The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-30
LACK OF DEFINITE POLICY


 One of the greatest neglects of this government is the lack of definite mil itary policy; once militant nation, as when in the wars of 1776, 1S12 the Mex ican and finally the civil war, we have waXed rich and opulent as ancient Rome did before the fall at the hands of the barbarians. See the "Valor of Ignor- ance by Homer Lea" Captain Lea shows that from a tune 800 years B. c. down to date the richer nations have been conquered by poorer, but more militant countries.
 We are absolutely without a system of army and navy secret service' One of the first points in the preparedness pro- gramme is to keep up with the doings of the "other fellow" Our present secret service is used more for the political game than for the service of security and information A present need is for the proper laws of the central govern ment to handle violations that are often happening at the hands of foreigners at this time.
 Previous to the Spanish American war, the regular army officer in the service of the United States who had even seen a brigade of 5000 men together at one time was the exception; our pol icy then was for posts of one to six company strength, scattered where most needed to make the good business for the home town of some congressman, rather than from strategical reasons. It was even the exception to have a whole regiment together Therefore it was not the fault of the officers that the conn missary, quartermaster and medical de- partments fell down. terribly when called on to administer the needs of from 10000 to 50,000 men in one encamp- ment. Biscuits killed more in that war than did bullets. Many regiments of volunteers were in the service for year and never did get their full equipment for field service. It surely was a good thing for Uncle Sam that our opponent was one of the weaker nations.
 OFFICERS ARE VITAL NEED
 So it is very clear to my mind that officers are the vital need; our present men from West Point and Annapolis would have the higher commands, and raw material would be obliged to take the by far greater number of the places directly in command of units of troops The objections of many people to the proper preparedness unless changed will cause us terrific losses in war, by the absolute inexperience of men in command of the boys" who will be on the firing line.
 England alone has lost in this war more officers than there are in the present standing army. Should we lose that many, who would replace them?
 Uncle Sam's first step should be to es- tablish a at least three more West Points" and an Annapolis on the gulf the Pacific and on the great lakes. Many of our warships are in the ship yards without men or officers and many of the forts on the seashore are without enough men to keep the guns and equipment clean. More than 50 per cent of our men and officers of the regular establishment are in the Philippines and Hawaii.
 The American Legion has sent out a list of men whom the government could use to advantage should we be called into war, which God forbid. This list is submitted below. Look over 1t and see where you would fit into the organization Possibly the present business you are engaged in would fit you for place to 'do your bit' as the English say, and place as directly needed as the boys on the real firing line.
 Thousands of doctors. dentists. nurses and stretcher bearers. to say nothing of hospital stewards and all classes of oc- equations, including "the butcher, the baker and the candestick maker" than would be needed in the rear of the lines. Surely no on ecould object to this kind of service