South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-16

Culver boys while stationed on the
border in the recent mobilization at
tracted widespread attention among
army men.
The engineering corps Of the regu-
lar army could be readily recruited
in officers and men from the civil
population engaged in similar pur-
suits as a daily occupation. The
supremacy of concrete construction
in this country would indicate there
would be no trouble n securing
enough capable engineers and non
commissioned officers 10 erect or
construct necessary gun emplace-
ments and additional defenses.
The signal corps picked from
civilians engaged in like work would
in fact probably better, as the class
Of men in the New York militia
units Of that branch OF service made
the regulars on the border recently
sit up and eat humble pie.
There are more civilian aviators
than there are regular army avia-
tors. and from present indications
the former are more experienced.
The European war has shown that
il does not take long 10 instruct
military aerial observers and these
could be trained in a short time.
The intelligence corps, which was
proposed by a member of the Amer
lean Legion. but which was not
adopted by the war department for
some unknown reasons, is a branch
of the service which in Europe has
been of inestimable value.
While the secret service OF the
United States Is one of the best or
CARNATIONS of its kind in the world.
il does not cover the military side
to the proper extent. Ii would of
course, take time 20 develop this
branch of service. but il should be
developed without delay. Some mill
tary information can of course be
secured by patrols and scouts. but a
military secret service or spy sys-
tenn is absolutely necessary to the
commander of the armies in the
field
That the German system of mill
tary espionage has been de yelOped
10 a remarkable degree is no secret.
Had the other nations Of Europe
been as we'll prepared in this branch
Of service, some of their defeats
probably would have been averted.
Artillery officers for the United
States army present a problem that
is a bit more difficult to solve. as
this branch of the service is in need
cot mathematical minds, which also
have special knowledge of artillery.
There are. of course, many men in
civil life who would make ideal ar
tillery officers with little training.
but the question is. in the event of
an unforeseen leading OF hostile
troops (Which is, of course, ? rather
remote possibility. who is going to
have time 10 train them?
As for transport and quartermas-
ter corps there would be little or no
difficulty in finding plenty Of bust
ness men who would be capable of
handling these branches of service in
fitting manner The system of sup
ply and transportation might be slow
ar first. but when one is acquainted
with the fact that in New York state
alone there are 310.457 automobiles.
fully half of which could be utilized
as light or heavy transport trucks.
and the remainder converted into
cars for officers and for courier ser
vice, IL will be understood that there
are no very great obstacles in the
way of supply trains
Railroad transportation on ac-
count of the length OF our coast line
would present some difficulties at
I first but without doubt could be
remedied with great speed.
The mobilization of the manufac-
I turing industries OF the nation has
\ already been worked out by the au-
\ thorities at washington
OF men we have plenty Materials
/ in the crude state we have sufficient
I but rifles. heavy artillery and ammu-
milton enough. let alone uniforms
/ blankets. equipment. medical sup
! plies. etc. are a different story.
/ The Red Cross has plenty OF
nurses 70 put on the field for the
first line hospitals. Ambulance corp.