The Washington times., 1917-05-01
MORAHT MAKES FUN
OF OUR LITTLE ARMY
German Critic Says II Is Not Fit
for War.

BERLIN Cvia London), May l.
Major Moraht, now with the staff of
the Deutsche Tageszeitung, writes
under the headline: "Are the Ameri-
can Land Forces a Danger to Ger
many?" as follows:
"Our military authority, Freytag
Loringhoven, writes: All improvised
armies are afflicted with significant
heaviness and impotence to adapt
themselves to unexpected circum-
stances
This war has furnished abundant
evidence for the truth of this state
ment since the English army in hasty
flight hid itself behind the French
colonial troops in the first stage of
the war until recently when Hinden-
burg created an unexpected situation
between Artois and the Aisne. Pro-
visionary shortcomings impoverish-
ed the English army. however su-
perior in numbers to the German
forces opposing them.
watered War Power.
I'VE draw quite different lesson
from the teachings of the last three
years than those who are in favor
of watering their war power. Now we
look again on the spectacle of a
world power who has remained even
more backward so far as the devel-
opment of her military resources Is
concerned willing to take similar
risks as England.
america, or rather Woodrow Will
son, has learned nothing from the
military past OF his own country, and
seems not to know that in the civil
war the human sacrifices amounted
to half a million. Freytag Loringho-
ven remarks concerning these gigan-
tic sacrifices: They were due mainly
because of neither party having a
large standing army at its disposal at
the beginning of the war Wilson
might soon have a taste OF Washing
toms feelings, who grew infuriated
at the shameful flight OF his militia
at the first encounter on Long Island
Still doubt that the more realisticai-
ly inclined present President would
initiate his great predecessor. who
sought death to wipe out shame. But
perhaps he will then realize what
even Washington deplored, that the
boastfulness OF his countrymen Is In
sharp contrast to their attitude In
battle"
Moraht, then enumerates the regi-
ments and other military formations
constituting Americas regular army
and the national guard, quite suffi-
Client for a peaceful policy, but abso-
lutely inadequate for Wilson's war
policy" Moraht concludes that alto
sether the American regular army
may count 6s,00o men
Task Ii HercuIean.
But this number Is not available
FOR an expeditionary force because
10000 men are required to serve the
heavy artillery along the coast line,
another 10000 will be required for ad-
ministration purposes. which leaves
5000 men for instruction and the
formation of cadres. These men have
imposed on them the herculean task
n the first instance to instruct and
lrill 100000 absolutely raw recruits
FOR a war which in ferociousness sur
passes anything the world has ever
seen and presupposes iron discipline
Turing the terrors of drumfire. Then
from this watered material a new
corps OF instruction must be formed
for a further million. and so on.
Even during the civil war Lincoln
complained OF the rotten material fur
1ished him by army contractors. The
rntente has had experience along the
same line. Many millions Of Ameri-
IAN rifles were rejected because they
would simply have made the soldiers
Iefenseless. Witness the Financial
News, December 16, 1916. On the Rus
sian front the American munition
competed with the Japanese in de-
fectivenesS. After 300 shots were
ired, wrote the Novoe Vremya only
recently, the American rifles became
absolutely useless.