Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-15
SHOWS UNITED STATES
CAN EASILY BE INVADED
Secretary Dickinson Informs Law
makers How insdequateIy the co1n-
try is Protected Against invasion
by Foreign Govornments-sent TO
House as a Secret Document.
oBy Associated rrcssy


WASHINGTON, ID. C., Dee. IA
sensational report from The war de-
partment. showing how the country
was inadequately protected against
invasion from foreign governments,
was sent &c the house today as Sc
cret document and after a number OF
conferences and hurried telephone
message, was returned 10 the war de-
partment on the ground that the house
could not receive q secret report.
With 3l9 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 en- the subject
when the remote contingency Of q
secret session of the house WAS nien-
toned Members of congress who
saw the document before its with
drawal say the report of Secretary
Dickinson points out that the coun-
try is wholly unprepared. that there
Is woeful inadequacy of men. that
The army should be recognized. that
council Of national defense shorid
be treated by congress.
Conditions Already known.
The report of Gen. Leonard Wood,
chief of staff OF the army. which was
marked Confidential dealt with
these matters. The real significance
OF the document is that 1t makes the
Official admission Of conditions already
well known among army and navy
officers in this country and abroad.
General Wood, IN his testimony be-
fore the house military committee tc-
day. discussed the whole subject of
nstionsl defenses and told where the
weak spots lay. and laid particular
e? Dnasis on the possibility OF attack
from the Orient. He did net give
gent TO any slarmist views as to dan
ger cf--ay immediate invasion. but
talked corfidentiallv of the need OF
congress, as prudent and effective
act II lake immediate action to guard
against anv possible trouble from
Japan or Chine. General Wood con-
tended that while the country Is rea-
scna5ly well defended, much is needed
10 he done to place It upon a secure
basis.
Grester Provision Needed.
He argued that congress should
prov',e for more artillery and field
guns ard for 2 greater stock OF NUM-
lions cf war. so as to be prepared for
any emergency. He believed that the
standing army should he expanded
from 10000 10 100000 men. He
favored reducing the terms OF enlist
merit from three years 10 two years
lie believed in the active encourage
T,Nnt OF the militie CT the states as
valuable first national reserve and
that the 10000 Or more men annually
ccing cut os the aTmy to resume pri-
vate life Should be Kept in close touch
with the government so that they
could constitute second reserve.
Representative Mclaughlin. Of Can
forDia. the author OF the resolution
passed AZ the last session which
broHgh; about the Official exposition
Of the weakness Of the military de-
lenses. said today:
Easy Invasion.
"A foreign ccrnfry cos;d land POO
600 troops on the Pacific coast in
thirty days. and the onlr intimaticn of
trouble would BE- their blowing M Of
the mountain passes. thus preventing
any communication with the Fast. In
the three states vest Ct thu Rocky
mountsiEs-CaIifornia. Oregon and
WashinEioD-we have 5000 regular
troops and 5000 OF state miliiiamen.
The best military authorities saw Il
would take years to dlSiodge foreign
troops II thew ever secured a foot.
bold under these conditions. and that
Il would cosi one billion dollars
Fcr National Council.
The hiil introduced today by Repke-
sentative H0bson. % Alabama. en-
bodies the administration idea Ct 2
national council for defense aud -
the result Of his conference Sith the
PIC idcnf. Secretary Dickinson ana
ether officials.
The BIN Is designed 20 establish a
definite ard Consecutive policy Of
national defense. determined BIZ INC
deliberations Of both sbc executive
and legislative branches ~ IN. gov
crrmcnt and - insure harmony not
ouiy IN determining. but IN enforcing
the policy. The idea ~ 10 promote
cfcicncy and economy IN peace and
IN var.
The yccretarv ~ wsf would b. prp,.
ideal Of ihe council TIE Other n-sn.
herg D. ine the secrciary II ,he navy.
BE chcirman - thr s.naic and house
fcrulinuct on rour,h PseeJ