New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-04

= The British soldier In the making. The pilot
the scattered groups Of men who are now
taking instruction in military drill, and
to promote and systematic the work of
recruiting, and to weld all these small
units into one compact body. And these
] two things are closely related. Supply
these, and presently we shall have a real
volunteer army, whether Congress ap-
e. proves or not, for bear this well in mind ::
Congress can do nothing TO prevent it.
: Congress may prevent the War Depart
ment from recognizing, or giving any en-
? enlargement 20 such volunteer army, or
r lending anything in the way of arms or
e equipment, but can 90 no further. And
presently we will take up the matter of
= arms and equipment, and the cost.
As TO instruction: the men who are now
= acting as drill masters are doing the pre-
liminary work only; generally speaking,
D they are doing it well, but in many cases,
perhaps in most, they are not capable of
carrying it beyond indoor drill. And 1t
o is important that the men shall be taken
I outdoors before their interest begins to
s flag. In favorable weather at first, and in
g all weather when they are sufficiently
y hardened. the men should be taken on
!, practice marches in the open country, even
if, as in the case of city companies, 1t IS
necessary TO travel by train some distance
Y in order TO reach the country. There
: should be skirmish drill and drill in ex.
/ tended order. There should be week at
2 least in camp, sleeping under tents, and
n with a real camp mess; not mess de-
/. pendent on a nearby restaurant. And
2 And more rife practice, and yet more; for
= grewsome as il may sound, the real bust
# ness of the soldier is to shoot the enemy,
Al and if a soldier can't shoot straight, what
ever else he may be able to do is of no
e consequence whatever when he is on the
el firing line.
e Use for Retired Officers.
10 AS to instructors, the volunteers cannot
IS hone TO have the services Of officers of the
i army detailed for the work because in the
Il first place, every officer in active service
e is at present imperatively needed with his
re company, troop or battery; in the second
= the schools and colleges which have taken
2, I'D military training have the first cal
# on the services of any officers available;
s and in the third, since Congress has SCI
II its face so resolutely against volunteer
], army, the War Department could hardly
r give such an organization any such recog-
e milton as would be implied by the assign
g ment of officers as instructors. Nor can
e the volunteers get any help from national
Y puardsmen, for the national guard was
II really responsible for the stranglng OF the
l. proposed volunteer army.
But there are many officers on the re-
tired list whose active interest might ot
, enlisted in the volunteer movement. anc
70 the services of such men would be lnval
il uable. The law stipulates that when ar
ls officer reaches the age of sixty-four years
B. lbo ;s automatically retired from active
If service. He is still an officer and IN Time
d Of need NAV be called into active service
e again but in ordinary times he never Il
is set at work again, excepting possibly u
E. serve on an advisory board, or something
y. of the sort. He may be husky and Wig
p orous individual, fit for fighting or marc
a work of any sort, but he is siXty-foul
,e wears old. and that is the end OF 1t. tx
al cepting for certain occupations or'llnes o.
" business which are forbidden TO him, M
le NAV do what he likes, either in the way
in of earning money or of amusing hlmseli
N General Miles, on his retirement, became
10 adiutant general of the Massachusetts
in Volunteer Militia, as the national guar'
,r of that state is called, and we, here u
10 New York City, have had retired oihcer'
,e in one Office or another; General Bingham
r as Police Commissioner, for example
Al Moreover. there are many officers on I'M
" retired list who are years younger thal
L. the legal limit of sixty-four, some "h'
n have been retired on their own request
and some who have been technically DIS
II qualified for active service, but VINO arr
n really as good men physically as they eve
- were. II will be remembered that only
AZ few years ago President, physically Wig
n orous himself, caused the retirement OF
A. number of officers who were unable u
ol walk and ride stipulated number OF mile