New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-19

i52 900 men. To-day we are short A.
600, in other words. 30 per cent.
"It has been a tragedy. But IL has
been worth all II cost II We take heed
from II. II was not the fault OF the
officers or men, but of the defective
system. If we had been compelled 10
NEE, rood soldiers down there 1t would
have been scene of carnage. he
guardsmen would not have known what
hit them
"rhc majority OF the men were not
soldiers except in spirit | don't think
i'm August We sent n regiment 10 the
border A. full war strength. want
70 make n clear again that u was not
the fault Of the officers or men, but OF
the svstem. First and last, about 3d.
600 men were sent TO the border from
the Department of the East.
81 think the National Guard should
be replaced as promptly as possible by
universal military training. The "uard
should be retained until a reasonable
number OF Federal reserve regiments
have been organized. We should MAKE
use in the new system of every well
trained man and officer in the present
system.
Would Drop the Militia
81 would drop tie National Guard
from the Federal system. II the states
wish to retain the Guard that Is Their
privilege. But the government should
not be dependent on the states.
Universal military training would
bring home TO every youngster ms IN
dividual responsibility to the republic
and make him forget the idea Of local
ity. II would make IL difficult to induce,
any nation to pick quarrel with US
"How large a regular army do you
think we should maintain" asked SEN
ator Thomas.
II do not believe in a big regular
army, no larger than 100000 men. We
want a good navy. We want a good
citizenry, trained TO arms, not living
the life Of soldiers. but ready.
"In each year 5UG,JOO men should be
trained and held for eight years. Al
ter the frst eight years we would have
trained force Of 100000 men, and !
do not think we would be attacked.
"As far as the reserve Is concerned, !
believe in transferring all good men On
the regular army to the reserve as soon
as they are well trained. Put your
well-trained man in the reserve and get
a new man in his place in the army.
Men at Plattsburg often said to me
they wished they could have short
enlistment in the army for the sake OF
the training. | hope following the
Mexican situation that will be possible.
do not believe in raising the pay. II
would be a double cost on the basis OF
the figures suggested. That is one dis
advantage, and the disadvantages out
weigh the advantages many, many
times.
Respect for Uniform Lacking
what Is killing the army to-day is
the sentiment that it is an unworthy
occupation, that makes it impossible
for a clean, decent soldier to get a
room In a boarding house, that makes
a woman move away from him in the
theatre because he has on his uniform.
What we should develop in this coun-
try is a spirit Of respect for the uni
form, and that would bring more men
to the colors than an increase in pay.
"Plattsburg was the one thing that
I ever knew that fused the American
people. II was voice 70 the slumber-
ing people Of the country.
ayes, / believe the country is ready
for universal military training to-day
uNdeT the proper ledueTsHlp. nc Only
fear that labor has against il is that
the old plan of buying substitutes could
be utilized. This is not true under
universal military service. And II you
convince labor that it is real universal
service that we seek they will be with
you. have talked with district lead
ers and labor leaders in New York, and
they recognized the straight democracy
of the plan.
The country is to-day absolutely and
completely defenceless against
trained military force. The thing to-
day is TO get trained nucleus of men
as quick as God will let us.
Senator Thomas called attention TO
Walter l.. Fishers suggestion that rails
ing the pay Of the regular army TO $50
a month would bring in all the men
necessary. The general said this merely
would extend the evils of an already
hopeless military system that had
failed the nation in every war.
And in this present mobilization"
he added. eve cannot get the men for /
either the regulars or National Guard" 9