The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-15
Over Sensational Report
About Our National
Defences.
TAFT SIDES WITH CONGRESS
The Legislators Fear a Rush
for WAR Scare" Ap-
propriatlons.

WARRINGTON Dec lt-An extraordi-
nary situation has arisen in Official circles
, over formal reports prepared by ths
! Secretary Of War disclosing a state ot
: unpreparednsss IN the national defsnces
that - characterized a. sensational
Unusual efforts have been made by
members Of the House II Representatives
10 suppress the contents Of these reports
on the ground that thei publication would
he detrimental ~ tine interests OF the
Government. But Secretary Of War
Dickinson and Major-Gen. Leonard Wood.
Chief Of Stan. who ought to know. how
far 1t ia expedient TO disclose the condi-
ton Of tho national dsfsncs- ~ othsr
nations. have apparently been entirely
willing To have the reports given out.
To max. the situation more compli-
Gated President Tafr's views in regard TO
the so-called sensational reports do nos
coincide with those Of his own Cabines
adviser and Chief Of STAFF and hs gym
pathize> with the effort that is being made
by members Of Congress to suppress the
reports. The difference of opinion be-
tween Mr.. Taft and his Secretary Of War
Is not serious but it is real enough TO bs
interesting. The President does not take
the CONDITION of the national defences
a. seriously a. do Secretary Dickinson
and Gen. Wood and he is opposed to
stirring the subject up before the public
at this time.
| While Congress leaders say officially
that they are against the publication of
the reports because it would place I'M
desirable Information in the hands Of
other governments. the real reason n
that they fear war scare rush for APP
| preparations. They charge privately that
III" reports in question were prepared
| chiefly for the purpose Of creating pub
lac sentiment IN favor Of extraordinary
expenditures for the army and navy ma
'ional defenc.--. President Taft himself
may hav" some ideas on this line. His
d-sir" for economy at this time u well
known and would explain his opposition
10 any movement even in his own Cabinet.
designed 20 bring about unusual .Xpend-
Turr- for war purposes at this time.
The reports have been prepared nv tho
Secretary 81 War. ami neither has seen
Tn" light 81 day. One was prepared more
than "a week. ago, and H. contents were
described ~ sensational" by those who
read n. B"for" this report was sent in
Ia III" Hru-. Representative Fawney.
chairman Of the Comr'ie" on Apprc-
prlafIun-. got wind Of u and he went di-
r.'ctly to tn" White iinu-" and protested
gain-' IT, being gwen ont for Dublica-
ton. Soon after MIR lawr"y'~ visit At
IN" Whit" Huu-" u was announced that
tn" original report hy ia" Secretary 81
War would b.. substantially altered and
IN" modified report wnuli b" sent IN the
Hnu-" later. No restrictions We're placed
upon the hrdy Of this first report so far
A. puhhci'y was CONCERNED. although
there wa- an appendix which tho Secre-
tlEy dos grated ~ confidential
IN. yrudtfi,t report which j. said -
be- considerably fu,lscr thar the or gina,
No. lent Iu 20 IN" Hru-. ro-day and was
rrarN.SI -cunf'denull' The report sub
united today MAJ an rXpurEated edition
~ rh.. Original n Wa accompanied nv
= Statement. 10y Gen NnnC. As the rules
II the iiu,.s. 30 not provide a practical
method for dealing with confidential
iocumrnt- the Dickinson report was
t''''' III" ~"'J''' VI V'" ny
"''''. i "'' '''''
decided after u.ru-ing its contents that
II should b" r"' urn"G 10 m" War Depart
msnt with IN" suggestion nat the portions
81 the report r,ntalning facts not detri-
h"h'"I W IA" b"''' H''"r'-' sh""u oo
returned 10 the Hp,l-, and thai the othsr
hla'"r'a' III 'h' rrP"' "' '''''iush'ia'
.harac-cr should he sent 90 some House
= III
'"flIhI''"". - f''"'. 81 al mus see
-a"'h me 7','r',''- ~ var WIZ Proo
AMY reply 10 IN" u ',lT" al 'h'' "'rectioh OF
VI" fr'-'i"h' 'hN 'h' F"P"" VIII not Dc
SUNNI eel i'''cA's- """'H ne Lncompati-
ihI" WIN th' p""hr interest Inc nkeN-