The times., 1898-09-04
TO increase THE ARMY
The Views of a Former Seere-
tary of War.
SENATOR PROCTOR TALKS
Opinions OF the Man Whose Visit 40
Cuba Precipitated the War-He
Has Made N Most i'horcuSh stuos
of the Subject of the STANDING:
Army Now Required by America

coast defenses and army matters. during
his term as Secretary Of War the first
work on coast defense on the lines laid
down by the Endicott board was done.
Mr. Proctor gave personal attention TO
that work and he has been close OBJ
server since Of the work Of other nations
in the defense Of their coast lines.
Since he came TO the Senate, he has
been a valuable member of the Commit
tee on Coast Defenses. and in his work
on that committee he has kept in close
touch with what the War Department is
doing. He has voted for the appropria-
ton OF many millions for thu continuation
Of the work begun under his administra-
tion of the War Department. But Con-
gress was not so liberal with the War
Department as il was with the Navy De-
partment in its preparations for defense;
and when the trouble with Spain threat
ened last Spring. ii found US much better
prepared on water than on land.
This is not a time for saying we should
not nave spent so much money on our
Navy said Senator Proctor. in a con-
versation which ! had with him then.
''t is not a time either, for saying our
coast defense preparations are not AL that
they should be. That they are not COM
pIete everyone knows. because Congress
has not appropriated one-third of the
amount of money needed 20 perfect them.
That they would not be strong enough
for some emergencies follows naturally
from the statement that they are not
complete"
] talked with Senator Proctor again a
few days ago, just before hs departure
for Europe and he told me that the
money spent by the Administrator under
the blanket appropriation of GOO
made by Congress just before the begin
ming of the war had put our coast de-
fenses in such condition that no nation
would dare to attack our principal ports.
In fact. one of the results of the war,
he says has been to put in fair way
for completion the plans Of the Endicott
board Another result Of the war, he
said. was the assurance that our army
would be increased.
when ] was Secretary of War" he
said = made general recommendations
10 Congress for the increase Of the army,
but you know how hard il was to get
Congress TO do anything Now there Is
10 doubt steps Will be taken TO give US an
adequate army. For one thing, We shall
need soldiers for garrison duty. 1t is
work They are not the best troops for
it. and besides. it is not fair to them.
That is not what they enlisted for"
How large do you think the army
should be2' I asked
1T is impossible 10 say exactly until
We know how many troops viii be needed
for garrison purposes. i believe We have
one soldier TO 2,50G of population now
should think one TO every 1000 would be
about right but, of course, that esti-
mate is only approximate
You mean one in a thousand for a
home force alone?'
No, to include the garrisons in Cuba,
Porto Rico and elsewhere We DO not
need a very large army at home in time
OF peace"
do you believe in maintaining large
force in preparation for war;
No" said the senator, quickly. Be
sides. l think we never were in less dan
ger Of war with any OF the nations than
We are now. Don't your
The senator said he was satisfied with
the volunteer system and he believed our
recent experience had shown its value
though our militia laws might need some
amendment
! asked if he thought the army should
keep pace with the increase in the popu-
lation at the ratio he had suggested.
NO" he said. Il think force that
community of 250CG0 would be large
enough for a community of 10000. There
should be increases at long intervals, OF
course. The coming increase should be
greatest. / should think, in the infantry
and artillery arms of the service, be-
cause. now that fighting on the plains
has ended. the cavalry is not so much
needed as il was. But the cavalry must
not be neglected, because it is less easily
inprovised than either infantry or ar
tiilery"
DO YOU think we shall need a full
force of artillery to man our coast forti-
ncations?"
No; We must keep enough men there
TO keep the guns in condition and to
break in a force that may be needed 10
man the guns in time of war"
1T has always been an argument in
favor of completing our land defenses
rather than increasing our navy that the
land defense is less costly to maintain.
These defenses can be maintained at a
mere nominal cost. One-fifth of the men
necessary to man them would be all that
would be required to keep them In a
state Of preparation for attack; because
one trained man in five will quickly put
q gun crew in working condition. Still
IL is necessary that trained men be kept
OF duty at each of our fortifications, be
cause the modern gun is a very delicate
instrument. and requires expert handling
a raw recruit is not of much value in 9
coast fortifcation today"
! asked if il would be possible to have
the militia in the coast States cooperate
with the Government in training men to
handle the big guns. The members of ar
tiliery companies in all the coast States
instead Of going into camp with the 9TH
er militia troops, could take up their
quarters in the new forts and practice
handling the big guns for a week or two
every year. In time of war, they could
be ready for instant service in the forts:
and as they would be defending their
own homes. there would be a greater in
centive TO enlistment than if they were
expecting to be sent to some distant point
for service.
THAT is an excellent Iuea." said Sena-
tor Proctor. There should be some ar
rangement under which nlilitiamen could
be trained in tn handling of The big ms
There are many mechanics in our big
cities who would make excellent gunners
who would be glad, ! think, to en1rst in
artillery companies in tfI- -tate militia
for the purpose of working the coast-de-
fense guns
1T is a remarkable fact" continued tbs
senator that the plans of the Endicot
board. though made ten years ago, Should
have been carried out with such slight
notifications. That board was composed
of very able men who made a thorough
study Of the subject. When we have
carried out the plan of the Edicott board
completely this win be the best defend
ed country in the world. and we shall b'