The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-13
our Inpreparrd Army.

The tim" has come. SAYS Mr.. pTCktN-
>nN. the Secretary Of War IN his annual
report, when Congress should establish
A commission Ia dctermln" ~ early rs
practicable comprehensive" policy for
Tn" organization, Mobilization and adj
minl~tration of the regular army. the
organized militia and the volunteer
forces IN tho event Of war Tn" pro-
cedurr would be something hk" this
First. legislation authorizing the com
mission. which Is hardly likely al tho
short session of this Congress then N.
investigation and laborS III tn. COM
mission, and the preparation and sub
mission of It's report to Congress. all 81
which would take several months per
haps twclv. of them; and n ELs, IN"
enactment OF law providing for IN"
organization and mobilization nf m"
army at defence. which would oun-rHn"
no on. knows how much tune. bur Ger
taiulv long time \ commission seems
tn spell procraSrInation. Why 'uuldnr
Congress rhrrsh IN" matter OUT AT thu
or thr next session without IN" help "l a
commission
Let ~ see why Secretary Di'klNSO%
thinks the time ha- com" tor "A definite
military policy Of defence. His report
supplies the reason. and 1t l. simply
that the United States il not prepared
for the emergency IT war The Score
tarv laws emphasis upon ~" fact thar
the present law Tor raising volunteer
army in time oi actual ar Threatened
war l. faulty and inad"puat" lo .
-ysedv and proper "rGanlEaiI"n "i q
volunteer force II" dependence -;
the country upon It's volunteer, ~ "'n"r-
g.nci.r, l. too well understood 70 r"uuIr"
amplitlCarIon Tn" faulty legislation
was piIt on 'hr statute books "par'lr
on h" cv" OF IN" Spanish war anI partly
after ho-rIli'ie- had ACTUALLY com
mrnr.i What Is needed J., H. -, 49,
iary DICKINSON SAYS. "A comprehensive"
measure for the organization ot "a vp.Uu-
tear army 10 h" raised only after con-
grr~- ha- mad" a de' larailrn If Wal
such a mna-iIr" i now On th" dn"k,'' If
Congress. II wa~ introduced hy senator
W.RRFN on DE-, "'nb-r H.. 1870. Iri r-
entitl.d bill 10 pruvId" tor raising 49,"
volunteer forces ui IN" nl'",I state
IN time II actual "r threatened war
General DICKINSON Urges Inngr"- ip
Civ. II favorabI. consideration a. 'nr-
session. II world call for no expenditure
Of public money IN tim" II peace" VIII
out tn. authorization ~ pruvii"-. ''"
raising "f "a volunteer army would H.
don. hurrIedly and vet u would "riI-urI"
pr"cintl- tim" during which fr-' . la,-
military Power could land large amt
effective army on III" Pa'iiir or i'lant.,
coast. Tn" following = a very ~Ignlt-
cant passage III the report NJ IN" -. re-
tarv If War.
Inc ra~' ~ Ordnance rss ralS,i er'lru
" the Inadequate supply ~ reid ar'llurr, guns
carrt,.r, amt ANN milton. du~ largely to Ia'- =
appropriation, rhr quantity %, Neid ,rruer
material provided for :" date T., pr"rortIruar.uy
IT,, than tina, ~ any othsr cla>. ",rCr''rg coup
rr-nr The iSp~s needed have teen Developed
and Snrnr NJ e,cn are under man .fari4r~ Nut rhr
appropriation, DO not permit %, tr~ production
Of any considerable quantity IN 'h- ''r9 - TIE
chic! 81 star this -hor'Ag" ~ 1cId ARTILLERY mate
r.is the most serious feature ~ inc present rUf
,sry situation and one mat -n"Hld bc irmrditr-r,
corrected
The coast artillery IL fairly veil pro-
vded with guns. except AT IN" "ntran""
20 Chesapeake Bav and the eastern On
trance TO Long Island Sound. bur thor"
is grave deficiency in s-archlight equip.
ment. equal 10 az least N per cont al ~.
requirement Will" the standard mr..
control system for guns and mortar~
Is in very backward state. IN" -rIr1 nj
q. O0O, 900 being needed 10 Comple'" n
q. rnay he said that these Deficiencies
rrlats only 10 equipment but the -"rl-
olsly impair tn" Instruction of coast
artillery troops. regular and militia. and
. they are therefore relevant to IN" JI'--
| ton OF preparedness Concerning ~.
[ instruction of IN" militia, IA" U'r"-tiOu
, comes up IN another torn tn" hack 80
regular army officers for IN" TiIrpOS.'
/ Retired officers ar" now detailed. where
IA IL ~ important that M" work should
| b. done by officers on the ar'IV" lii
! But IN" army II short - Officers. ~
| many being on necessary detached ser
I vice An und"r-Of fi""r'd army - a
/ badly organized army Their" IL brII
before Congress 10 supply m" vacan' ~.
and II should become a law al this s"s-