The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-13
WAR WOULD FIND us
PRACTICALLY UNPREPARED
Declares Secretary of War Stimson in
His Annual Report Submitted to
President, Because Army
Is Too Much Scattered.

Washington, D. c., Dec lS.--In his an
nual report to the president, Secretary
of War Stimson declared that the CON
tingency Of war with first-class pow.
er would find the army of the United
States practically unprepared.
He attributed this largely to the fact
that the army was scattered out over
the country" In too many posts, and
TO lack Of reserves. The army on
the peace footing habitually maintained
with miniature companies and troops, he
characterized as ineffective for any Sc
rious war service.
As to the unpreparedness Of the army
in artillery and ammunition, Secretary
Stimson says that "at the present rate
of appropriation it is estimated that
il would take more than fifty years to
secure a reasonable supply Of field ar
tillery guns, carriages and ammunition
that would be necessary in the event Of
war"
The report makes the somewhat start
ling statement that at a conservative
estimate, the expense per effective rifle
man in the United States army is be-
tween two and five times as much as
any frst-class power on the continent
Of Europe. This comparison is made
after excluding from consideration the
higher pay and better subsistence that
American soldiers receive. This fact is
stated as an illustration. Secretary Slim
son declares. of the extravaganza of the
existing system of wide distribution of
the army.
Dealing with insular affairs, the secre-
tary of war urges that the right of
American citizenship be granted TO the
natives of Porto Rico. A Porto Rican
travelling abroad now is literally a man
without country and Mr.. Stimson says
that a continued refusal to grant citi-
zenship to the islanders will "gravely
wound the sensibilities Of this loyal
people" The demand for citizenship of
the Porto Ricans is entirely disasso-
ciated from any thought Of statehood
and it is asserted that neither in the
United States nor in Porto Rico is
there any contemplation of statehood as
the ultimate form of government in the
island
Congress is urged to express its wishes
regarding the disposal of the unoccu-
pied friar lands in the Philippines, to
Increase the limit of Indebtedness which
may be incurred by the Philippine gov
ernment for public works from 100000
to 100000, to pass Philippine nat
uralization law and to grant pensions
to Americans who have served ten years
in the islands.
Secretary Stimson recommends that
the permanent organization to operate
the Panama canal be established on a
strictly business basis and not with
the idea OF uplifting or governing a
dependent people The question of tolls,
he believes, should be left to the de-
termination of the president, based upon
acquired experience. American shipping
should be granted practically free use
os the canal The Interstate commerce
commission should extend its jurisdic-
ton over the new transcontinental route
through the waterway and to regulate
rates, thus preventing the great railway
from exercising control. While
the government should build and operate
drydocSs, repair shops and coaling sta
tions along the canal, Secretary Slim
son urges the opportunity be offered for
the sale of coal and other supplies by
private persons.
Secretary Stimson takes a stand with
his predecessors, Root, Taft, Wright and
in favor of system of Sc
lection in making army promotions in
stead of distinct reliance upon the rule
OF seniority. He notes distinct inn
in the personnel but declares
that there is much dead wood in the
army and many backward tendencies,
The army posts as at present located
are declared to be wholly unfit and to
lead to great extravaganza. They We're
in many cases located with
reference to possible Indian troubles and
few of them are in positions suited to
meet the strategic needs of national
action or defense, The average number
of companies to each Of the 449 posts
is only nine.
"In short" says the secretary, Eve
have scattered our army over the eoun-
try as if it were merely groups of
local constabulary instead of nation
al organization. The result, is an army
which is extraordinarily expensive to
and one whose efficiency for
the main purpose of its existence has
been nullifed so far as geographical To-