The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1910-12-16
u. S. COULD
BE INVADED
REPORT OF SECRETARY OF War
POINTS OUT our WEAKNESS
and NEEDS
GUNS and TROOPS NEEDED

Washington, Dec. ia sensational
report from the War Department
showing how the country was made
quately protected against invasion
from foreign governments was sent
to the House yesterday as a secret
document and, after a number of con-
ferences and hurried telephone mes
sages, was returned to the War De-
partment on the ground that the
House could not receive secret re-
port.
With 391 members of that body the
contents of the report would stand a
chance of leaking out to the public
Immediately, in the opinion of those
who conferred OH the subject when
the remote contingency OF secret ses-
Ision OF the House was mentioned.
Members of Congress WIG saw the
document, before it's withdrawal, say
the report of Secretary Dickinson
points cut that tho country is wholly
junprepared, that here is woeful m
adequacy of men, of guns and Of am
munition, that the army should be re-
organized and that a council aof ma
tional defense, with the Secretary of
War at it's head, should be crcaaed by
Congress.
Wood Report "confidentiaI"
The report of General Leonard
-, Wood, chief of staff CT The army
which was marked :''coRfidentia3,' -
| dealt wiki these matters. The real
! significance of the document is tEat
! it makes official admission of contli-
( tions already well knOwn ;among army
! and navy officers in this country and
/ abroad.
General Wood, in his testimony be
fore the House ID Mzifiniswho zins whois'-etib jelz7
vest sttles reffo5Eal defenses. told where The
3weak points lay, and 1a:d particular
emphasis on the possibility cf :>1@tacf
from the Orient, He did net give
j vent to any alarmist views ae IT,
!, danger of any aMmen:a:e :1v;s;.--
|but talked confidenta!ly CT the need
tof Congress, as a prudent anS effac,
tive act, to take immediate acEcE 20
guard against any possible trouble
sfrom Japan or China.
General Good contended that while
tthe country is reasonably defended
Fmuch is needed to be done to place
lit upon "a secure basis.
He argued that Congress should pro
vide for more artillery and field guns
ltions Of war, SO as tosprepare fog any
iemergency. He believed that the
standing army should be expanded
from $4,000 to 100000 men. He ia
vored reducing the term of enlistment
from three years to two years He
believed in the active encouragement
Iof the militia of the Srates as valu
liable first national reserve and Jha
1.-THE 10000 or more men annually :go
ting out of the army to resume private
life should be kept in close touch witt
,the government, SO that they o0ul6
lconsdtute a second reserve.
j Gould Not Dislodge a Foe.
! Representative McLach1en, of Cali
;fornia. the author of the resolution
aeassed at the last session, whlcl
: gbrought about the official exposition
sof the weakness of the military de
! t&enses, said:
: "a foreign country could land 200
: OBO troops off the Pacific coast in 5
days and the orlay intimation 9
| trouble would be their blowing up Q
, the mountain passes, thus preventing
| any communication with the East. L
5 the three States west of the Rock
t Monntains-California Oregon an
WashingtoH-We have 5000 Tegula
: troops and 5000 of State miliSzameI
r The best military authorities say
! would take years to tislodge foreig
: troops if they ever secured a fooshol
D Sunder these condition. and that
would cost the United States on bi
Gon dollars"
The bill introduced yesterday b
Representative Hobson,- of Alabama
f embodies the administration idea c
a national council for defense, and
e the result of his conference wit
d President Taft, Secretary D1ckinso
: and other officials.
j Purpose of Bill.
5, The bill is designed to establish
$ definite and consecutive policy of n;
: tfona1 defense. determined bv the d.
n fiberations of both the Legislative an
l, the executive branches of the goyerl
n ment and to insure harmony not cnl
I; in determining but in enforcing tt
/; policy The idea is to promote. eff
!: cheney and economy in peace and
3, WAR.
d. Maiden, Mass, Dec. 15.-Five CHI
}; dren are orphans today as result
!; dispute in a Maiden home whit
); resulted in the shooting of Mabel
y Campbell by her husband, A1onzo y
J. Campbell. who then turned the g.
: on himself and shot fatal1v th-~-s
e. the heart. The tragedv cs,c,lr-e
w No A Wvefh Street N-fCe-