Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-01

| lHC iNSOOIl oI thN NiNNiNoAt w.
der. All our available regular troops
(less, believe, than 100000, are there
or in Mexico, and as these have been
deemed insufficient the entire National
Guard has been ordered out; that is,
we are summoning practically all our
movable military forces in order to
prevent bandit incursions. In view
OF the warnings of the last three
years, it is inexcusable that we should
find ourselves in this plight. For our
faithful guardsmen, who with tnee
patriotism responded to this call and
are bearing this burden, have moth
ing but praise. But think it little
short of absurd that We should be
compelled to call men from their
shops, their factories, their offices
and their professions for such a pur-
pose. This, however, is not all. The
units OF the National Guard were at
peace strength, which was only about
one half the required strength. 1t was
necessary to bring in recruits, for the
most part raw and unframed Only
a small percentage OF the regiments
recruited UP to war strength will have
had even a years training in the Ma
tional Guard, which at the maximum
means 100 hours OF military drill, and,
on the average, means much less.
Actual Strength Of Army.
Take the eastern department as an
illustration. The states in this depart
ment contain about u per cent of the
entire organized militia of the coun-
try. l am informed, by competent
authority, that the quota OF militia
from this department, recently sum-
moned with the units raised to war
strength, as required would amount
to about 1871 900 men; that in response
to this call there are now en- route to
or on the border, about $4,000 men,
and in camp in their respective states,
about $4,000; and thus, after what has
already been accomplished, there still
remain to be supplied in recruits about
$4,000 men. Men fresh from their
De eaceful employments and physically
unprepared have been hurried to the
border for actual service. They were
without proper equipment; without
necessary supplies; suitable condi-
tions OF transportation were not pro-
vided. Men with dependent families
were sent; and conditions which
should have been we'll known were
discovered after the event. And yet
the exigency, comparatively speaking
was not a very grave one. 1t involved
nothing that could not readily have
!. heen foreseen during the last three
wears of disturbance, and required
only a modest talent for organization
: That this administration while pursu
ing its course in Mexico should have
permitted such conditions to exist is
almost incredible.
Wilson Follower.
"In the demand for reasonable pre-
paredness the administration has tol
lowed not led. Those who demanded
more adequate forces were first de
/ scribed as nervous and excited. Onl,
| about a year and half ago we wer'
told that the question Of preparedness
. was not a pressing one; that the coun
try had been misinformed. Later, un
: der the pressure of other leadership
, this attitude was changed. The ad
ministration, it was said, had Learned
something and it made belated de
t mand for an increased army. Ever
=. then the demand was not prosecuted
S consistently, and the pressure exertet
r on congress with respect to other ad
: ministrative measures was notabl,
n absent. The president addressed con
t gress but little over six months ago
n presenting the plans Of the War de
4 partment, and congress was formal!
: urged to sanction these plans as 'es
r sential first steps,. They contemplated
: an increase OF the standing force o
the regular army from its the
a strength Of S,023 officers and 1929
: enlisted men, to a strength of 7,l3
h officers and l34,707 enlisted men, o
n 1873 all told. 1t was said tina
t these conditions were necessary t;
= render the army adequate for its pres
S ent duties. Further it was propose
: that the army should be supplements,
: by a force OF 100000 disciplined citi
e zens raised in increments of 1880
y year, through a period of thre
: years. At least so much by way @
It preparation for defense seemed t
d the president to be absolutely i'm
II perative now.' He said We cannot d
n less But within two months thi
e program was abandoned and the abl
e secretary OF war, who had devote
n himself persistently to this importan
a question felt so keenly the change j
policy that he resigned from the cab
: met. Now, the army organization bi
n provides for an army on paper OF l78
e 600 men, but in fact it provides fo
y only l05,000 enlisted men for the lin
n of the regular army for the fiscal yea
n ending June 80, 1917, and | am ii
}, formed that for the next fiscal yea
j. there will be an increase of only IS
n 600. The plan for the supplement;
n federal army completely under feder;
IS control was given up.
II Demands Adequate Defense.
= 1--WE are, told that the defects rt
u vealed by the present mobilization ar
} due to the system But it was pre-
- - cisely such plain defects that undt
>. y the constant warnings of recent year
y with the whole world intent on mil
e tary concerns, should have been stuc
u led and rectified. The administratio
has failed to discharge its responsible
tiles. Apparently, it is now seeking
1t meet political exigencies by its nav;
re program. But it has imposed upo
E the country an incompetent naval az
Is ministration.
E. I'VE demand adequate national d.
l. fense; adequate protection on bot
t, our western and eastern coasts. W
lie demand thoroughness and efficient
is
S s-:sOo'-o's 'so'~