Evening star., 1919-04-27

investigating the state Of the Army
military law. or, perhaps. more accu-
rately speaking. the procedure OF lts
administration, cleared the atmos-
phere and brought about a good un-
derstanding of the relations OF the
icommittee to the subject matter OF
the investigation, as well as to the
personal relation of Col. Ansell
Judge Gregory made perfectly plain
tee to examine the military code, and
to make any recommendations that its
members think necessary to secure
justice.
| Justice is the foundation Of all or
der and discipline and we are Tor IL.
If you are for it, too, come along with
us. We will go together" were his
words ito Col Ansell. He made per-
| versy was OF interest to the commit
tee. and would have no weight in the
conclusion they will reach as to the
| need Of reforms, or the reforms that
they will recommend in case they ad-
wise any notifications.
The committee recognized that Col.
Ansell was the representative of the
advocates of radical reforms in the
administration Of military justice, and
| that he should have all the opportu-
nifty he wished to present that view
Of the case. The course of Judge
Gregory and his colleagues cannot
fail to be matter of satisfaction 60
the officers and men Of the Army. 1t
will also be reassuring to the people
of the country who have taken an in
terest in the proceeding to know that
the matter will be lifted out of pos
rf fo1o nj NJ a n
The members of the committee are IA
miliar with the Constitution Of the
United States and the bill of rights.
They have lived for years in the study
Of the principles Of justice, and have
grasped the application and scope of
the hearing in its broadest sense.
Perhaps 1T was well for Col. Ansell
and his side Of the case that the clash
came as 1t did. His feeling was
strong and his personal experiences
had been strenuous Every feeling of
suspicion had been aroused. and the
friendly. but exceedingly firm. atti-
tude of Judge Gregory had the effect
of removing this feeling and restor-
ing the atmosphere of calmness,
which is indispensable to a discussion
Of the principles of justice.
With the hearing of Col. Ansell un-
finished, 1t is premature to prophesy
the outcome Of the investigation; but
it is evident that the subject is re-
ceiving such discussion as it never
before has received. and that the con-
clusions of the committee should be
taken with the utmost consideration
and confidence.
Th extent to which the league Of
nations will regulate the strength
and char
Need a Strong Army acter o t
and Training System. tasx the ,onna. mn.
OF the member states has not been
published definitely, but the general
idea is that armaments are to be re-
duced in accordance with some gen.
eral plan and may not be increased
without the approval Of tho execu-
tive council. How far this will affect
| the matter of universal training in
,nis country seems to have received
! little attention. yet it 10 one that de-
serves the utmost consideration.
| with the entrance Of this republic
| into the realms of old world policies
and politics there is no blinking the
fact that military force il necessary
70 give weight to words at the coun-
Gil table. This was unquestionably in
the mind of the Secretary Of War
when, speaking for the administra-
ton, he advocated an Army Of more
than half a million men to be en- :
listed for period Of three years by
voluntary enlistment. He said that
this was but a temporary measure
and that there was no telling what
| would be the military policy after the
determinations Of the peace commits
sion.
The rate at which men are enlistine
under the call for $4,000 men for the
Army gives no promise that 1t IL DOS
sible to raise any such Army by vol
untary enlistment even under the
most alluring circumstances. If such
an army can be created, 1t will be
but a great professional or standing
army, which 10 an onense to the policy
Of the nation. Tho National Guard.
however excellent its subsequent rec
ord. could not be relied upon for
service under fire until it had been re-
cruited nearly three hundredfold and
had undergone an eight monthS in
tense training under the guidance of
allied officers. 1t is Of small value
for instant use in a great emergency.
nor was 1t created for any such pur-
pose.
Is it not obvious that, since the
nation cannot have an enormous
standing army and the National
Guard will not provide a sufficient
number Of effectively trained men
system Of general military training g
Is the only way Of lifting the United
States out of the class with the great
pacifist nation Of China
france has q strong army and a
system OF military training; the Brit
ish empire has a system by which
1t can enlist nearly million mon,
| besides maintaining the strongest
! navy in the world. japan and Italy
have large armies and systems Of
Tho United states has the armed
force now: and that is why it is one
Of the big Five" But the United
States without further legislation aft
or the emergency will have authority
men and for tho maintenanoe Of a
National Guard. So it cannot be
taken as a breach of faith. If. before
the Senate ratifies the peace treaty
which will bind the nation to the
Congress takes measures to place tho
country on an equal military basis
with other members Of the fve ma
tions. Such a course means that 1t
must legislate for the general train
try. Such legislation would give g.
military force which, in conjunction
with the Regular Army and tho Ma
tional Guard. would hold a hostile
army until the general forces Of the
nation could be mobilized into a real
The Veterans Of this war have had
fighting enough for a lifetime. and all
lessons Of history teach that there will
not be another war for at least q gen.
Grafton, but that a next war will be
inevitable. Human nature will re-
main as it was before the Germans
assaulted the world. and all that con-
servative advocates Of the league
claim for it is that it may end out
breaks between small nations and
will enable great nations III they in
good faith want peace, to find an open