Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-01

tons"
1t is apparent that we are shockingly
unprepared There is no room for con-
troversy since the object lesson on the
Mexican border. All our available reg
ular troops Qess, l believe, than 100000
are there or in Mexico, and as these
have been deemed insufficient the en-
tire National Guard has been ordered
out; that is, we are summoning practi-
cally all our movable military forces in
order to prevent bandit incursions. In
view of the warnings Of the past three
years 1t is inexcusable that we should
find ourselves in this plight For our
faithful guardsmen. who with a fine
patriotism responded to this call and
are bearing the burden, I have nothing
but praise. But I think it little short
of absurd that we should be compelled
to call men from their shops, their fac
tories, their offices and their professions
for such a purpose. 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 I'M
trained. Only small percentage of the
regiments recruited up to war strength
will have had even years training in
the National Guard, which at the maxi
mum means one hundred hours Of mill
tary drill, and. on the average. means
much less. Take the Eastern Depart
ment as an illustration. The States in
this Department contain about 72 per
80
the country I am informed, by COM
petent authority. that the quota of
militia from this Department, recently
summoned with the units raised to war
strength as required would amount to
about 1000 men; that in response to
this call there are now en- route to or
on the border tbout $4,000 men, and in
camp in their respective states about
$4,000 men; and thus. after what has
already been accomplished, there still
remain to be supplied in recruits about
$4,000 men. Men fresh from their
peaceful employments and physically
unprepared have been hurried to the
border for actual service. They were
without proper equipment; without nee
essary supplies; suitable conditions
of transportation were not provided.
Men with dependent families were
sent and conditions which should have
been we'll known were discovered after
the event And yet the exigency, COM
paratively speaking, was not a very
grave one. 1t involved nothing that
could not readily have been foreseen
during the past three years of disturb
ance and required only modest talent
for organization. That this Administra-
ton while pursuing it's course in Mex
leo should have permitted such condi-
tions to exist is almost incredible.
In the demand for reasonable pre-
paredness the Administration has fol-
lowed, not led. Those who demanded
more adequate forces were first de-
about a year and a half ago we were
told that the question of preparedness
was not a pressing one; that the coun-
try had been misinforned. Later, I'M
der the pressure Of other leadership,
this attitude was changed. The Adj
ministration, it was said. had learned
something" and 1t made a belated de-
mand for an increased army. Even then,
the demand was not prosecuted consist
emily and the pressure exerted on Con-
gress with respect to other administra-
tive measures was notably absent. The
President addressed Congress but little
over six months ago, presenting the
plans of the War Department, and Con-
gress. was formally urged to sanction
these plans as 1.-The essential first steps,"
They contemplated an increase Of the
standing force of the regular army from
it's then strength Of 5,023 officers and
102,9s5 enlisted men, to q strength of
7.136 officers and 134,707 enlisted men,
or 141s43 all told. It was said that
these additions were necessary to rem
der the army adequate for it's present
duties" Further. 1t was proposed that
the army should be supplemented by a
force of 100000 disciplined citizens
raised in increments of $4,000 year
through a period of three years. At
least so much "by way Of preparation
for defense" seemed to the President to
be absolutely imperative now" He
said: I'VE cannot do less" But within
two months this program was aban-
doned and the able Secretary Of War
who had devoted himself persistently
to this important question felt so keen
ly the change in policy that he resigned
from the cabinet. Now. the Army Or
ganization Bill provides for an army or
paper of $4,000. but in fact it provides
for only 10000 enlisted men for the
line of the regular army for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1917 and I am
informed that for the next fiscal year
there will be an increase of only II, 1000
The plan for the supplemental Federal
Army completely under Federal control
was given up
We are told that the defects revealed
by the present mobilization are due to
the system" But it was precisely
such plain defects that under the con-
slant warnings Of recent years. with
the whole world intent on military con.
Germs. should have been studied and rec.
titled. The Administration has failed
to discharge its responsibilities. Appar-
emily. It 10 now seeking to meet politi.