Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-12-22

Has SAL 100000 .or New In
crease in Fighting Force.
SECRET REPORT MADE PUBLIC
Secretary Dickinson Points Out De-
fects in Army and Emphasizes
Danger to Atlantic and Pa
cjfic Coasts

Washington. = Another war scare
has stalked into the capital, and again
1t is Japan which is at the bot
tom Of the demand for a larger and
better equipped army, and consequent
Iy for greater appropriations The dip
lomatic relations between the United
States and Japan are not in a danger
0us condition, but they are in a state
Of tension serious enough to Justify
the observance Of care on the part OF
| the government and people to prevent
further irritation and all it may imply.
1t is now an open secret that Mr.
Dfckinson's note of alarm was sound
ed with reference to the Japanese.
Mr.. Tawney, however, sees among the
forces that called it forth a "conspir-
acy" to gain a big appropriation for
war equipment purposes, and thus to
ILL the pockets of gunmakers and 9th
ers.
1 do not like to use the word con
spiracy' in connection with this mat
ter" Mr.. Tawney is alleged to have
said, but there may be interesting de-
NV PAAAS1AIo "4CA LlC "uOIS SlOIy Is
told"
Mr.. Tawney charges that officials of
the war department and the military
enthusiasts in congress conspired to
create widespread sentiment for big
army and navy appropriations.
Secretary Dickinson's report, which
caused war scare when congress re-
fused to accept it as a confidential"
document, has been made public. A
summary of the report shows that the
secretary first pointed out the total
unpreparedness of the United States
for war; the lack of guns and other
supplies, and defects in the army sys-
tenn.
In my opinion this country cannot,
so far as its land forces are con-
cerned,' continued Mr. Dickinson, "be
considered in a state of readiness for
defense or to repel invasion if ATTEMPT
ed on our coast by any first-cIass pow
er having the shipping to transport
and the navy to protect the transit of
her armed forces over the sea-"
The regular army is found by Sec
rotary Dickinson to be almost fatally
deficient. 1t lacks numbers; it 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 di-
Visions 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. 1t lacks
arms and numbers; it is without prop
er organization; it is scattered as to
prohibit prompt concentration; it is
deficient in training and physical STAN
ina, and many of the militiamen, by
reason of family relations, could not be
counted on for long war service.
Making deductions for ineffectives,
the regular army numbers only about
$4,000 and the militia $4,000. 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 a lodgment
by the enemy on the Atlantic or gulf
coasts is placed at 100000.