The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-04
GENERAL STAFF MOVING
 FOR GREAT INCREASE IN NATIONS STANDING ARMY

POWERFUL COAST OFFENCES ARE TO BE DECLARED JUST Al INVITATION TO ATTACK-JAPS GERMANS, OR ANYBODY, CAN COME ACROSS THE BIG PONI AT ANY TIME AND GIVE UNCLE SAM A GOOD LICKING, ACCORD ING TO PROFESSIONAL SOL DIERS.
 ALLEGATIONS IN THE FORTH
 COMING REPORT OF THE
 GENERAL STAFF.
 American coast defenceS can
 easily be conquered by land at
 tack.
 American present standing
 army not strong enough to pre-
 vent foreign foe from capturing
 any coast city. It would take six
 months even to prepare to repel
 foreign invaders.
 Japan could, within three weeks, land 100, ,OOO veteran troops
 on the Pacific coast and double
 that force in ten days more.
 Germany could. in two weeks,
 place a trained army of 100000
 on the Atlantic coast.
 Once intrenched in one of our
 coast cities, a foreign army of
 15O.OOO could hold out indefinite
 ly against five times their num-
 ber of American tPOODS
 REMEDY PROPOSED.
 Increased strength and mo-
 bility of standing army.
 Especial from United Press.) Washington, Feb. 4.-The army oi the United States is totally unprepareo for war.
 Our elaborate system of coast de- fense constitutes an element of na- tional weakness owing to it's defence lessness against land attack.
 It was learned by the United Press today that these two facts will be pointed out with startling clearness when the General Staff of the army makes public a report on which it has
 
 One of the leading officials of the administration. an eminent military authority, in discussing the subject for the United Press, today pointed out some of the glaring weaknesses which have influenced the General Staff new plan.
 Our position as a world-Dower is really assumed he said, "and it's con- tinuance is entirely dependant upon hn 7o011iacapYan nf fnroiOY1 n hipQt The powerful coast defnces which gir- de our coast line constitute an element of national weakness, owing to theil defencesless condition against land at tack. It is not divulging any military secrets when I say that any enterpris- ing enemy can take the most power ful of these defences from the land side without difficulty. The studying Of every port of entry with the most powerful ordnance causes no concern abroad so long as we build these cost ly defenceS and do not attempt to de- fend them from the land. No naval commander will ever bring his ships within range of their fire when the landing of military force at a con- tiguous point will ensure their destruc- tion, with the defenders unable to bring a single gun to bear on the at tacking forces.
 ''These defences girdle our coast line To protect against land attack we have widely scattered, approximately SC. 900 regular soldiers. Supplementing this force the National Guard aggre- gates no 1000. It is known to the mill itary authorities that Germany can without great endeavor, land an army of 100000 at any point on the Allan tic seaboard within two weeks.
 "On the Pacific coast, apan can within three weeks, land 100, 900 veter- ans at any given point and double the force within ten days. In possession of any of our fortified harbors it would take this nation six months even to prepare for the first offensive move ment against an enemy on either coast and the time in years it would take us to diSlodge them, unless dis
 Continued on Page 2.)