The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-30
Mai. Gem. Wood's Reconimendations.

Maj Gen. Leonard Wood. Chief of Stan
Of the army, in his annual report TO the
Secretary of War. voices his belief that
our army Is unprepared for war with any
hrst-eiass power, This state OF affairs,
according 10 the general. is due 70 two
causes-insuficient preparations for mo-
bllizing the forces and the failure OF the
War Department TO assemble an ade-
quate reserve OF war material
Gen. Wood calls attention to the small
size Of the regular army and the de-
creasing number Of instructed militia.
He urges immediate steps for the organ
ization of a proper reserve Of not less
than 10000 men from which TO I'LL with
instructed meR both the regular and mil-
tia establishments in case of war, as such
a reserve naturally would consist OF for
msr regular soldiers and members OF the
organized militia of the different States.
These men should receive a small month
~ pay and should be obliged to keep the
War Department informed as 10 their
whereabouts and domicile
In other words, Gen. Wood recon-
mends the system in vogue in Germany,
where a soldier is affiliated with the
army until he is forty-two years old.
He serves actively only two Of these
years. when he is discharged and may
take Up his life vocation without let OF
hindrance. But once in so many years
he must return TO his colors for exer-
else and maneuvers for a few weeks.
Thus automatically he passes the differ
ent stages of the reserve until he reaches
what is called the '1andsturm," mean
ing that part OF the army which is sup
posed 10 be the last resort" and only
called TO arms in a last extremity In de-
Tense of the fatherland.
While in a country with compulsory
CONSUMPTION the formation Of a reserve
force is easily effected and just as easily
maintained. there are serious doubts
whether that which Gen. Wood urges
would recommend itself to the freeborn
men of this republic, who hate a check
upon their movements
Gen. Wood also urges the passage OF
the bill now before Congress for the
raising Of a volunteer army in time OF
war. The bill was strongly recommended
by President Roosevelt. with the hearty
approval of Mr.. Taft, who was then Sec
rotary Of War. Gen. Wood says that
such an army would cost the country
nothing in time Of peace and would save
millions in case of war
Pertaining to the second reason for his
startling statement OF our unprepared-
ness-the lack of adequate reserve OF war
material-the general says:
- large measure of dependency upon
citizen soldiery after war is declared al
ways has been a recognized policy of the
United States. Such men will be of no
value II we are net prepared to give
them arms and ammunition when they
are organized In haste. We have accu-
mulated a considerable supply OF small
arms and ammunition. but we are sadly
deficient IN the reserve supply OF field
artillery and field artillery ammupitlon
and OF reserve coast artillery ammuni-
ton. At the present rate Of approprja-
tons il will take about fifty years to OBJ
tain reasonable supply of ammunition
Tor coast defenses. The existing want of
field artillery guns constitutes a grave
menace 10 the public safety in time Of
war"
Gen. Wood advocates the re-establish-
ment Of the canteen, an increase OF the
Signal Corps, and the purchase Of aero
planes.