Page:Frank David Ely -Why defend the nation? Sound Americanism... (1924).pdf/32

28 Such organization and leadership, together with a thorough knowledge of the art of war, its strategy and tactics, and the ability to direct and command all the forces of war, and for the peace training of the civilian elements of our forces for Defense, require the maintenance of a minimum force of highly trained officers and men who shall be competent as leaders in the event of the occurrence of a major emergency. This demands no swashbuckling, no saber-rattling—far from it; but it demands all and more than the Nation now has of regular forces, military schools, arsenals, laboratories, proving grounds, training camps, etc., or the equivalent of these agencies, and all located well within the national territory. It demands more. It demands a healthy emulation of the military “Spirit of '76” in our youth, and the unqualified recognition of the fundamental truth that no free people can hope to remain free who can for long be fooled by the advancement of such fallacious ideas as that a free people can possibly be too proud to fight when the Nation is in real peril. Such teaching is at variance with the Scriptural one that “Pride goeth before a fall,” and if maintained would soon undermine that high patriotism so essential to national pride and would justly make us the laughing-stock of the virile world.

Conclusion.—The primary purposes of preparedness for National Defense, concretely expressed, are:
 * 1) To render attack on this Nation unlikely to occur, under any provocation, through the extreme improbability of success by any attacking power, due to our evident strength and readiness in defense; and
 * 2) In event of actual attack, to insure the covering of our coasts and frontiers by First Line troops where essential, until our Second Line forces, the units of which are already authorized, partly officered, and capable of quick mobilization and ready expansion, can be mobilized, expanded and sufficiently trained to warrant their active participation in a successful defense.

Other than the use by States of their National Guard as a police force there is absolutely no need for other military forces than those thus required for our defense.