Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-02-06
-M@s
AMERICAN PREPAREDNESS

~ 80 0NN
taken by Representative Mondell,
tho Republican floor leader In the
House, that on account of the great
expense involved there will be no
legislation for the establishment of
universal military training at this
session of congress. Curtailment In
essential. 1t is better that some
worthy objects suffer for the time
being In order that economy may be
brought about rather than continue
the present wild and extravagant
methods. The people of the country
are pouring their money into Wash
ington by the billions and there
seems to be no relief in sight. Any
thing, therefore, that tends toward
keeping down government expenses,
no matter along what line, Is to be
welcomed.
While we are not so foolish as to
believe that there will never be an
other great war, especially since the
United States has failed to get be-
hind the League of Nations with all
the power and influence 1t possesses.
we have learned that even without
military training we are not as help
less as we had thought we were.
The great American army that was
sent to France was whipped into
shape in an incredibly short time
and the record It made for itself IS
now a part of history.
1t Is not desirable, however, hat
we should go TO sleep now hat the
war is over and return to our abode
In a FOOLS paradise. We have learn
ed our lesson and we should profit
thereby. But instead of spending
$500, 000. 900 a year giving a military
training to all the young men of the
country. the government might spend
a quarter of that sum in maintaining
officer training camps after the style
of P~lattsburg, and also seeing to it
that the full equipment for a large
army is always on hand and ready
for use at q moments notice.
Although we broke all records In
getting together an army of 5000, 900
men, what delay there was was not
so much In the training of the mon
as in properly equipping them for
modern warfare and having compe-
tent officers to lead them. In other
words, IL the United States always
had ready the full equipment for an
army of 2.00O, 900 men and If there
were always at least 200, 900 well
trained young men holding commits
sions. there Is every reason to be-
fieve that the United States would be
prepared for any emergency.
With the first real indication Of
war. the 100000 officers could be as
signed to various cantonments main
tanned for the purpose, and the army
equipment. being already on hand,
could be distributed as soon as the
men In the draft, or the volunteers,
began to arrive. It would take but
a comparatively short time to have
tho country on a complete war foot
ing.
True. 1T is hardly likely that we
could get ready as quickly as Germany
modified her army in 1914, but who
wants to Prussianize America? The
war was fought mainly TO destroy
~nlilitarism, then why should we now
strive to emulate the great military
powers Of the past by saddling an
expense of $500, 900, 900 a year on
The people for the military training
OF young men alone, not to mention
the expense of g. standing army,
forts, arsenals and the navy?
Give us the equipment and the
officers to train the men and the
United States will be as we'll pre-
pared for hostilities as it Is possible
for a great democracy to be without
placing the burden of militarism up-
on the people.
In tho meantime. anything hat
can be done to keep down the ex-
penses of the government is to be
encouraged.