D

URING my tenure of the Office of

Secretary of War I have become impressed with the erroneous impression which exists in many minds as to the aims and functions of the War Department. On several occasions I have stressed the point that the object of the Department is not to make war but to preserve peace.

"To provide for the common defense" is a duty assigned to the Federal Government in our Constitution. The founders of this Nation loved peace as we love peace. But they recognized that peace can be purchased at too great a price.

But

National defense is the specific function of the Army and Navy. the Army and Navy do not make war. When the people, through their representatives in Congress, declare war, the task of carrying on the struggle devolves upon the Army and Navy. The Army and Navy do not even provide the means for the common defense. They take the facilities placed at their disposal by Congress and make the best of them. They can do no more than the people, through their representatives, approve. Effective national defense depends therefore upon the extent to which the people appreciate the need for it. This appreciation will come only when the people know and are able to interpret the facts relative to national life and international relations. In a word, education of all the people in these matters must go on all of the time if our representative Government, wherein public opinion controls governmental action, is to survive and grow stronger.

After the adoption of the Constitution, the first Congress provided by law for a War Department before it created the Treasury Department. This illustrates the importance attached by the founders of our Republic to matters of National Defense. The Navy and Interior Departments are both outgrowths of the War Department, as originally established.

Charged with a responsibility of national defense in a greater measure than ever before in its history, the War Department is endeavoring to effect practical solutions for the national weaknesses revealed by its study of national-defense problems. We realize that we are charged not only with securing victory if war comes, but also with preparing our citizens during peace so that in time of war they shall not lose their lives unnecessarily, through foolish waste. As we view national defense we are responsible indirectly for the prevention of wars. There are few instances in history where war was forced on a strong nation, although some nations with unbalanced strength have sought war. On the other

Military Forces Can Make War Only When Specifically Directed by Congress

hand, there are numerous instances of war seeking weak or unprepared nations.

It was the result of his long service in guiding the earliest destinies of this country that gave Washington his expressed belief that

There is a rank due to the United States among nations which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be shown that we are at all times ready for war.

The lesson of the times appeared equally forceful to his political opponent, one of our most democratic of leaders, Thomas Jefferson, who remarked that—

For a people who are free and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and equipped militia is their best security.

When our national independence was first declared to the world, our ancestry indeed learned this lesson that freedom is given only to those who are prepared to fight for it. We owe the greatest obligation to the

Father of his Country,

Not

who guided our destinies in the first fight. Strangely enough, his most difficult task was not to defeat his enemies in the field, but the education of the ignorant among his supposed friends, who obstructed him in his efforts to build up the national defense. Here was our greatest leader, at once our staunchest advocate of preparedness for war. only during the trying moments of war did he urge upon the American people their need to prepare, but even more forcefully when the hard-fought victory was won and a deceptive peace prevailed in the land. His deepest fears for the future were expressed when he wondered if the American people would fail to learn fully their lessons of apprenticeship in the school of national life and if the future would find them continually unprepared. That subsequent moments have found us dangerously unprepared there can be no doubt. That we have survived is due, not to the bombastic utterances of the vainglorious ones, but to the measure of obedience which we accorded his summing up of our duties abroad, "I can not recommend to your notice measures for the fulfillment of our duties toward the rest of the world without again pressing upon you the necessity of placing ourselves in a condition of complete defense and of exacting

from them the fulfillment of their du toward us."

n

George Washington knew that greatest obstacle to American prepara for defense was the instinctive fear our people in the creation of a taristic government. With full sympa for this fear, he also knew as it was opportunity to learn, that there is danger of militarism only among a tion of pacifists, that the one extre begets the other. Accordingly, he the proponent of a balanced exister One can not study this question with perceiving the wisdom of his cou There is full evidence in history t those rulers who would keep their pec uneducated that they might easily be ceived would also urge pacifism upon masses in order that they might swayed by a militaristic rule. A f belief in this truth has been one of guiding principles of our governmen leadership. One of my own predecesso John C. Calhoun, expressed this conv tion in the following terms:

If our liberty should ever be dangered by the military power gain the ascendancy, it will be from the cessity of making those mighty and regular efforts to retrieve our affai after a series of disasters, caused by want of adequate military knowled just as in our physical system a state the most dangerous excitement and pa oxysm follows that of the great debility and prostration. To avoid the dangerous consequences and to prepa the country to meet a state of war, pa ticularly at its commencement, with hon and safety, much must depend on t organization of our military peace tablishment.

We have always desired to avo entanglement in the affairs of forei nations, and especially of the Europe: powers. At the close of this Great W it was appreciated, as never before our history, that to exist free "fro foreign entanglements" demands of that we be fully prepared to resist t blandishments as well as the onslaugh of our associate nations. We recognise the truth in the words of President Mo roe, who has become identified with o policy of non-interference:

No Government will be disposed violate our rights if it knows that w have the means and are prepared ar resolved to defend them.

