New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-11
The WAY Out


What Secretary Baker had not himself
the moral courage TO do he has allowed
Major General Hugh l.. Scott TO do. The
head of the War Department had not a
word to say in his annual report about
the absolute failure Of the Hay army re-
organization law The chief of the Cen
cral Staff of the army Mr.. Bakers rank
ing adviser and executive officer, minces
no words in exposing the fasco of the
mobilization attempted under the provis-
ions Of the Hay act. The head Of the
Militia Bureau Of the War Department,
Colonel G. W. McIver has also issued a
report setting forth the incurable defects
Of the existing military system.
It required no expert knowledge TO fore
zee the breakdown Of the Hay plan Of
MATCHMAKING the state militia organiza-
tons with the regulars TO form a first line
army. Such a mingling Of incongruous
clements was condemned by all military
experience. Yet Congress authorized It,,
catering, as it supposed it was doing, to
an organized Guardsman vote.
The results are so plain that 1t is
almost superhuous to dwell on them. The
liberalization of the state guards has not
served to give US a real first line army
The militiamen do not belong in the first
line and will never be satisfied to do the
sort Of first line duty to which they were
condemned on the Mexican border.
1t is plain that the Guard can never be
recruited up to the strength required by
the Hay law. Its strength before fed
eralization was about 10000. A very
great and costly effort was made after
liberalization to fill up the ranks. As
much as $40 a man was spent in this
state in recruiting work. But, according
to the War Departments reports, there
were on August 81 last only 140,259 Of
ficers and men on the border and in state
camps. This was 5000 below the au-
thorized peace strength Of the federalized
Guard. 1t was 1OS,2S7 short Of the au-
thorized war strength.
The federalized militia is supposed
under the Hay law, to be increased in
size $4,000 year until it reaches maxi
mum of between $4,000 and 100000. But
its strength now is below its strength
three months ago. officers and men are
quitting the organizations. Refreshments
are the exception. 1t is preposterous to
expect that the 1917 increment of 10000
men will ever be anything but a paper
increment.
The regular army is also suffering from
a slackening in recruiting. The regular
establishment on August 81 last was
2913O short Of its authorized strength.
The regular force is also to be enlarged
by annual increments. But where are
the men to come from under the present
volunteer recruiting system?
The regular army ought to be increased
10 a peace strength Of 100000. On that
basis we should have troops enough to
garrison the dependencies and our coast
Notifications and TO maintain an adequate
mobile army for defensive purposes But
an army Of 100000 cannot be raised and
kept intact, a certain proportion going
each year into the reserve, unless we
abandon the outworn principle Of volun-
teer service.
The regular army should be a national
training school, not a mere aggregation
Of professional soldiers. And in order to
make it fulfil its proper functions as
national training school the principle of
obligatory service must be invoked. Mill
tary instruction ought to be considered an
obligation Of citizenship, shared by all and
not limited as at present TO those who
either have exceptional patriotism OF who
choose the army merely as a means of
livelihood.
The chief Of the General Staff Of the
army is permitted to make an unanswer-
able argument in favor of obligatory train
ing. Why does the Secretary Of War
dodge the duty Of making it? Why does
the Administration not frankly indorse
the recommendations which come from the
War Department with its tacit consent
and sanction?
Congress ought to face the truth. The
Hay law has failed miserably. Any other
law which attempts to construct a real
military system will likewise fail, unless
it profits by the lesson which the break
down Of the mobilization Of 1916 has
taught, unless it accepts the principle of
universal training and obligatory service.
Enemy Art