The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-18
w ar Department W i'll
Say N OF hin g About
Dickinson S eport.
coast STATES
PREPARE TO ACT
Western Representatives Will
Make Concerted Effort to Sc
cure Proper Coast Dcfenses.
Action of Congress on
Nations Unpreparedness
for War Problematical.
Especial to The Times Dispatch ]

Especial to The Times Dispatch
Washington. ID. c.. December H.
An impasse has been reached between
the conflicting elements in the country
wide agitation over the state of the
national dcfenses
Secretary Of War Dickinson to-day
advised Congress. by direction of the
President, tina, 1T is not compatible
with the public interests for me at thIs
time to make report answering in de-
tails the questions embodied in the
(McLachlan) resolution"
Tho immediate consequence Of this
will be a concerted effort on the part
of tie representatives, OF the pacific
Coast States to secure at once sufficient
appropriations TO provide for docking
facilities, submarine. improved and in
creased coast defenses for the Pacific.
Representative Hayes. OF California.
speaking for the coast representatives.
outlined this plan to The Times-Dis-
patch correspondent this afternoon,
shortly after Secretary Dlckinson's let
ter to Speaker Cannon. declining to
make public the information requested,
was received at the Capitol.
Ignores Publicity.
Secretary Dickinson's position is that
everything pertaining to the nations
defenses and the needs OF the situation
that can properly be made public is
contained in the annual reports OF the
War Department, which have already
been submitted to Congress He ig-
nores the fact that from half a dozen
different sources the matter, which is
technically termed Confidential" has
become public property and lacks only
formal report to Congress to make
ii official
Whether lacking this omclal stamp
of approval, Congress Will elect to
ignore the whole matter-or take only
before the agitation was begun-re-
mans TO be seen.
At the War Department to-day there
was absolute silence following the let
ter of Secretary Dickinson TO speaker
Cannon. None of the bureau chleis.
all of whom are trained soldiers and
practical lighting men. have changed
their views, but whatever else may be
lacking in the service, it is strong on
discipline. Through the Secretary OF
War. the commander-in-ch mas
spoken, and there is nothing more to
be said.
1t may be interesting. however, 10
reflect upon the parting shot of one
practical lighting man who had his
confidential say this afternoon.
'Nnin, Hopeful People,"
I'VE are vain, hopeful people," said
he. 1T is national characteristic for
us boastfully.to assert that we can lick
any nation on earth, and do It when
the time comes without much prepara-
ton. Likewise. we have short memo
ries. When the war with Spain came
we started in to prepare offhanded am.
because of our lack of preparedness we
lost five men by sickness in camps tar
from the theatre of war. to every man
lost in action. In the one simple mat
ter of care OF our men, we We're SO
absolutely unprepared that typhoid
and dysentery carried off more men
than the enemy. We are paying thou
sands in pensions for soldiers who never
got any further than, the hospitals at
Chattanooga.
We had about 100000 men under
arms in that war. Japan had 500, 900
under arms in her war with Russia,
and in actual numbers her sick list was
smaller with her 100000 to care for
than ours with only 100000 to care for.
That's preparedness"
Dickinson's Letter.
The letter of Secretary Dickinson
was addressed to Speaker Cannon and
was in reply to letter from the
Speaker returning the secretarys con-
hdential report on the ground that the
IJa,, ne I9ayN {. .
ceive., any reports In confidence. Sec
rotary Dickinson's letter follows:
War Department,
Washington D. c., December
"Sir,-1n reply to Your letter OF De-
cember l4th. returning my report of
that date on House resolution No. 7o7,
! beg to say that all of the facts which
1t is deemed proper should at this time
proceed from the Secretary of War al
ready have been submitted to Congress-
and the reports accompanying them.
Inasmuch as You have returned to me
my reply of December ii, 1910. with the
appendices thereto attached marked
confidential With the advice that 1t
is practically Impossible for you to
treat the matters therein contained as
confidential by direction of the Presi-
dent | respectfully say that 1t is not
compatible with the public interest for
me at this time to make a report an
swering In detail the questions embod-
led In the resolution.
Very respectfully.
y M, DICKINSON,
Secretary of War"
Hon. Joseph G. Cannon, Speaker OF
the House of REPRESENTATIVE"
IN the situation which has arisen
with regard to the conditions of the
national defense 1t is in the Pacific
coast section that the greatest uneasi-
ness is felt.
I'VE have been getting it going and
coming In our efforts to secure protec-i
ton" said Representative Hayes. Of
California. When we try to get legis-
l l.s e e;a the Japaness and
efforts and agitation of the subject
may lead TO- war The Japanese may
have their feelings hurt and become
lncensed. When WeSaslt for a fleet and
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