Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-19


played part in protecting US from re-
cent aggression by any Of the great ma
lions OF Europe. in spite of our COM
paratively defenseless condition, was
the so-called balance Of power. When
the European war is over, there will still
be two groups of powers which will per-
NIT the superior group to hold the in
ferior group in the balance with only
portion of it's force and will enable it to
hold the remainder ready for action out
side of Europe. 1t is manifest that if a
coalition Of the great powers, as they
existen on Aug. l. 1914. were to make
war on us we could have been invaded
by very large forces within about one
month from the declaration of war.
Possibility Of Strife
While wal waged against US by an
alliance may in the future be a posi-
bility. it is not a probability and it is
believed that if we provide an adequate
army to defend the country against any
single nation the probability of a war
between the United States and a coaIi-
ton of powers would erow even more
remote
the general staff believed IL months
intensive training is the minimum to
prepare troops for war, General Scott
stated at length why the staff recon-
mended that no further reliance be
placed on the volunteer system and
urged universal liability to military
training and service. OF all the nations
OF the world. he said, the United
states and China alone relied on vol
unteers to defend their national exist
ence. He recounted the failures of the
volunteer system in the revolutionary
war. the war of 1912 and how it failed
poth the Confederacy and the Union
in the Civil War.
Must Wait for War
The system is inefficient" he said
because under it we must wait for
war to come before preparing orr dc.
tense. We must wait for an emergency
pelore beginning to raise, train and
equip the vast armies which war with
any first class power or Goa lition would
rehoer necessary. A nation that is so
snort-slghted with respect to its man.
power cannot be expected to look far
INTO the future with respect 10 mimi.
tons and supplies
III universal liability Ia n,,,;+.r,
training and service were ordained =
would mean only that the neonle &c
Mhole nave through their representa-
IVES recognized the duty of the indi-
Niuuai 10 prepare him to defend his
country and to defend it in case ~
need" vase u
Opposed to Bill
representatives of organizations onnos.
eu ~ the Dill were headed by Walter 7.
iiSiier' former secretary of the intar;or
VINO declared himself in favor of ,do,,o,
preparedness.
i believe he said. there is M h;,,,
uo's 'iiah 10 provide for adequate militia
preparedness. But there is radical
dnterence between military policy for
!! oe1ence and aggressive policy. If we are
gong to defend the Monroe Doctrine in
us Droadest sense, we are embarking on a
military impossibility."
10 provide first line of defence. Mr.
flsher suggested that the pay of the
army be doubled. that civic training
"hich would mt the men for civil life he
maze compulsory, and that as rapidlv 40
they could be trained men be discharged
into citizen reserve. liable for duty ir,
war.
The plan proposed here is to adopt uni
Versal training for the sake of it's civic
by-product, for it is argued that universal
training will give greater civic efficiency.
why not turn this right around? r.
you'll adopt the civic discipline for the
sake of its military by-product, you'll
carry the country and you can't carry il
otherwise
President Wilson told callers TODAY he
had reached no decision on universal
training and will not do so until definite
measures have been laid before him. He
told callers the idea was attractive, but
is dependent upon definite plans He does
not agree that the national guard has
failed.