TRUE IN 1912 - TRUE TODAY,
The late kajor General J, T.V, kcAndrews, chief of staff of the
Amwa?ican Expeditionary Forces in France, in an address to the
American Historical Society in 1912 spoke these words that, with
our present aspect of the World War, ring as crue today as when
they were spoken; "Kilit ary history of our country, if written and
taught aright, must bring home to our people the foilwing facts:
That we have never been prepared for v/ar; that unpreparedne ss has
not served to turn our people from war with even tijgr strongest
nations; that failing to develops our military , .... resources
in time of peace, we have been compelled to squander them ruth
lessly when war came; and that the country has paid in every war
an apalling cost in blood and treasure”, .
AiTiJUAL EXPENDITURE! FOR TH7 AB'Y ITT PROPC^TIOK TO CUR VEEALTH.
In 1848, for every $1000 o'f our national wealth the expense
for the upkeep of the Army was $5.88; in 1900, it was $1.27; and
in 1925, it had dropped to 75 cents.
Preceding generations of Americans were willing to provide
more generousl}/ for the protection of their government than we
are today.
AHL-Y COSTS AlfD CHEWING GUI:- A3ED CANDY.
The people of the Unite! States spend annually for chewing gum
and candy more than for all military activities of the Army of the
United States. We spend $432,249,644 for chewing gum and candy,
and ^273,629,000 for the Army annually’
A VOICE EROM THE SOUTH.
by the best and
years of peace,
of the military
HUow that Congress has met again, naturally it will be harrassed
from every side for more appropriations. But it would be a piti
able thing if a reasonable preparedness, such as is contemplated
only program e ver vi sed by thi s go ve rnment fo r
should be dealt with stingily. If the capstone
. establishment, the Regular Army, is cut down, it
follows naturally that the iJational Guard and the Reserve organi
zations will likewise suffer , and even the R.O.T.C. units estab
lished to save the youth of the nation from growing up without
patriotism and backbone.
This must not be. Americans must be aroused sufficiently at
least to watch their Congress and see that it does not leave them
unprotected. in the midst of hazards that still exist as surely as
they did before the World 'War”. ^. . .T
.... .Birmingham Hews.
THE HAT IQ "TAT, ffCALTH OF TIE U. S. IN DOLLARS PER CAPITA.
As the average wealth has increased, the protection provided
has decreased. The richer we are the less ccnsideration we give to
insuring ourselves that it will be protected from foreign aggress
ion, The national wealth for each soldier cf the Regular Army has
increased according to the following: In 1920, $1,022,131; in 192.1
$1,426,443; in 1922, $2,078,467; in 1923, $2,393., 793; in 1924,
$2,447,130. - In other words, in 1924 we gave each soldier more
than twice the responsibility that he had in i920. Do other nations
take such chances with their national treasure? Not in the least."
What nation[ can today chn better afford to provide for adequate"
national defense than the United States?