Once more we had the opportunit to appreciate the many times repeate admonition that I present this time i the words of Andrew Jackson:

No nation, however desirous of peac (Continued on Page Twelve)

A

by the Chief of Infantry for the purchase of the Infantry Trophy which is awarded each year to the winner of the Infantry Match, fired for the first time in 1922 at Camp Perry, Ohio, in Connection with the National Matches.

Practically every Infantry soldier in the Army, many National Guard units and a number of Reserve officers contributed to the trophy fund. The Infantry Trophy is now being made and will be awarded at Camp Perry this fall following the firing of the national and international matches.

It was the desire of the Chief of Infantry as expressed in a letter to the Adjutant General of the Army on June 21. 1922, that the Infantry Match should be one that would stimulate interest in the study of handling small Infantry units under conditions that simulate combat as nearly as possible.

With this idea in view, Par. 321, I. D.R., Prov. 1919, was taken as a basis for the form of the match. This paragraph states: "Infantry has two general methods of action, 'fire and movement'.

"Fire must be used to cover all movement in the presence of the enemy, not masked by cover, darkness or fog.

"Movement has as its object the gain of such position relative to the enemy as will permit of the development of a fire superior to that of the enemy, either by virtue of its direction, flanking or from the rear, or its volume, enveloping action."

The Match is known as a "team" match. Each Infantry team is organized into a section of two squads, each squad consisting of a leader and five men which is an Infantry squad without automatic rifleman and grenadier. The section or team is commanded by the team captain as section leader.

Each team has a target 36 feet long by 6 feet high, made up of six 6' by 6' targets. The regular target frames are used. The target is divided into horizontal strips as follows:

A strip 1' wide at the top, value 1.

Will Be Awarded at Camp

Perry This Fall

Under this another strip 1' wide, scoring value-2.

Under this or in the center of the target, a strip 2' wide. In this strip will be pasted on each 6' by 6' target one silhouette paper "F," Plate VII, W. D. Doc. 1052, its bottom line coinciding with the lower limits of the horizontal strip. The scoring value for hits on the silhouette paper "F" will be ten; the rest of the area contained in the central horizontal strip will have a scoring value of 5.

Under this strip 1' wide, scoring value -4 and leaving at the bottom another strip 1' wide, scoring value-3.

Aside from the above material, nothing that is not a part of the regular range equipment is required.

Teams are lined up at the 600-yard firing point. A range officer, assisted by two scorers, is assigned to each team. The advance of all the teams constituting one run, is under command of the senior range officer, who is accompanied by a signalman to handle the telephone, and a bugler with a trumpet.

When the teams for the run have assembled at the 600-yard firing point, the senior range officer, or commander of the advance, issues the necessary instructions to the section leaders. The line then moves forward to within 10 yards of the 500-yard firing point, and makes ready to begin the advance. The advance from 500 yards is in line of skirmishers at four yards' interval, with approximately ten yards between squads. An inspection is made at the 500-yard point to see that no men have ammunition in their belts. Following this inspection, sixty rounds of ammunition are issued to each man, with the exception of the section leader.

When the range is clear, and targets are in position, the senior range officer will have "attention" sounded, followed

yard firing point is reached, "halt, commence firing". The time for the problem is taken from the last note of "commence firing". From this time on, the handling of each section is under the control of the section leader. The advance of each section will depend upon the accuracy of its fire, and its distribution.

When the signal in the pit stands in a vertical position it indicates that that section is held at that point until fire superiority is gained. When the section gains what is considered as fire superiority, the signal is withdrawn, in which case the section leader can advance by squads as long as he is able to maintain fire superiority.

Each advance is limited to 25 yards, as it is necessary for the section leader to get the entire section in a new line before the advance can be resumed.

Upon reaching the 250-yard stake, the section takes up marching fire, coming to a halt at the 200-yard firing point. Upon arrival of both squads at this point, the range officer in charge of the section stops the firing of the section. At the end of 20 minutes, the senior range officer will have the trumpet sound, "cease firing".

At the last note of "cease firing", all firing and movement will cease. The range officer and scorers then count the amount of unexpended ammunition, and the number of men that have arrived at each zone, after which the range is cleared to permit attacks by other teams.

Scores for advance are set forth as follows: For each man of a section who has arrived at at 25-yard zone, the following values will be added to the team score for each man: Yards: 500-0; 475-5; 450-10; 425-15; 400-20; 375-25; 350 -30; 325-40; 300-50; 275-60; 25070; 225-85; 200-100.

In addition, to every team that has all of its men on the 200-yard firing point, ten points are added to the score for each unfired cartridge. In case any section (Continued on Page Fifteen)

Τ

HE oldest component of the Army of the United States has a continuous military existence, having a record of participating in every war of the United States where volunteer cavalry was engaged-such is the proud tradition of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. This organization, today part of the Pennsylvania National Guard, has a history unequalled in the military annals of the United States.

