The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-06-09

the standard of proficiency which some
of the National Guard outfits are
maintaining today.
Building Up the Army.
regiment of regular infantry, for
instance, will be split into three bat
taliOns, and with each battalion as Il
nucleus, new regiment will be con
structed. Taking it on the three-bat-
TALON basis, there will be two battai-
lions of recruits to one of veterans in
the new organizations.
OF course this proportion will not
run through the entire army. but it
will come pretty close TO SO doing,
because virtually 100000 men will
have been added to the standing force,
which ut the beginning consisted OF
only about 100000 men.
1t can be seen, therefore, readily
enough that a regiment of National
GuardSmen which has seen service or
the border and which has been kept
intact in spirit, in discipline and IN
drill, will for its main part be in bet
ter trim for front service than Il reg
iment of regulars two-thirds of whom
are now in the business.
OF course the regular-army men will
have the advantage of training given
by officers of long, hard service. The
recruits in the course of a few months
will attain the standard of their com
paniOn regulars, and the new regi
ments in trim and efficiency will be
equal to the organizations as they eX-
listed before being split up into small
units about which to build up new for
nations.
Russia and American Help.
1t is only in the most general way
probably that the commission to
Russia of which Elihu Root is
the chief was given instructions. The
! members have, of course, guiding
principle, but they will be moved tC
this course or to that by conditions as
they exist in Russia.
| With American engineers on theii
way to Russia and with this othel
commission of pleading and instruc
ton" starting on its way, Washington
is looking half fearfully, half hopeful
ly to the future. What is to be &c
complished by American effort in The
Land of Doubt?
1t is known definitely that the rocl
on which the chief structure of hope
of success is founded is that which vii
bear up strongly the direct statement
of the Americans that no democracl
with hope for its future as demo
cratic state can afford to break faltl
with other democracies and to MAKE
terms with despotism.
Everything which has come to tn
officials in Washington from Russi'
bears out first belief that the masse
Of the people of the new republic d
not understand the situation as 1t
related specifically to a conflict be
tween democracy and autocracy
American socialists have told Amer
can nonsocialists that millions of Rus
SLAMS see simply in the present sitt
alton a chance to secure peace 10
themselves and thereby to help In tn
securing Of permanent peace TO
the whole world.
Russian Masses Must Be Taught.
There is the blackness of ignoranc
throughout a great part Of Russia an
for 1t the former car and his men an
his methods have been held respons
bic. The enlightenment. so socialist
here say, that is needed is one whic
will make plain to the Russians tn
pathway of democracy's duty In sue
a war as this. American socialist
or some of them, at any rate, belie'
that liberty so recently founded In Ru'
STA will be lost quickly to some MA
on Horseback" If pledges to the allie
are repudiated and peace is sougf
with Germany.
So it is that the belief, seeming
! substantial, is that Elihu Root and h
colleagues will do what they can a
most on the instant of their arrival
Russia to impress upon the leaders an
, the people, the wOrkingmen and Il
, soldiers that the surest way to 10:
the gift of freedom is to make FRIEND
, with freedoms enemies.
. 1t has been held in Washington tn;
: a plan of American participation
: the campaigns in Europe unquestio
y ably would include one for pardcip
!. ton in the fighting on the east fror
Four American army officers are
companying the commission to Russi
One of them is campaigner of maj
years, a strategist and man know
!, for his persuasive powers. 1t seer
!, altogether unlikely that Maj. &c
!, Hugh L. Scott, chief of staff of Il
United States army, would have be-
> sent with the commission unless the
= tention, if Russia holds firm, is to sci
: 'heartening force" of the soldiers
= one republic to fight side by side WI
the soldiers of another.
n ~