The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-27
General Wood Tells of
Present Needs of the
Army.
SAYS TRAINED MEN
ARE MUCH PREFERRED
Fighting Force That Could Be
Relied Upon Is NeCes-
SaTy.

Gen Leonard Woods nIan for the
building up Of great reserve for the
army, which would De a source Of
strength TO the nation in time Of war.
is stirring up much discussion in army
and militia circles. and II ire same
time IS attracting notice among mem
bers OF Congress.
Whether anything viii come Of It in
way OF legislation AZ this tire is doubt
fUI. but in the discussion of the army
appropriation bill. and the preuaredness
of the country, which IS going to be
threshed over when that bill comes up
in the House, the establishment OF a re-
serve is likely to occupy much attention
Would Add Much Strength.
Those Who urge the organization OF a
reserve point out that ii would be a vast
addition 10 the fighting strength OF the
nation. They point out Slat there are iu
this country probably S0ooe3 men, under
foTty-five years Of age, who. In one way
and another, have been instructed In the
military art. but who are not connected
now with either the army or the militia
Could such a number be OTEanized II
might become OF me utmost usefulness
IN war time General Wood looks on i.
IS highly unfortunate that this body OF
Instructed material should be allowed TO
be wasted
General Wood and army men gen
orally realize that Il Is out OF the queS-
ton 10 have 2 great standing army in
this country That fact IS considered
the more warrant for utilizing the large
stantIy being thrown OF from the militia
and the army
Working to Create Interest.
The pian.-- said General Wood. --Cs1
hardly be called my plan II has been
suggested before and 7 am doing all I
can to create interest in IL. Every year,
between $500 and 3o090 men leave the
army and militia permanently and all
this instructed material disappears in
the masses Of the population The coun-
Try can only depend upon their voIuu-
tsTy return 10 the COIors IN time or
war
THE plan for the reorganization Of
these trained men -intO "a reserve has
Tot been thOugh5 out in detail. but II is
intended that for a number Of years
they shall he assembled at rnaneuvers
periodically for training IN military tao
tics. While in aItenda nee al the uaueu-
vers they would draw fun service nay
and at other times they would be en-
titled to nominal conversation. say 81
OF > per MONTH for keeping the depart
nent informed as 70 their wh-rea bouts
and holding themselves in readiness 10
respond 70 call 70 arms
General Wood proposes that in time
shall be absorbed in the militia and
regular army Both the militia and
regular army organizations are fully
Differed in time of peace. but only
about one-haif manned.
Needs 100000 Reserves.
General Wood estimates that abour
100000 reserves would be required 70
recruit the militia. which would be
part Of the first line in action. and
the regular regiments and organic
tons IN TO fun war strength. Be
Eond that the reserves might be Of
hcsTsd by nOn-confmissfoned officers
ct the army, and by men elected from
civil life as was done at the out
break Of the civil war. The military
schools OF the country outside OF West
Point are training many Young men
SFho would make successful Officers
One OF the things urged in favor Of
Ine plan or having a great reserve
= that il would mean but small
and insignificant outlay Of money. AZ
the same time II Is argued II would
give this country. IN an emergency
hghunS force that could be relied
en-
Many Of the men in the reserve m
Ger the plan proposed by General
Wood would not merely be trained
n arms but they would be men who
had been many times under FIRE and
who had been veteranized-