The Washington herald., 1916-01-30

these things fall within the year Of =
national political campaign. They ought
to have nothing whatever to 90 with poii-
tics. The man who brings partisan feel
ing into these matters is unworthy Of
your confidence. i am sorry that upon
the eve OF the campaign we should be
Obliged to discuss these things for fear
they might run over into the campaign
and seem to constitute a part of 1t. The
thing to do now Is for all men OF all
parties to think along the same lines and
10 do the same things and forget every
difference that may have divided them.
And what ought they to do? Well. In
the first place. they ought to tell the
truth. There have been some extraordin-
airy exaggerations both of the military
weakness and the military strength of
this country. Some men tell you that
We have no means of defense, and others
tell you that we have sufficient means
OF defense. and neither statement is
true. Take. for example, the matter of
our coast defenses. 1t is obvious to every
man that they are of the most vital
Importance to the country. Such coast
defenses as we have are strong ana
admirable, but we have not got coast de-
Tense in enough places. Their quality Is
admirable but their quantity is insult
ficient.
"The military authorities of this
country have not been negligent; they
nave sought adequate appropriations
from Congress-. and In most instances
have obtained. And the work that they
have done in the use of these appropria-
tions has been admirable and skilfuL
Do not let anybody deceive you into
supposing that the army of the United
States, so far as 1t has had opportunity
is in any degree unworthy Of your con-
fidence.
And the navy of the. United States
You have been told that 1t is the second
in strength in the world. / am sorry TO
say that experts do not agree with those
who tell you that Reckoning by its
actual strength. believe II to be one of
the most efficient in the world. but it's
strength ranks fourth. not second. and
you must reckon with the fact that IL is
necessary that that should be our first
arm Of defense and you ought to insist
that everything should be done that II Is
possible for us to do to bring the navy
up 10 an adequate standard of strength
and efficiency.
Where we are lacking more perhaps is
on land and In the number of men who
are ready to fight. The characteristic de-
sire OF America is that she should have
"a great body of men who know how to
nsHl ana are ready 10 nGHt Wnen any
thing that is dear to the nation is threat
ened. You might have what we have.
millions of men who have never handled
arms OF war. who are mere material for
shot and powder ir you put them In the
field, and America would be ashamed OF
the inefflciency of calling such men to
defend the nation.
Respect National Guard.
What we want is to associate in train
ing with the army OF the United States,
men, who will volunteer sfor a sufficient
length OF time every year, to get the rudi-
mentary acquaintance with arms, the
rudimentary skin In handling them, the
rudimentary acquaintance with camp life,
the rudfmentary acquaintance with mill
tary drill and discipline. and We ought
to see to 1t that we have men of that
sort in sufficient numbers to constitute
an Initial army when swe need an army
for the defense of the country. /
Now 1 have a very great respect for
the National Guard. ] have been asso-
ciated with one section of that Guard in
one Of the great States of the Union,
and I know the character of the officers
and the quality OF the men, and 1 would
trust them both for skill and efficiency;
but the whole National Guard of the
United States falls short of 10000 men.