The First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry antedates the United States. It was organized as the "Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia" on November 17th, 1774. It is interesting to note that the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in September of that year, and suggested that the citizens of Philadelphia form a "committee of correspondence" in order to determine the best methods of resisting the aggressive acts of the British Ministry. This committee held its first meeting on the afternoon of November 17th. Upon the evening of that day, 28 gentlemen, (three of them members of the committee of correspondence and most of the members of the "Glouchester Fox Hunting Club") who had been agitating the formation of a troop of light horse, met and organized themselves as the "Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia". The organization was formed to resist the British Crown; and throughout the entire length of its existence it has held allegiance only to the colonies and to the United States of America.

Such was the beginning of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry of today. Its military record is continuous, and it has served the United States on every occasion when its services were needed.

The Revolution broke out soon after the Troop was organized. In the spring of 1775 the ranks of the Troop were filled, officers were chosen and earnest preparations for active duty were undertaken. Ast this time, the commanding officer of the Troop, Captain Samuel Morris, presented the Troop the "Standard" which it carried for over a century, and which is today one of its most treasured possessions. When Washington went through Philadelphia in June, 1775, to take command of the Continental forces at Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Troop escorted him as far as New York. Ever since that time it has been granted the honor of acting as escort to distinguished visitors to Philadelphia.

During 1775 and 1776, the Troop

By Captain CLEMENT B. WOOD. Originally Organized as “Light Horse, City of Philadelphia," in 1774

supplied many details for the Continental Congress, but in December 1776, when Washington withdrew from New York toward Philadelphia, the Troop took the field and reported to Washington in New Jersey. Washington detailed The the Troop as his personal escort. Troop with the Commander-in-Chief took part in the battles of Trenton and of Princeton. It is reported that at the battle of Princeton, Washington, accompanied by the members of the Troop, was first in pursuit of the fleeing British. On January 23, 1777, the Troop was relieved from active duty and the Commander-in-Chief wrote this letter of

discharge:

"The Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse under the command of Captain Morris, having performed their duty, are discharged for the present.

"I take this opportunity of returning my most sincere thanks to the Captain and to the Gentlemen who compose the Troop for the many essential services which they have rendered to their country, and to me personally during the course of this severe campaign. Tho' composed of Gentlemen of Fortune, they have shown a noble example of discipline and subordination, and in Several Actions have shown a Spirit of Bravery which will ever do Honor to them and will ever be gratefully remembered by me.

"Given at Head Quarters at Morris
Town, this 23d Jany 1777.
"G. Washington."

Interesting Figures on National

Guard.

In the matter of public funds disbursed on the National Guard of the United States, Mr. W. A. Saunders, Chief Clerk, Militia Bureau, has presented the following figures: For the 80 years spanning the period 1818 to 1887 the Federal Government appropriated $200,000 annually. For the next 13 years, or until June 6th, 1900, the annual appropriation was $400,000. From that time on the National Guard moved into the million dollar class and has steadily mounted from a single million annually appropriated during the years 1900 to 1906, to the $29,814,000.00 appropriation required to meet the Federal obligation toward the National Guard for the fiscal year 1924.

The Troop thereupon returne Philadelphia and it was not on duty until August, 1777. In the fo ing month they served under Was ton in his unsuccessful effort to sto British advance from the south at dywine, and in the unfortunate bat Germantown.

The Troop was called on many during the following years of the R tion, but the tours of duty were and did not involve major engager in 1794, under the command of G Washington, it took part in the paign in Western Pennsylvania to press the uprising known as the key Insurrection."

In the War of 1812, the Troop of its services upon the declaration of but it was not called to duty until A 1814. They maintained a line of vi from Philadelphia to Elkton, Mary for three months.

In the Mexican War, there wa provision made for accepting ca organizations. Several members o Troop served with organizations took part in the War.

In the Civil War, the Troop p an important part. Offering its ser at the President's first call for v teers, it was accepted and enlisted three months' service, being the volunteer cavalry accepted. It wa tached to the 2nd United States Ca and with it took part in the camp into Northern Virginia in 1861, and ticipated in the battle of Hoke's Va. Upon the expiration of the e ment period, 68 troopers obtained missions in the Federal Forces and se throughout the remainder of the In June, 1863, with the approach of 1 Confederate Army from the south,

members of the Troop in Phila phia again offered their serv and took part in the campaign Gettysburg during the weeks ceding the battle in July, 1863.

In the Spanish War, the T as a body enlisted as volunteers, the "First Troop Philadelphia Cavalry, U. S. V." took part in campaign in Porto Rico as par General Brooke's column.

In 1916, during the disturba on the Mexican Border, the T was on active duty for seven mo and served at Camp Stewart, Paso, Texas, from July, 1916 1 January 1917.

In the World War, the Ti furnished more than 225 men in service of the United States, n than three-fourths of whom v officers.

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