The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-05-02
OUR MILITARY MISTAKES NATION WITHOUT A STANDING ARMY
BY JAMES E. CLARK

UIIlvIJ
BY JAMES E. CLARK
(Secretary of the Conference Conn
mittec ON National Preparedness
Written Especially for The Times.
Soon after the close of the war
of the revolution congress direct
ed the commanding officer of the
army to discharge all troops ex-
cept Is privates to guard the
stores at Fort Pitt and 90 privates
to guard the stores at West Point.
The infant republic. by dishand-
ment of the army, declared II
would exist without military
force.
The danger OF the nation,
however small and isolated,
of trying To conduct its busi-
ness without am army did not
become manifest 20 the
statesmen of that day until
internal disorders brought
home the fact that no MAJ
tons peace is perpetual.
On the day following the dis
solution of the army and with
utter disregard of the disasters
which attended employment OF
unframed men in arms, congress
authorized raising 700 non-Com-
missioned officers and privates to
protect the northwestern frontiers
from Indians.
1t was specified, notwithstand-
ing the sad experiences of the
revolution with short-term men
that this little army of 700 should
be enlisted for IL months "unless
sooner discharged
Experiences of the ensuing year
convinced congress that at least a
small number of regular troops
was indispensable and an add
tional force of 700 soldiers was
authorized to be enlisted for a
term of three years.
After the little army which con-
gress had deemed to be sufficient
disappeared In the direction OF
the frontiers, Shay's rebellion
broke out in Worcester, Mass, and
forced the supreme court of that
state to adjourn, so as to prevent
the collection of debts"
Then the mob of 1000 malcon-
tents, led by Daniel Shay, who was
opposed to taxation under state
laws and who demanded paper
money, proceeded to the Spring
field arsenal to seize It. The COM
mander opened fire and dispersed
the mob.
The incident awoke the nation
to the fact that the government
was utterly helpless and only able
to procure troops through CO.
operation of the states. This and
the whisky rebellion of Pennsylva-
MIA helped to shape sentiment for
the constitutional convention held
in philadelphia in 1887 at which
the existing constitution of the
United States ITO provide for the
common defense" was adopted.
But still the people and the
constituted authority failed to dis
tinguish between citiZenry en-
rolled and soldiers seasoned and
disciplined. Gen. Harmar was In
1890 sent on an expedition against
the Miami Indians with force OF
800 regulars and 1873 militia.
In an attack upon an Indian vii
lage ne was defeated, because
among the militia we're many old
men and many young boys, none
of whom had military discipline.
A year later Gen. st. Clair led
another expedition composed of
regulars and militia numbering
in all 400. The results of the
were again ignored and
st. Clair was defeated by nearly
equal force OF Indians.
Convinced by these events that
a better policy was required con-
gress in 1892 adopted what was
in fact, universal military serv-
ice act in that it required the en-
rollment of all able bodied men
between the ages of Is and As
years.
It laid down the democratic
doctrine that every able bodied
male citizen owed military service
to his country.
Congress did not, however,
make adequate provision for
arming and equipping TIC
militia. 1t directed that each
should within six months
provide himself with a mus
ket, a sufficient bayonet, a
belt, etc, etc.,
During the revolution the
government shifted upon the
states the responsibility of
providing men and arms but
under the law of 1902 the
responsibility again was
shifted upon the individual
citizen and as no penalty was
enacted for n failure to pro-
cure such supplies the law did
not procure an army, though
the measure was useful In
thus early establishing the
principle that i'm this republic
every able bodied citizen
owes military service to his
country.
more about U. s. Military Mis-
takes Tomorrow.)
D,,ocio D,1+c In