The Washington herald., 1916-12-16
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column In city.


The annual report Of 7Gen. Scott. chief
of stan of the Army, attributes the fail
ure OF the recent recruiting campaign to
decadence of national patriotism, and
he insists that only through the estab-
hshment OF the universal system of ser
vice can the old ideals of devotion to
country be revivified.
% Thousands marched In the prepared
ness parade. to the plaudits Of the on
lockers" he says. But when the mill
Tia was called out in June to protect
our border the spirit was rife to let
somebody else do it,
For our small army We go into the
labor market for recruits. There is no
appeal to patriotism. no appeal TO the
individual to obtain military training
as the highest duty Of his citizenship.
Enlistment is held out as a Job.
we hire police. we hire firemen, but
there Is a repugnance to the idea that
we must continue to commit ourselves
to no military resources other than that
Of hiring citizens to accept military train
ing.
The fine volunteer spirit of the States
militia was injured in the demand for
Federal pay in time of peace. 1t sounded
the knell Of patriotic military training
for individuals and commercialized the
highest duty that a State can demand
from its people.
I'VE have fallen away from the teach
inSs OF the fathers, for there is no long
er insulled into our people the funda-
mental doctrine that every man owes
military as well as civil obligation to
his government.
1t is fundamental with a free people
that equal opportunities and protection
under the law brings equal responsibility
In upholding and maintaining the law.
fn
not only in civil affairs but also In the
defense of the nation.
Universal military training has been
the cornerstone upon which has been built
every republic in the history of the
world and its abandonment is the sign
for decline and obliteration."
Since the Pershing expedition crossed
into Mexico. the Quarttermaster Corps has
spent Nfb,6IO on motor vehicles. This is
one of the interesting features of the
annual report OF Maj. Gen. Henry G.
Sharpe
This sum was expended for 5Ss motor
trucks, 81 motor tank trucks, 10 motor
machine shop trucks, motor wrecking
trucks, IS automobiles. 81 motorcycles, and
8 tractors for road repairing.
1t took 80 trains, comprising 5000 pas
senger coaches 400 baggage cars 100 box
cars, Z,Vu STOCK cars, and 500 fiat cars
to move 1000 militia to the border.
Naval officers are interested in the re-
cent assertion of Rear Admiral Badger
OF the General Board, before the House
Naval Affairs Committee. that Japan Is
building a larger more powerful and
swifter battlcship than any built or con
templated for the American Navy.
The japanese ship. he said. will haye
a main battery of twelve 15-inch or B-
inch guns against twelve 14-inch on Amer
lean vessels now building and eight l6-
inch for ships authorized last year.
The characteristics of battle ships pro-
posed by the General Board, Rear
Admiral Badger said, called for twelve
l6-inch guns, a speed of twenty-three
knots and a displacement Of 1000 tons.
The tendency abroad. he said, was
toward heavier, stronger, faster ships
and the navy must keep abreast of that
movement.
Rear Admiral Badger and Rear Admiral
Fletcher. also attached to the General
Board, agreed that speed in excess of
twenty-three knots was not desirable at
this time. as it would increase the size of
ships without giving any substantial
added advantage
Members of the committee questioned
the two rear admirals as to the value os
the heavy armor for battleships in the
light OF naval engagements OF the present
war. The officers agreed that an armored
ship had the best chance to survive and
said that the British battleship Warsprite
had faced the fire Of the German fleet in
the Jutland fight without being sent to
the bottom. as were lighter armored
ships.