Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-21


$50 years been the home of the Sims
family.
II is true that, in the eyes OF Tenn
sylvanians, my father was foreigner
having been an inhabitant OF New Jer
sey; but, us he was native born, ana
spent most of his life in this state
assume that you would consider nm an
American citizen; and, though haVal
officer, has no permanent resluehce'
and, though my mother was Cun9
dim, and happened to be in Cahaaa
when I was born, perhaps you may be
kind enough to consider me also an
American, notwithstanding the tltie
that has been given me by certalu
unfriendly critics, of the leading hrit-
ish admiral in the American navy.
However, in addition to being an al
miral, / am also a college preslasnt,
the president of the United states NaNa'
War College-and as such l nave hht-
urally assumed that, in honotins nv
hv vour Invitation TO address the fac
ulty and students of this great OnNeL
sity. upon some feature of the career
of General Washington, it was your IN
teption that / should endeavor 10 uraW
from the experiences OF TINS lhost au
mirable of Americans, military iessoh'
or lessons, which may be usetul as
guide in the future. ,;,;
To this end l have reviewed the mn
tary career of Washington, as 1ar aS
my limited time would permit anu
have first of all been again lmpreSseH
with the very painful difficulties with
which he was confronted throughout
due to the same causes whlch nave
made the task of all of our leaders IN
war so very trying; that IS. the causIS Si1
which have forced us to enter upon az
our wars, without exception, IN staIe
of more or less complete unprepareu-
ness.
In Washington's Day
T. 20 distressing to read of the heart
vending trials to which this great man
was subjected through the ignossauTCe ny
of the responsible civil officials Oh Ine
elementary principles of warfare, ana
their consequent inability to accept the
military advice of even such master
of the art of war, and such an admir-
able character.
In writing from Boston in Sept
ember. 1875, to Joseph Reed. the dls-
tiguished member of the Phlladelphla
bar, who was appointed Secretary 10
the Commander n Chief, washington
said:
''What will be the end of these man
ouvers is beyond my scan. tremple
at the prospect-could l have toreSeen
what l have experienced. and am nkely
to experience, no consideration upon
earth would have induced me to accept
this command.
It would be improbable to describe
in detail the difficulties under Wnlcn ne
carried out his responsible duties. Ihey
are tolerably we'll known to all who
have even a casual knowledge of our
early history. They are very we'll
known indeed to those who have been
interested in our purely military his
tory. This military history IS unpleas-
ant reading, in spite of accounts OF
glorious actions and remarkable achieve
ments against heavy odds. 1t IS un-
pleasant because of the evidences that
our lack of material and Intellectual
preparedness entailed enormous sacrl-
fees in valuable lives and treasure.
Every school boy knows Washing
tons injunction that this country should
be continuously prepared for war. He
stated that Ito be prepared for war
preserving peace; that "a free people
ought not only to be armed, but dis
ciplined to which end a we'll digested
plan is requisite This Injunction has
been continuously neglected since Wash :
jngton's time.
Not once. but very many times
throughout the critical years of the
Revolution, he explained with all of
the insistence in his power, the princi-
pies which should govern the action of
the military authorities. and pointed
out the consequences of negecting them
but with little success.
Advice Neglected
1t seems incredible that this advice
should not have been followed then, and
that it should have been neglected ever
since, particularly as it was so plain,
80 simple, and so reasonable as to com
mend itself to the common sense of the
average citizen.
In his various communications to the
Congress, he repeatedly advised that
we should have adequate and trained
military forces; that if we desire ia
avoid insult we must be able to repel
1T; that if we desire to secure peace il
must be known that we are at all times
ready for war that our military forces
should be controlled by an efficient gen
eral staff that the commander in -chiet
should be allowed to choose his prin
cipal officers; that the general staff
should be considered so many parts OF
the commander in chief; that criti
clsms - 'remonstrances or appica %
tions should be allowed that. to
quote Washington 5 words. slaves in
deed should we be, if this privilege
were denied" that efficiency requires
that the forces should not only be we'll
equipped, well educated. and well
trained but well paid that the content
ment resulting from decent living and
an assured future is an essential ele
ment of efficiency; that patriotism
without interest will not win long
and bloody war. Note the very words
of our great President in this latter
respect:
MEN may speculate as they will
they may talk of patriotism they NAV
draw a few examples from ancient story
of great achievements performed bv il,
influence but whoever builds upon then
rs a sufficient basis for conducting !
bong and bloody war, will find himself
deceived in the end. We must tax,
the passions of men as nature has giver
them, and those principles as q guid,
which are generally the rule of action
do not mean TO exclude altogether IN,
idea of patriotism, | know il exists
and / know it has done much in til,
present contest. But | will venture +,
assert that a great and lasting war car
never be supported on this principl,
alone. It must be aided by a prospec
of interest. or some reward. For ,
time it may, of itself, push men tt
action, to bear much. to encounter diff
fcnlties but it will not endure un
assisted by interests"
A Dangerous Lack
The injunctions of Washington en-.
hoay tho i'm mut n hle Fundamental II,