The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-07
THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR

doxical as 1t may seem, the Depart
ment Of War of the United States
government affords the most conclu'
sive proof Of the peace-mindedness o
the nation. It's organization, func'
lions, and history combine towart
peace, not war. The genius Of the ma
tional military policy of century ane
half is that of defense. not aggres'
sion. Except at those thirty-year In
tcrvals when war trumpets have
blared their call to the colors, no pres
ident as army cornmanderAin-chie1
has had available land force suffi.
Gent in numbers or adequate equip.
ment, training, and organization fol
aggressive use.
America has prepared for battle or
land always after, not before wa,
came upon her, be the conflict ex-
ternal or internal. Between wars hel
army has never been, is not now,
matter of concern to any other ma
ton. Even the grim and costly les
sons Of the World Wa did no more
than modernize the blue print plans
Of land defense. The army still Is
little more than a national police force
backed by partially first re-
serves in a national guard that is pri-
marty q state law enforcement organ
ization. Behind that come the or
ganized reserves, organized on paper
only except for a cadre Of reserve
officers. The mass Of American fight
ing strength still must come from the
citizenry after war has been declared
Its mobilization, equipment, and train
ing could only be achieved in months
That is the deliberate policy Of a peace
loving people.
American army costs are high, not
because high degree Of military read
mess Is maintained, or because Of the
size OF the peacetime forces, but be-
cause American living standards
apply to soldiers as we'll as civilians.
Advances in the art Of ordnance are
confined to production Of high cost
pilot" types, then a few accepted
models for field tests and personal
training. The American Industrial
genius for low cost quantity produc-
ton can never apply to these strictly
war specialties except In war.
The complete army rehabilitation
that has followed every war Is all the
more striking because another fund
amental national policy coming down
from the birth Of the nation forbids
entangling alliances. America en-
tered the world war as an associate,
not an ally. on that account. Ameri-
can military planners may not count
on foreign aid in working out their
problems.
Yet the Continental army was COM
pletely disbanded at the close of the
Revolutionary War. The War Of 1872
found the nation utterly unready.
Washington, its capital, was easily
taken by the British. The Capitol and
White House were burned, the presi-
dent forced to flee. A few brilliant
victories do not hide that inglorious
record Of unpreparedness to safe
guard American liberty.
Lack Of Preparedness Costly
The Mexican War produced its own
sharp critics on the same score.
Almost on its heels came the clash Of
tho eos between the states, long
brewing. Many historians argue that
. strong national army policy then
might have avoided or at least min
imized the duration Of that long and
bloody struggle between brothers.
In striking contrast to earlier and
later incidents Of American history is
the effectiveness Of diplomatic inter-
vention to end French domination Of
Mexico. An army Of 100000 men,
tho as yet undemoboli1ed Grand
Army Of the Republic that ended the
war between the states, stood ready
to back that diplomatic word. It
could not have gone unheeded by
any nation or group Of nations.
The War with Spain again found
the nation militarily unready ashore
II not afloa. and when the World War
came, the picture Of national un-
readiness for the task, the harrow.
ing daily stories Of delay before
American power could be brought to
bear to end the struggle, are too fresh
II: mind to need repeating. Again his
torians contended that had there