The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-12-17

REPORT R TO CONGRESS c!
aeaeral Wood CONFIRMS Startling
Detasls-Hc, Ii, an Examination
Before House Committee. Points
Ont Nations 'Weakness-Hobson
Proposes National Defense Council.
A sensational report from the wal
department showing that the country
Is inadequately protected against
tayasion from foreign governments
was sent to the house Wednesday as
4 secret document and, after num-
! her OF conferences and hurried tele-
phone messages, was returned to the
war department on the ground tnat
the house could not receive a secret
report.
- Members who saw the document
before It's withdrawal say it is re-
port OF j. M. Dickinson. secretary o.
war: that it points out that the coun-
try is wholly unprepared; that tneIe
is q woeful inadaquacy of men, Oh
guns and Of ammunition; that the
army should be rsorganized and tnat
a council of national defense, Win
the secretary Of war at Its neaa'
should be created by congress- The
report of Cen. Wood, which was
marked confidential" dealt with
these matters and gave otficlal ad-
mission to matters that are OF more
er less common knowledge among
army and navy experts in this couh.
,rv and abroad. In fact, the real
,,rnificance of the document is that
IL makes official admissions OF these
conditions. .,....,.
:. Cen. Wood, in his testimony be-
sore the house military committee
eurnished some OF the most
anteresting information ever gwen
hafore that body. He discussed the
whole subject OF national defense,
so,d where the weak points lay, ana
laid particular emphasis on the pos
ability of attack from the Orient.
He did not give vent to any aiarmist
rJews, as to danger OF any immediate
anyasiors, but talked conhdentiaily
OF the need Of changes as prudent
and valuable, to guard against trou-
ble from Japan or China.
Representative MacLachian, tne
author of the resolution wnlen
brought the official exposition OF the
weakness of the militry defense, saiu
today: -
"A foreign country could land
200 600 troops on the Pacific coast
In 80 days, and the only intimation
OF trouble would be the blowing up
OF the mountain passes, thus pre-
venting any communication with the
East. In the three States west or
the Rocky mountains-Californ'a'
OREGON and Westinghouse have
5000 regular troops and 5000 state
ril,tfamep. The best military an-
thorities. say that 1t would take years
10 dislo1ge foreign troops II they
over got a foothold under these con-
attions, and that 1t would cost the
limited States billion Of dollars.
The bill introduced today by Rep
resentative Hobson provides for
national council for defense and IS
the result Of his conference with
President Taft. Secretary Dickinson
and other officials.
The war departments precaution
60 protect the report led to a serl-
Gus mix-up in the house. The re-
oort was marked CONFIDENTIAL but
that precaut:cn was indicated only
on a part Of the document. In the
eoutine handling OF the report 1t was
passed along with other executive
documents to the clerks ONCE.
where such matters are open to. pun-
nc inspection, but almost instantly
It's confidential nature was discoV-
cred and 1t was withdrawn to the
privacy Of the speakers Office. y.
After looking into the precedents'
tie sneaker concluded that there was
no warrant for the reception OF the
report as q confidential communica-.
ton. There be returned 1t to Secre-.
tary Dickinson with polite letter
calling attention to the rules of lne
house. which require all originally
executed communications to be
printed.
The secretary received this letter
very late in the day and consequent
ly withheld his answer until tomor-
row. 1t Is probable that he. Will
withhold from the house the ap-
pen1ices to tle original report,
which. after all, contained the only
really confidential matter and resub-
NIT the document. emitting the in
junctional confidence.