Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-30
HOW SHALL THIS COUNTRY PREPARED
ny FREDERIC J. nAsI,I>

The Americas people seem TO be
pretty generally acrcou that tn. United
states, rs nation. is facing crisis
and ought I" prepare to meet IT, There
nave also sprung NJ - large number of
different ideas as t. how We ought to
prepare. Unless We can narcc upou r
method, tho result will he either :.
compromise Or nothiu. at all SO IL is
Tor YOU To consider c;rcfulll these diff.
ier"ni ways OF getting ready ana de-
eide which one you arc going 20 sup
port.
In tho first place. there arc the racin-
cists. These ladies and gentlemen be
lcrc that We should prepare to assume
our place as IN international force hy
aboliShinC the army aud navy aud
meeting bolliecrcnts with argument
ana persuasion. THIS mc,hud is stint.
highest ldcnls. Eut II is purely OK.
periincntal. and FOR THIS reason docs
not appeal TO the majority OF prac.
teal minded Americans As n proper en-
pedi"nt in q crisis.
Those Who agree that "" can best
insure peace bN preparing TO fight arc
very much divided as 10 how wc should
=" about IL. Al OF them state that
we should increase our navy. and there
! * only ono way to do ihis, namely. by
! building more ships aud manning them
! When 1t comes to land forces however.
II IS more dinicult 20 agree upon q
method
Land ''orrc> Must BE Increased.
70 strengthen the regular ARMY
! would SEEM the mast direct ana tho
| easiest way to increase our land forces
/ All advocates ~ preparedness are
agreed tina, should increase the
regular army. but TO recruit all of our
necessary strength 10 thus way is IU-
I prac,icahl" because OF tho tremendous
| expense iialf q million men are need.
! ed for the proper dcfeus" OF continent
/ tai tuitcd states IN case of war TO
support - regular arm: Of this size
would he an unjustifublc burden The
/ rcrulat army, therefore, VIII too mad"
. only large enough to poiicc oar over
( seas possessions aud give Us Il mobile
( force ~ continental America OF pcl-
Z haps 5o,onn mcn. enough 90 take calc
t al Internal and hord.r troubles
This leaves about 4op.npo troops to
. bc raised from t,muug tho citizens Of
! tho United states .unh ii i hCr" that
| tho great differences % opinion he
| como manifest There are tire" prin-
. cipnl methods ny which these troops
! mi.ht to raised: namely. bv utiodUc-
/ .nu compulsury military s-rNlcc. by
/ STRENGTHENING The state militia. on Soy
! using the present Volunteer army >yS.
/ tom. with notifications to raise fore"
Of Tho required si2" IN 'imc ~ pcnee.
! Each Of these methods has strong
Nackin& TIC latter * tho so-called
/ continental army plan. which is h"im.
/ advocated rs the administration.
All military experts assert tba' conn.,
/ pulsorN military service Is III" onit ~
I fcr,tyc way 10 nc prepared FOR war.
! and that tho United states Viii never
nc safe against attack untN this plan
! IL adopted
Commission Ideal in th>tract.
Tho abStrac, argument in favor ~
compulsory service Is prhrtcai'N p'f-
feet. il vou grant that the nation should
III IN
bc the duty OF the citizcns 10 defend
u-nnd !, duty is essentially cuin-
i pulsory To wait until there is war
and then rcly upon volunteers for de
! Ccns. ~ in reality about as practicable
as waiting until tho country faces
bankruptcE and then calling upon vol
! uutccrS TO pay taNcs. Compulsory SER
vic.. in this country would prohablv
| mean that cvcr$ able bodied Amcri'vn
male would serve one year OF his life
probably tho twent!-HrSt year. as
soldier, and would thcrcaftcr hc sub.
ioct to call for military service. II IS
estimated thai one year OF c"mpulSory
service would give the United states AN
army OF from 5000" to l,o3","or men
Thus even six months 6f compulsoiy
service, which would me enough train
/ ing tn make fair soldier of man
would probably give us tho necessary
/ force of 500, 00o The chief practical
objection urged against this plan is
that il would take more men away
from industry than were absolutcly
necessary for defense. This objection
could probably hc largely overcome by
intelligent regulation.
People Don't Want u.
The real objection Ia the plan is that
the American people do not want IT
At least. so say all Of the Legislators
and tho Secretary Of War and Other
the American people would regard CON
pulsury service as IN infringement upon
their liberty. and that they are no.
convinced of the necessity of such :
step for national defense. so c"mpnl
sorry military service, while conc"dc'
b., all To he tho most practicable ans
effective step is not actively *upporic'
by any one.
There arc u good many Congressman
who would like to see our land f"rcc!
increased by giving Federal aid 4" Tie
militia. thus encouraging enlistment II
that body. This plan is supported h,
congressman. as il would make then
populnr with the local militia. NJ
students Of the situation are agreed
however that an effective army coult
not possibly bc built UP in this way
The Constitution makes il impoSsIh l
/, TO put tho state militia. rs siiCli, un
der Federal control. IL must ROMAN
under the control Of forty-cisht dit
| fercnt states, and an army thus hi
! vidcd would violate the first princip
| Of military organization, which is cen
! traliHcd control. Tho United states gov
! eminent could not insure itself in an,
, way as IN the efficiency or strength %
state militia. u could merely sub
sidizc these organizations and trus
them TO do tho rest.
The remaining plan under consi,cla
ton is that which has been drawn b.
the administration and laid hclnrE th