New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-07


stnrding army OF tho size necessary
for this solution. -,
81 do not In any way share the fear
~ those who think that proper mill
tnry preparations involve any inter
f,renco whatever with the supremacy
~ the civil authorities. ! do. however
6rmlv believe that in democracy
The defence of the nation should rest
unon the citizens and not upon pro
fessional. paid military force. constant
lv under arms and devoted solely TO
military pursuits. ] think 1t ls clear
that from every standpoint we can
dismiss tho suggestion that the SIT
uation should be properly met by
standing army OF 100000 men, CON
Rtnntly under arms.
Turning TO the National Guard, Mr..
Garrison said:
at the present time this force con
sists Of approximately 10000 men and
officers. and il would. therefore, be
necessary. IL Il Is to be expanded
to 100000, to ndd 27l,OOO men ana OF
fcers.
"If this policy should be attempted
10 be adopted. Congress would hrst
have 90 require the states to raise
and maintain all Of these troops, ana
the states would have practically TO
treble their existing equipment. do
not know whether Congress would
have any power TO impose this burden
upon the states. II seems TO me that
a mere statement OF this situation IN
dicatcs how utterly futile 1t Is to at
tempt this solution"
Mr.. Garrison pointed out that the
National Guard could be called into
Federal service only for three pur-
poses: TO suppress domestic insurrec-
ton, to enforce the law and 20 repel
invasion. There is no one thing so
free from dispute "a that the basis
Of any proper military system must
be unity Of responsibility. authority
and control" he continued. 1T IS alb
solutely impossible 10 have this es,,
sential unity under the constitutional
provisions with respect to the organ
lied militia or National Guard
Asks Greater Aid for Militia.
THE suggestion that the situation
can properly be met by some sort Of
provision making these troops subject
to call of the nation for all purposes,
IN case Of war. instead of only 70. the
three purposes specified in the Con
stitution, overlooks AMI disregards the
Fundamental basic trouble which this
remedy docs not even touch, much less
cure.
The national guard. however, as it
exists, is a Federal asset. II is so cir
cumstanced that il can volunteer for
service in time of war and be taken
in as IL exists !, therefore, propose
large addition 10 the Federal aid
extended 10 the national guard, so that
the system may be operated TO its
maximum upacity AM be available for
the Federal purposes specified IN It's
most effective condition.
with respect 10 the so-called mill
tia pay bill, | only desire TO say this:
/ have always felt that any pay for
home training should proceed from the
state. and not from the nation. II the
Congress prefers the method of direct
Federal pay, u IL not matter IN which
have any individual judgment upon
which ! care 70 insist"
Mr.. Garrison took up sugges ions
that the Swiss or Australian military
systems be adapted TO American needs.
or the former. he said. universal mill
tary service and the beginning Of the
training work in the public schools
formed tn most prominent elements,
while the Australian system likewise
required military service from al male
citizens.
an this country" h, continued, at
is not believed practicable at this time
70 found a military policy upon either
of the two essential bases of the sys-
tens just described. The national gov
eminent has no jurisdiction over the
public school systems of the various
states. A constitutional amendment
would be required to give II any such
jurisdiction Furthermore. it is not
believed that the peoTle of this coun-
try have reached the conclusion that
compulsory military service is ne
cessity.
If you found your system upon
any such essential basis. and there is
no good ground 10 expect that you
can secure such a basis by legislative
enactment, the result would be that no
step whatever would be taken. and that
would he lamentablc result II, on
the other hand, YOU adopt "A practical
system, based upon the voluntary ac-
tion OF the people, and that fails, then
policies based upon universal service
or some form Of compulsory service
will be enacted as the only remaining
remedy"
$4,000 Continentals Yearly.
the secretary outlined the Cont
mental army plan. which proposes tc
raise 100000 men in annual increments
Of 1873, each from districts approx
mating the 400 Congressional districts
each to supply 1913 men annually. The
men would enlist for three years with
the colors and three years on furlough.
and would be armed. equipped and Of
iicered. Their training would be done
by the officers and men of the regular
army organizations and they would be
paid during the time of their service
on the same basis as the regular army
As 10 the size Of the regular army
necessary TO train the Continentals AMI
carry on the military activities OF the
War Department in norma times Mr.
Garrison said it had been demonstrated
10 him that a mobile force of $1,000
and 10000 coast artillery troops would
serve all needs. Such a force an in
crease Of nearly 10000 over the sres-
ent army-he said, would be compare
lively inexpensive, would require no
additional quarters and could be re-
cruted.
For these reasons he recommended
the addition Of ten regiments OF in
fantry, four regiments OF field artillery,
iifty-two companies Of coast artillery,
fifteen companies Of engineers and -four
aero squadrons TO the present force.
bringing the enlisted strength in two
years up to l34,707 and the number O
officers 10 1856.
The officers and men of the new or
ganization are absolutely essential if
the War Department plan is to be fair
ly tried out" he added. in the plan
Of the war college division OF the
General staff, an army Of about 100000
is so distributed that in Continental