The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-19
DICKINSON TELLS
OF ARMY's NEEO
Secretary of War Would Call Upon
Discharged Regulars in Case
of Emergency.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19..-If con-
gress would authorize the scientific
reorganization OF the army aud mill
tia forces, the United States could
be prepared for a war without the
expenditure OF any large sums OF
money. The war department is not
asking for enormous additional APP
preparations. but for the authority TO
bring the armed forces OF the republic
TO an up-to-date standard of fitness
This is the position of Secretary of
War Dickinson, which, il transpires,
he has explained in detail at two re-
cent meetings of President Taft's cab
met.
The war department officials are
hoping that the incident of the sup
pressed report which leaked out has
been closed by the dispatch to con-
gress OF note stating that it is ''in-
compatible" with the public interests
to furnish the details of the condition
OF he army and toher defenses called
for by the McLachlan resolution.
Officially, these facts still are a Sc
crct oi the war department, though
they have been published throughout
the country. Ii is understood, how
ever, that there are some exhibits
originally accompanying the report
which have not become public. AS a
matter of fact. congress has received
almost all OF the suppressed informa-
ton in the way of department reports
The secretary of war has expressed
himself forcibly on the subject TO the
president and a number of high Of
ticials in the administration. He has
called attention to a number OF bills
prepared by the department and pend
ing now in congress upon which he has
been unable TO get any action. These
bills, he has pointed out, call not for
the appropriation OF huge sums of
money. but for various forms OF re-
organization, costing comparatively
little.
One of these bills provides a plan
for raising, on short notice, an army
OF volunteers who have had military
training. The United States army
discharges about 10000 soldiers a
year These men go back into pri-
vate life thoroughly trained fighters,
and IL is these men particularly
which the country would need in time
OF war to reinforce the regular troop
service. OnueT present cOnQltlOnS,
however. the war department loses
all trace of these discharged soldiers.
No record of their changing address is
kept.
The bill advocated by the secretary
OF war would enable the department
to pay discharged soldiers nominal
sum. 81 month. for example. to keep
the staff informed of their addresses
and changes of residence. In addition,
II is proposed that these discharged
soldiers be paid a small compensation
to appear at the nearest army post
once every three years for a brief
period OF drill. In this way it is be-
lieved the nation would always have a
large body OF trained soldiers at its
CALL.
The secretarys report estimated
that an army of 100000 men should be
available for the defense of the At
lantic and Pacific seaboards. At the
rate of present discharge from the
army, it is pointed out, the country
would have in 10 years about 100000
experienced soldiers who could be
called into service, mad with the regI-
lar troops would make up the neces-
sary defending force.