leaders.

important is the skill of the officers and the organization of Training of the General Staff (§ 236). Since 1802 officers have been military trained for the American army at the West Point Military Academy.1 Other officers are trained in different schools, and civilian camps have recently been established at which the rudiments of military tactics have been taught.

329. The Militia. In colonial times the men of the Dependence village met on the village "green or common for drill. on a militia in the past. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War the colonial militia, known as the "minute men," were first in the field. When the Civil War broke out, President Lincoln immediately called upon the states for seventy-five thousand militiamen. Later he asked for four hundred thousand men. can see from these statements that the American people have favored a militia and have made use of militia in time of emergency.2

We

at present.

Under the law of 1916 the militia is organized as a definite Militia supplement to the national army, and they may be drafted organization into the regular army. Even if they remain a militia force, they may be called upon by the President to suppress insurrections and repel invasions, for they are subject to the same rules as the regular soldiers, except that they may be kept in service only nine months in the year.

330. Naval Defense. Because of our geographical situation and our lack of powerful neighbors, we place dependence upon a navy rather than upon an army. The long coast line with fine harbors giving entrance to our largest cities, our interests in the Canal Zone on the borders of the Caribbean, a sea of great future importance, our depend

1 Each congressional district or territory is permitted to send one cadet, who is named by the representatives when a vacancy occurs; two are appointed by the senators from every state, and forty are selected by the President from the country at large. After a four years' course, graduates of the academy are granted commissions as second lieutenants in the regular army.

2 Theoretically this branch of the military service includes all able-bodied men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, a total of more than thirteen million. Only a little more than one per cent of these, however, are enlisted regularly and under discipline. They form the actual militia, known as the national guard of the United States, and are in no sense a reserve army.

encies in mid-Pacific and at the gateway of the Far East; all these require naval and coast defenses of superior character. If navies are desirable at all, no other country save

1 To facilitate the movements of the navy, naval stations have been established at various places with intermediate coaling stations. A hundred million dollars have been spent for the construction of docks and navy yards, the latter

England requires so great a navy as the United States of
America.

prepared

In these days, when an ordinary war can be fought in Some probone third of the time in which a battleship can be constructed, lems of naval if we are to have a navy, there seems to be no alternative ness. but the constant construction of great fighting machines, which improvements will make obsolete within a few years.

As we are no longer a seafaring people and have no large
merchant marine, we usually lack sailors and colliers in time
of war.
These needs must be considered. Modern wars
are fought chiefly by engineers; therefore our engineers, in
case of war, should not be inferior to those of any opponent.
Since 1845 we have had a naval academy at Annapolis,
Maryland, for the training of officers. Many of our seacoast

being now equipped for building war vessels, including battleships. We now
have also a government plant for the manufacture of armor plate.

Land and water protection.

Need. Present laws.

states have in addition a naval militia, and during recent years many civilians have interested themselves in naval affairs. 331. Coast Defense. In theory, at least, our preparation for war has been undertaken with a view to avoiding future conflicts. This has made it especially necessary to defend our coasts, because of the great value of the property that might be destroyed by hostile vessels. At all prominent seaports, some forms of coast defense are

International Film Service, Inc., N. Y.

A COAST DEFENSE BATTERY.

provided. The most

important of these are the coast defense vessels, which may be heavily armored monitors or floating batteries, and the land batteries. The channels are well guarded by torpedoes or submarine mines, controlled from the nearest fort or battery by means of electricity.

The most powerful weapon of coast defense is the submarine. Of course many harbors are totally undefended, or so inadequately that a fleet could reduce the defenses without difficulty, but we should keep in mind the fact that undefended ports may not be bombarded, according to international law.

332. Pension Legislation. Control of military affairs demands not only consideration of possible future wars, but reparation for past conflicts.1 National honor requires that

1 The pension policy of the United States has passed through two periods. Before 1890, only those who had been actually disabled in service, or who had been left destitute by the death in war of the wage earner of the family, received pensions. Since 1890, any soldier who suffered the loss of even a finger in battle, or has since become unable to provide for himself, can be placed on the pension list. By the law of 1907 pensions of $12 or more are given to all old soldiers over sixty-two years of age, increasing to $20 at seventy-five years. In 1915 pensioners numbered 748,147, and the expenditures were $164,387,941.

the families of those soldiers who gave their lives for their country in the time of its extremity shall not be left to suffer for want of the necessaries of existence. Congress has, in fact, done much more. Any soldier or seaman who

enlisted in the Civil War, and who is now unable to earn a livelihood, may receive a monthly pension from the government. Old-age pensions are also given to soldiers, irrespective of their disability. Numerous soldiers' homes, besides special sanatoriums, are provided for aged or invalid veterans. During the Great War a compensation plan was adopted. (see § 269). In case a soldier died or was disabled, special extra monthly payments were made to his dependents.

333. The Problem of Military Preparedness. As indi- Need of precated above, preparedness to-day is different from prepared- paredness. ness a few years ago. Whatever may be the ultimate in

fluence of the Great War, it has proved conclusively that a little preparedness is a dangerous thing.

While we