Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1910-12-23
j. S. HELD HELPLESS
SECRETARY DICKINSON POINTS
OUT LACK OF MEN, oReANl.
ZATIoN AND SUPPLIES.
FOR AN ARMY OF 100000
Secret Report Also Recommends Def.
mite Policy and q Council Of De.
fense-House Refuses to Receive
Document.

Document.
Washington, Dec. 17.-Helpless in
the face of powerful foe, with fts
standing army about one-third as
large as it should be, supplies lacking
and military organization detective
this is the alarming picture Of the
situation of the United States drawn
by Secretary of War Jacob M. Dickin.
son in his secret report to the house.
The report, which the house refused
to accept because It was presented to
It as a secret, has become public prop
erty here and the subject of much dis.
cussion. It was sent in response to
the resolution of Representative Nc.
Lachlan Of California asking as to the
condition of the defenses.
Wants Army Of $4,000.
Mr.. Dickinson recommends that the
standing army be increased to
minimum of 100000 men; that there
be adequate war supplies on hand at
all times for the regular and militia
forces. that congress adopt definite
military policy and that permanent
council Of defense be organized.
A summary of the report shows that
the secretary first pointed out the to.
tai unpreparedness Of the United
States for war; the lack Of guns and
other supplies. and defects in the
army system.
"In my opinion this country cannot,
so far as its land forces are con,
cerned." continued Mr.. Dickinson, 'be
considered in state of readiness for
defense or to repel invasion If at
tempted on our coast by any first
class power having the shipping to
transport and the navy to protect the
transit of her armed forces over the
sea-"
Details Defects IN Army.
The regular army is found by Sec
rotary Dickinson to be almost fatally
deficient. It lacks numbers; 1t lacks
the proper proportion of the various
arms, and reserves of field guns and
supplies; 1t is widely scattered; it is
not organized into brigades and divi
sions essential for war purposes
While the coast defenses are satisfac-
tory in the matter Of equipment there
are not enough artillerymen to man
them, he says.
The militia is in even worse case,
declares Secretary Dickinson. It lacks
arms and numbers; it is without prop
er organization; it is scattered as to
prohibit prompt concentration; It is
deficient in training ami physical STAN
ina, and many Of to militiamen. by
reason Of family relations. could not
be counted on for long war service. :.
Danger on Atlantic Coast.
Making deductions for ineffectives,
the regular army numbers only about
$4,000 and the militia S6.200 AS an
enemy with the choice of point Of at
tack might require us to have an
adequate defense at all points, the
minimum number of trained mobile
troops required to prevent Judgment
by the enemy on the Atlantic or gulf
coasts is placed at 100000.
This is on the theory that the first
hostile expedition to cross the Atlantic
would be made up of 100000, and that
the crossing could be made in ten to
eighteen days, while an expeditionary
force of like strength might be ex-
pected to follow in twenty to forty
days.
To repel this force, we have avail
able in all parts of the United States
at present, only 114,500 regulars, and
militia lacking in many essentials.
So there is an actual shortage Of
335,500 men to defend our Atlantic
and gulf coasts, Mr.. Dickinson says.
In addition, 1919 trained coast artii-
lery troops are needed to man the
existing forts.
Same Peril on the Pacific.
The same number of men could be
brought by an enemy against our Pa
ciflc coast as against the Atlantic and
gulf coasts and the same number Of
defenders would be necessary. 1t
would require 30 days to assemble
even the small force we now have on
the Pacific coast. Adequately to man
the Pacific forts 1926 additional ar
tillerymen are necessary.