New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-20

already paid for her next wat \ wal
Is paid for before 70 is fought nova
days. We may have all the gold e..
the world, but o. will be little use :,
us unless VIC stfcn u with a liz
iron. There will be no wcakn $50 attc.
this war IL rs not lighting. hut lon
periods Of inactivity. that XIII ma
ton
"ln case OF war to-day irving 20
make an army would be sikc TRYING to
build house ont OF a forest without
tools Developments abroad and 10 the
south show chat our need o( prepared
ness Is increasing. 10 rs like being in a
ship when YOU know storms arc raging
all around YOU YOU never know when
70 Will he your turn 90 bc hit. And
know that n the storm hits us we
haven't even the material "a equip the
Crst force that would I've raised 10 meet
u. With our artillery in the condition
80 Is. cur men would he as helpless as
men armed with butcher knives
Scores Unframed Troops
The general was sarcastic and bitter
ia talking OF the value of unframed
troops They'd never know what hit
en- he said. TO send millions OF
mon with even SIX months training
against q little, well drilled and well
equipped army to-day would mean muir
der Of the men. well filled cemeteries
and disastrous defeat. Our whole his
tory shows the folly OF depending on
them I'm tine Revolution We had armies
of 10000 driven around by 5000 or
5000 British regulars. and the men
then were fan better fitted Tor war than
any we could raise To-day.
In 1912 and 1914 we had $4,000
men under arms, Britain never over
l6.5OO. and they beat Us everywhere
except New Orleans. In the Mexican
War We did set some efficiency out OF
our troops. because they were so far
from home that the politicians could
not interfere. A. that, they were OPP
posed 70 very poor troops. In the CIVIL
War, even after We had over million
men under arms and half trained, n
10000 trained men had landed they
could have gone right through the
armies of both sides.
of we had had q real military policy
before 1912 either there would have
been no war or, if there had been, we
would have Canada to-day. The Civil
War would have been crushed IN the
bud. There was only one time IN our
history when We were really prepared
a. the close Of the Civil War. Our dis
uute with France then was brief. We
sent one note. telling her 20 get out OF
Mexico. and she got out.
General Wood. besides pointing out
the present porlls Of the country, lad
our comprehensive plan Tor real pre-
paredncss. including a standing army o.
10000 men. strong reserve, eltheI
universal service or the Continental
army plan, and the dropping Of the
state militia as force 10 be counted
on for the defence Of the country
"Tna rr-t taug.' thc general SAID
"ls an enlistment act that Will encoui-
age and not prevent enhstments. eve
thc regular army all YOU can, especially
the infantry and field artillery replace
The coast artillery that has been sent
abroad. add instantly and largely 20 our
officers this If vltal-snd give IL good
reserves of material. This would treble
our efficiency.
AT the same time take into the Fed
eral service all the militia that viii
come and drop the rest. II you can
have universal service. organize hig
reserve force. and build up militia
ou the continental army plan, but don
mix n with the militia
The regular army. the general said.
should a once be brought 70 2lO.OOO
men. not including officers with 10000
infantry and 1900 cavalry IN the
United States. j. should be divided
as follows
For the philippines. four regiments
Of infantry. two Of cavalry, ana one
and d hall of artillery; for Hawaii, SIX
infantry. one cavalry, and two field
artillery; for Panama, four infantry
one artillery and a squadron OF cav
airy. With each force General Wood
would have two companies Of engineers,
am aerial squadron and full compile
meuts % medical and other auxillarles.
I'm Porto Rico he urged full regiment
and agreed with suggestion that Two
regiments light be raised there one
10 be stationed az Panama He was
anxious that the Porto Rico regiment
be made a part Of the regular line.
THE coast artillery" General Wood
eqid. "should first be brought up 20
strength enough 20 take the place Of al!
companies that have been sent abroad.
Beyond that. we should have full com
panies for all the important batteries
and half companies for the others, de-
pending on the reserves 20 I'll these.
IN any future authorizations for coast
Gcfences Congress should provide for
the additional men when II provides
for the additional battery, so mat we
should not. as now, be without men
90 handle the guns we have.
Asks 10000 Men in United States.
For the continental United States ]
would have six complete infantry. dlVl-
sious. two cavalry divisions % SIX
regiments each, six regiments OF heavy
mobile artillery. in addition 10 the two
regiments Of field artillery with each
division ana enough engineers TO have
q battalion with each division, and a
rcutoon battalion with each three dlvi-
eions. The artillery provision Of two
regiments 20 a division gives y guns
TO $4,000 rifles. which is about ive
Guns 20 thousand rifles, rather less
than the European standard.
"The total makes about 2lO,OoQ men,
not including officers, but including
,uxiliarios. In the United States you
would have about 10000 infantry ana
Tie general then pointed out the
reed Of a trained reserve, making nght
Of many of the objections offered by
Secretary Garrison and others TO the
"The chief need in building up re
serve" he said, "s new enlistment
act. ! do not believe that the length
OF service makes much difference il YOU