The Washington times., 1916-01-02
CapitdlExpertExposes
u. S. Unprepdrdness.
Frederick Louis Hudekoper Asserts Either England
Germany Could Land 25O,OOO Trained Troops In
America Within Five Weeks

The most notable work on the state
of Americas defenses yet published, en-
tering exhaustively into the entire mill
tary question, besides presenting a his
tory of the land forces of the United
States from Colonial times until June !,
1915, has come from the Macmillan
press. Frederick Louis Huidekoper, of
this city. an accepted authority on the
subject, Is the author of THE Military
Unpreparedness OF the United States"
a monumental book of 1876 pages, of
which Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood says in
an admirable Introduction: This work
of Mr.. Huidekopers is one which
should be read, and carefully read, by
all Americans who are interested in
the military history and policy of their
country"
The author condenses the military
civil war, but omits nothing needful to
the object of the work, and uncovers
the innumerable and glaring blunders
which jeopardized the nations exist
ence at many critical times. From the
very beginning Is patent the "parsi-
mony and shortsight edness." of Con-
gress. In substantiation Of his asser-
tions. authorities, statistics, and events
are quoted amply. including hitherto
unpublished letter by George WASH
ington. which reads in part: II lament
sincerely the system of policy which
has been but TOO generally adopted in
all the States, to wit, that of tenn
porary expedients; which like quack
medicines are so far from removing
the causes of complaint that they only
serve to increase the disorder"
Experience Almost Ignored.
Mr.. Huidekoper states that America
has never yet been pitted against the
lan nd 81 Ercf oil mill arNy
power, but that ''it is highly improb-
able that any great nation in the future
will ever oppose us with an army which
is not trained to the highest degree. "
He considers 1t doubtful IL the Union
could have been preserved in 1866 had
It not been for the iron blockade which
the navy drew about the coasts of the
Confederacy."
Although the commission appointed to
investigate the conduct of the War
Department after the Spanish-Ameri-
can war declared "one of the lessons
taught by the war is that the country
should hereafter he In a better state
of preparation for war" comparatively
little had been done to profit by the ex-
perience. A complete reorganization or
the army was worked. out by the war
College division of the general stan in
1912, giving the country for the hrst
time In our history sound and definite
policy in respect to the military branch
of our service" But THE attempts
ma de In 1911 and 1913 to assemble one
paltry division of regular troops thor
oughly prepared for war afforded to
the world the .difying spectacle of a
great nation composed of 100 ,ooO. 900
people virtually destitute of real mill
tary strength or the means to make
the few soldiers whom II could muster
efficient as a fighting force"
The act of April 25, 1914. entitled An
act to provide for raising the volun-
tcer forces of the United States In time
of actual or threatened war;" is pro-
nounced "one of the most important
legislative enactments in our military
history" and had their provisions been
in force in 1895, the author declares,
they would have prevented most of
the disorders and blunders committed
during the Spanish American war, In
cluding the confusion so prevalent in
many of the large camps, where me
medical officers not infrequently acted
in defiance Of the commanding off,