The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-01-01
Editorial Comment
on Current Subjects
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF coE.
. GRESS FOR MILITARY DELAY.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF con-
GRESS FOR MILITARY DELAY.
From the New Republic.
American politics have set the stage
for many ironical performances but
mons more ironicaI than the spectacle
Of an investigation by Congressional
committees Of the reason for taIdiness
il the War departments military prep
arations. It is precisely comparable
to an exploration by Satan of the
sources of sin. No matter what degree
Of responsibility may be fastened eth
or on the general war administration
or upon the bureau chiefs in the de-
partment for failure to accelerate suf-
ficientIy the manufactures and deliv-
cry of supplies for the new American
army. there can be no doubt where
the ultimate responsibility lies for the
apparent inability Of the American ma
ton to arm speedily and effectively.
Congress itself always has been the
jnsuperabIe obstacle to the making CT
those antecedent preparations during
peace which are indispensable In the
event of war to the quick and thorough
concentration of the national military
resources.
For years military experts in the War
department have warned Congress OF
the need OF preparing more adequately
for a smooth and quick transition from
peace to war. They did not ask until
lecentIy for large standing army. or
for a huge accumulation Of military
stores. They did ask for regular
military establishment which was dext-
Bile and capable OF being rapidly en-
lerged. They did ask Congress to pro-
vide in advance for the special nachin-
cry with which large amounts OF mu-
nitions and supplies could quickly be
obtained. The plan most frequently
recommended in the reports Of the Cen
eral Staff was that Of forming the small
regular army into the skeleton OF
much larger force, which would IN part
consist OF trained reservists and IN part
of wholly unframed men, but with
every antecedent preparation made for
incorporating the first group into exist
ing units and training and eQuipping
the secod without delay. The plan re-
CURED in particular the addition to the
regular army Of number Of commits
stoned and non-commiSSioned Officers
TO its size, and in ad
dition a large officers reserve. 1t also
demanded sufficient appropriations by
the government for machine equip
ment to enable the War department as
soon as war was imminent to begin I'M
the manufacture OF guns and
supplies on large scale. But Congress
never paid the slightest attention TO
these recommendations 1t persisted
il regarding the regular army not as
an organization which should be ready
to fight in actual war; but as police
force for service at home and In the
insular dependencies. It was rigid
and nfeless body, intended to junction
:noffensfvely to local political inter
ests during peace rather than danger
ously to Americas enemies in the
event Of war.
Congress has been either the father
or the protector Of every abuse or de
feet in the methods and organization
Of the War department, wN:ch Is pre-
venting America in the present crisis
from being an Immediately dangerous
enemy to Germany. II spent money on
maintaining useless army posts. which
SnOulQ nave OSen uSeN 4OI framing &c
serve officers or for providing for
reserve Of equipment. supplies and ma
chine tools Its military committees
have always been partial to the con-
tinuation of the independent Bureau
system In the Department, which is re-
sponsfbIe for so much Of the existing
jnefMcieHcy. It consented very re-
luctantIy to the constitution OF Cen
eral StaR, and has worked to prevent
it from becoming more than the eyes
OF the army-the eyes. not the brain,
and not too closely connected with the
brain. It has always allowed its po-
Iitical interest in the state national
guard to stand IN the way either Of the
efficient federation Of the militia or
the substitution for them of q reserve
armY, SnhiNat e RALiopal ANthqEtiY.