Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-03
THE PRESIDENTS LOGIC.

The presidents address at Dea
Molncs was masterpiece OF clear
logic, Of convincing argument, Of elo-
qnent appeal. for preparedness for
defense.
The opponents OF the Wilson adj
ministration have ccntered their at
tack upon his policy Of "watchful
waiting" IN Mexico and tho notes Of
protest and warning sent TO the Teu-
tonic allies against outrages commit
ted by their submarines. A good
many people have insisted that ac-
lions should replace letters from our
department OF state.
The answer Of the president is that
he can do nothing except write let
tcrs Of protest unless he, as command
or-in-chlcf Of the army ana navy. Is
given an army big enough and navy
strong enough to go to war unless tho
rightful demands Of the nation are
complied with.
With mcrciless logic. he assails
both those who insist that We shall
rush into war aud those who would
have Us keep out Of war, resardless
II how gravely our rights might be
invaded The president makes It
clear that he Is not too proud 10
fight when there Is just reason for
doing So and he warns the country
again that there Is no time 10 lose il
we would not run the risk Of having
war thrust upon us in The hour Of our
utter unpreparcdncss.
Hut he has to deal with all sorts
aud conditions Of people. Represent
ntiYe Dies Of Texas, may be regarded
as an example He made most IN |
temperate speech In congress de- !
manding war with japan, and voted /
against an appropriation for the con-
strnction Of even one battleship and I
has Just made another speech bitterly |
attacking the president for ad1oeat.
like a lot Of other people who talk |
much aud think little. has an idea
that Bryan was right when he said II |
the nation were attacked million |
farmers would volunteer over night |
for the defense If the country
Replying to men OF the Br,an-Dics !
ilki the president said IN his Dcs
Moinos speech
Yes. there are plenty of fighting
men Ia the United States. but do they
know how modern war Is conducted
DO they know how 10 guard them
selves against disease IN the camp
DO they know what the discipline of
organization isf Shall We send the
whole body az these men who first
volunteer e. be hut,hercd because
they did not know how to make
themselves Immediately ready for The |
battlefield and The trench because
they did not know anything about !
the terrible yeissitudcs and disci. |
plInes Of modern battilcg
There was a time ana not so long |
ago. when the soldier. like the farm
or. used a musxle-loadng musliet or |
rifle Ia warfare. Then the ponua. |
tion was largely rural game was plen-
iiful, aud the countr,man was a dead |
shot at close range. with his simple
weapon. Comparatively few cannon
Of small caliber. were in use, ana |
Their range was little greater than
thai If the small arms. But the vet
Gran soldier even then was much su-
pcrior 70 the raw recruit lie was
s,eadicr tougher and not given 10
panic
Bot the weapons OF modern war
fare are not simple Even the small
arms are complicated pieces OF mech
nnism the machine gun requires
about two years 20 master it thor
oughly and handling field artillery
now If a much more difficult meehan-
ical task than mastering the ntrica-
cies OF a living machine.
Every citizen q Germany. OF
France OF Austria and Japan is re-
CURED 10 undergo three years of se-
we're training IN the army and % re-.
port for additional training annually
until he Is forty-iiee wears old
In America, we could raise about
co 600 well-trained regulars. an told
and $4,000 national euardsmcn. of
whom not more than oue-half could
qualify for poorly drilled and indif-
ferently equipped service possible
army Of 1861 men. which II con-
at one point would leave
Every other part OF the United States
,arren Of defenders Il now requires