The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-17

power to keep this country from being
himfammed into turning msney over to
the State militias. The Spanish war
demonstrated how inefficient the National
Guard is. The militiamen are good fell
lows. splendid fellows they do their best
but the system is complicated and mex
pedient. The militiamen have to do
police duty. which Ia another reason why
they cannot be depended on for national
defence.
II remember something OF those pain
ful experiences Of 'Ss. I remember. for
example. shipping with my company on
a transport carrying 1000 men and 1000
horses. Al the last minute. with the
transport full. u Captain came down with
200 men and succeeded IN crowdinE on
board by threatening the chief Of staff
that he'd appeal TO his Senator-worse.
he would wake up the Admiral.
We'll. there w were. crowded on
board. with one small canoe to take to II
the ship should 20 down. We were of
Porto Rico. l think. when 1t occurred
to those In command that the horses
MAD had no water for twenty-four hours.
There was plenty Of water In the cistern.
but II was tied TIP with red tape.
Il was ordered to zee that the horses
were watercd and 70 nut any one In
WV fNtuNNu W OUSy THG. UHu
occasion TO arrest the carpenter. to whom
l Was nnAfiy referred by the inebriated
engineer. and then before the horses
got their water ! was summoned 10 the
cabin, where sat the civil Captain. the
military Captain and the Captain repre-
senting the Government--three moguls
with equal authority. was stcrnly re-
proved for having arrested = civilian
the carpenter.
Every One FORGOT the UOpscs.
when the discussion had proceeded
for an hour I asked What about the
waterless horses"' No one seemed to
care about them. And mind YOU. while
this wransle was going on We we're in
a place where the enemy's guns Nigh
have got us easily.
To any one who has seen the national
a mics Of Europe. their splendid efi-
cheney. the idea Of a great country de-
pending on the State militia system IA
simply absurd. Any one who saws hat
the state militlas can be galvanized into
an adequate national defence IL either
very ignorant or trescherous."
Karl Bacr told of the plans OF the cam
paign committee lately appointed IN the
National Security League To push the
campaign for the membership OF one
million" "" said that the Cotton EN-
change. the Stock Exchange and prac-
,ically every club in New York was or
ganizing to send a delegation to the Car
reggie Han meeting the league will hold
on February 20.
Resolution IL adopted.
Al the close Of the meeting the follow
ing resolution vas adopted
"RcsOiued. That the National Security
League desires publicly to express it's
regret that there should be at this crit'-
cal moment In the nations affairs a
change in the administration Of the'War
Department by the resignation " its
chief. the Hon. Lindley VI. Garrison.
"Reso'rsd Further. That the league
deeply deplores the fact that the nation
should have lost the services Of so c)m-
petent a public officer. one so thoroughly
In accord with the efforts Of this league
to secure preparedness for the United
states, and above all one who Possesses
In an eminent degree the full hearted
confidence OF the country nj large"