Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1917-03-28
Retired Lieutenant General
Says Nation Must Wage
Aggressive Campaign.
MANN TELLS WHY
GUARD INADEQUATE
Army Officer Declares That Country
Now Needs a Force Under "IInem.
barraSsed Control of Federal
Government"

New York. March 27.-Lieut- Gen.
Nelson A. Miles, U. S. A., retired,
speaking here tonight at the National
Defense convention, held under the
auspices of the National Guard asso-
citation of the United States, asserted
that if this country twill throw itself
energetically into the war" in the
event of a declaration of war, he be-
lieved it would be possible to end the
conflict in IL months if not in six"
General Miles said he hoped that IL
the United States enters the war 1--WE
will not act on the defensive, but will
pursue an effective strong and Of
fensive campaign"
"This is the quickest and surest way
for bringing about peace, which we
all DESIRE" he declared
The national guard system itself
was declared inadequate and ineffi-
cient by Brigadier-General Mann,
chief of the war departments militia
bureau, although the efficiency and
patriotism of the officers and men Is
unquestioned. Gov. Whitman defend
ed the New York national guard
against criticism Of the way it re-
opODuCu I'LL McAlCon oCIVlCS, dbS0Il-
ing the country's military system was
inadequate, and he urged federaliza-
ton OF the national guard.
General Man outlined the reason,
for the army general staff's conten-
ton that the national guard system
"is not worth while for federal pur-
poses," declaring that the border
mobilization had demonstrated at
once the efficiency and patriotism Of
the officers and men, and the inef-
ficiency and undergraduates OF the
system.
General Mann advocated universal
military training service because 1.-THE
only safe system for US now is the
strongest and best that we can get,
one that puts under the immediate
and unembarrassed control Of the fed
eral government all the resources II
the nation"
Addressing himself specifically to
the question, us the national guard
worth preserving?" General Mann
said:
Praise for Guardmen.
when one considers that the menu
bers of the national guard have been
the only citizens who have made an
organized effort to provide the gov
eminent with a military force for use
in an emergency, to back up the small
regular army, the question can have
but one answer as far as the person
mel is concerned. They should have
all praise, and the militia bureau has
gone on record az opposing legisla-
tive effort today to abolish the ma.
tional guard as a system until some
thing better is actually substituted.
"The general staff In recently pro-
posing plan for universal training
has endeavored to provide place for
all Of the national guard who desire
to continue their laudable efforts 10
serve the nation in building up . de-
pendable military force.
"As to the system itself being
worth preserving, / will answer W
saying that it may be worth while
for state purposes, but not for fed
eral.
1.-THE dual control Of federal milf
tary force negatives at once its At
tanning real efficiency for federal
military purposes. Cease for 3 mo-
ment to think about the national
guard and imagine our regular army
under system of dual control. whera
officers were elected By their men o.
appointed by the state officials.
"Is 1t not vastly better to unite al
under single federal control ana
each, according to the measure Of hla
acquired ability, be thus used TO het-g