Page:Frank David Ely -Why defend the nation? Sound Americanism... (1924).pdf/48



NDER the National Defense Act of 1920, which establishes a Plan for Defense, the land forces of the Nation are collectively termed “The Army of the United States.” The successive Lines for Defense are as follows: Inasmuch as the two components of the First Line aggregate only about three hundred thousand men, while in a modern war we would need to mobilize two millions immediately on declaration of war, it is apparent that the Second Line is our main dependence for defense. The First Line must hold the enemy at the sea coast or on the frontier and win time for the mobilizing and training of the Second Line, and means must be found and employed to shorten this period to a minimum. The weakness of the First Line demands this.

The Organized Reserves are trained volunteers. They are the volunteers of old, only they wisely prefer to do their volunteering in advance of any emergency, so that they can benefit by receiving training and thus measurably fit themselves for their jobs. A football or other athletic team that is not well trained has a sorry chance to win; and an army that is not trained has no chance whatever against an equally strong army that is trained.

Home-owned knowledge of hygiene and of simple remedies doesn’t create illness, or induce surgical operations, but improves the general health and saves doctor bills; and a little common sense preparation against national dangers doesn’t make our people “militaristic,” or create war. As shown in the preceding chapter, war is the result of somebody’s unrighteousness.