filled the war and marine
Offices with expert members Of those
services. II such policy Is necessary
amid the strenuous eNlgencles OF war,
the logical corollary is that IL is highly
desirable for efficient preparedness in
time of peace. Such are the views OF
shrewd observer who was in close
touch with the French government and
army during the period of which he
speaks.
Mr.. Wood favors, with an increasing
number OF thoughtful Americans, adop-
ton of universal military service
system In this country resembling that
OF Switzerland, or of Australia. II
would, however, take several years 10
develop such d system 10 a degree of
efficiency calculated 20 assure the Sc
curity of the United States, and during
that preparatory period We shall have
10 depend upon our navy and upon good
luck 70 keep Us out of war. lie urges,
therefore. the speediest possible in
rrpasA NJ our navy N D, equal