Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-19

Bill Advocated by secretary of War
Points out the Way.


Points ont the Way.
WASHINGTON, Dec 17.-(Special Tele-
gramJ-If congress would authorize the
scientific reorganization Of the army and
militia forces, the United states could be
prepared for a war without the expendl-
ture Of any large sums of money The
War department is not asking for enor-
nous additional appropriations. but for
the authority to bring the armed forces
Of the republic TO an up-to-date standard
Of fitness
This is the position Of Secretary of War
Dickinson, which, II transpires, he has
explained in detail at two recent meetings
of President Taft's cabinet. The secretary
stands by every word of the suppressed
report to congress disclosing the nations
lack Of preparation for war But he denies
the charges OF those who have answered
his report with the criticism that the War
department is seeking to brighten the coun-
try into pouring out untold millions for
additional defense.
The War department officials are hoping
that the incident Of the report which
leaked out has been closed by the dispatch
to congress today of note stating that
It is Incompatible with the public inter
est to furnish the details Of the condition
Of the army and other defenses called for
by the McLachlan report
Congress Gets information.
| 1t is understood that there are some ex-
hibits originally accompanying the report
which have not become public. AS a mat
ter of fact, congress has received almost
all Of the suppressed information in the
way of department reports.
| Secretary Dickinson declined today to
discuss for publication the condition Of the
nations defense. He said he would have
/ something further to say in due time, but
thought the present time inopportune.
Today 1t was learned that the secretary
Of war expressed himself forcibly on the
| subject to the president and number Of
| high officials in the administration. He
has called attention to a number of bills
prepared by the department and pending
now in congress, upon which he has been
unable to get any action. These bills, he
has pointed out, call not for the appropria-
ton of huge sums of money, but for vari-
Gus forms of reorganization, costing COM
parativey. little,
Plan for Raising an Army.
One of these bills provides a plan for
raising on short notice an army Of volun-
teets who have had military training.
\ The United States army discharges
about 10000 soldiers year. These men
| go back into private life, thoroughly
trained fighters, and It is these men parL
ticuarly which the country would need
4 in time of war to7reinforce the regular
troops service. Under present conditions,
however the War department loses all
trace of these men. No record of their
changing addresses is kept
The bill advocated by the secretary Of
war would enable the department 20 pay
discharged soldiers a nominal sum, 81 a
month. for example, to keep the staff in
formed of their changes Of residence.
In addition, IT is proposed that these
discharged soldiers be paid a small COM
pensation to appear at the nearest army
post once every three years for a brief
period of drill. In this way it's believed
the nation would always have large body
Of trained soldiers at its call
The secretary's report estimated that an
an army OF $4,000 men should be available
} for the defense Of the Atlantic and Pacific
states At the rate OF present discharge
from the army, II is pointed out the coun'
try would have in ten years about 10000
experienced soldiers who could be CALLED
into Service, and with the regular troops
would make up the necessary defending
force.
The stand taken by Representative TaW
ney, chairman OF the house committee OF
, appropriations, regarding the report from
r the War department concerning the coun
: try's preparedness for war brought th'
I following letter from Andrew Carnegie to
day:
I my Dear Mr. Tawney: In military anC
E fever of the mad these days May / ex
5 press my admiration for the stand you ar,
I taking. Stick to 1t. do not believe Wood
and Dicknson's views are shared by thos'
A in authority and surely the American PEG
. pie cannot be stampeded in absurd expen
5 ditures."