Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-08
MISUNDERSTANDING seems
te exist between the members
\ Of the House military COM

mittee and the representatives.
Of the War Department In regard to
the number of men to be enlisted In
the Army: The congressman appear
to have the belief, warranted by state
ments made te them at the hear
ings Of the last session, that they
are to appropriate for an Army which
will be more than a million strong
July +, but which will decrease SO
rapidly that in no event Will the
Army for the year 1899 average more
than half a million men. The rep
resentatives of the department ap-
pear to be seeking provision for q
Regular Army Of 100000 men.
There is little reason to suppose
that Congress will take view Of the
appropriation bill other than to pro-
vide for the support of the present
Army, which. including the army of
oceupatien and the men nov under der
parently will for the year run az high
as half a million men.
Then will come the difficulty of res
cruiting any such number Of men by
voluntary enlistments, and the de-
termination Of this question will Ger
q
military policy to be adopted for the
United States.
Secretary Baker, in a popular week
ly. has pointed out some facts and
has, at least. indicated his personal
position on several highly important
Is that the day of the small Army post
for the United states Army has
passed; that hereafter the Army must
be trained on the tactical basis OF
the divisional unit. He also points
out that 1.-The traditional policy OF
from international rivalries and in
terests which abroad have been
thought, to necessitate the matnte-
nance Of large military forces and the
general military instruction of whole
populations" While he refrains from
should be the size Of the new Army,
there is sufficient in his general story
to indicate that changed conditions
and new policies of the United States
entail a much larger force than at
any time hitherto allotted to the
Whether he will recommend the half
million Is not yet clear.
There is no apparent reason why
the United States should be sad
died with the cost of such an army
other than by its assumption OF
Of the nation to enter this field such
an army is not only wise provision.
but q practical necessity. The weight
of a nations representative at the
peace council was found to be In di.
rect ratio to the military strength or
the nation. England announced its
determination to retain sea domino
ton, and she had her way; France
insisted upon having the Saare val
ley. and she got 1t; Italy. not SO
strong, demanded Fiume. and she
may have it: japan conceded every
nounced her Intention of keeping
and she has them: the United States
demanded a league of nations, and
she can have 1t If she wants It, China
got what she deserved, but not what
she wanted, and it was in the ratio
nations hardly got what they wanted.
although they probably got more
than they expected.
There is not the slightest reason to
believe that in the negotiations for
the preservation of perpetual peace
any principle will prevail other than
that the nations able to maintain
what it believes to be its rights will
be the one to be free from agrees
sion from those countries that have
different conception of what those
rights may be. 1t, therefore. seems
Ssser the clean ehs is
that the United States will have an
interest in the affairs of the world
is exercising the soundest sort OF
judgment in advocating a stronger
standing army and other means for
expanding 1t rapidly to a fighting
strength that in an emergency must
be measured by the utmost military
resources Of the nation.
If conditions have led Secretary
Baker, a man consistently opposed to
militarism, to accept the necessity
of making military preparation. it is
only reasonable to suppose that he
has come to that view after a search
of his own experiences and only after
the most exhaustive consideration
AS he says, the results of the peace
conference should be known before
there is complete discussion of the
country's military policy. but he
speaks with the authority of his high
position, and his views as far as
they are expressed appear to be SC
sound that they commend themselves
to all who are concerning themselves
about the military policy of the ma
ton.
Secretary Baker, while courteously
refraining from discussion of the
important
Secretary Of War que stior
on Military Training. o a. zen gen.
tary training. touches the subject ir