Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-18
LACKS ADEQUATE RESERVE
Chief of Staff Outlines Remedial
Measures in Annual Report.
URGES PROPER TACTICAL UNITS
Favors Consolidation of Departments,
But Not as Proposed in Bill
Now Pending.


Gen LGonard Wood. chief of staff. Z. s.
A., in his annual report. lis one of an
preparedn ess for war with any first-class
power. tn is unpreparedness is principa l.
~ in the Noble army. and is due to ladk
of any adequate provisions to bring the
present ora imitation up to full war
strength, either regular or militia, and Il,
our failure to assemble an adequate re.
serve of men Or war materi |. especially
IN field artillery guns and ammunition.
The existing want of field artillery
Guns, carriages AND ammunition consti-
tutss a grave mena.'e to the public safety
in case of war. Ordinary prudence would
seem 10 dictate that the appropriations.
especially those for fh,ld artillery guns,
carriages and ammunition, should be
very greatly increased Once a state OF
war exists with first-claNs power there
will be no opportunity to buy the ma.
terial abroad or time to manufacture il
at home, even if all available plants in
this country were running at maximum
capacity, without such delay as would be
fatal to our hopes of success This short
age of field artillery material is the most
serious feature Of the present military
situation. and one which should be imme-
diately corrected. 1t constitutes a source
of grave danger.
Will Be Put Up to Congress.
The question of a propstrly organized
and we'll balanced army, adequate to NEE.
the existing needs in the United States in
time of peace, and the organi walton Of a
system of reserves which will permit its
expansion to full strength in TIME of war,
has been under consideration by the gen.
eral staff for some time, with fbe view
10 the preparation of definite project
which, when it shall have received the
approval of the Secretary of War and the
President, will be presented to Congress
for ITS consideration. This project will
embrace not only the mobile army and
the Coast Artillery. but will include what
Is deemed to be proper organization for
the various sta6 corps.
There is urgent need Of organizing
proper tactical units and commands and
the concentration of such commands near
the centers of population and supply Such
concentration will result in great economy
or administration and marked Improve
ment In the efficiency OF both officeys and
men. 1t is recommended that six divi-
sions and a cavalry division with The
necessary auxiliary troops. be organizAi.
one division in the Philippines. one dia-
tributed between Hawaii and the Canal
Zone. and four divisions and one cavalry
division in the United States. and that
One OF the first steps which should be
taken Is the Encouragement of the larger
garrisons with view to the formation
OF proper tactical units. Brigades of
cavalry and infantry should be assembled
wherever practicable. in order that officers
may have some opportunity to handle
larger units than is at present possible
Opposes Proposed Consolidation.
While agreeing that the adjutant sener-
ais and the Inspector generals depart
ments should be consolidated with the
General STAFF Corps, and that the quar-
termasters'. subsistence and pay depart
ments should be consolidated, Gen. Wood
says he is convinced the consolidation,
should not be made in the manner pro-
posed in the bill now before Congress.
Serious injury. he says, would result
from the consolidation of the adjutant
generals and inspector generals depart
ments with the general staff If carried
out In the way proposed In the pending
bill. while such consultations, IL properly
made, he believes. would increase the
efficiency and decrease the expense of the
army. The principles on which the gen.
eraI staff is founded, and on which it's
usefulness principally depends, he says,
would be destroyed. and the present de-
tail system, the maintenance of which Is
vital to the army, would be seriously
menaced-
Arguing that the detail system was
one Of the essential features Of the Gen.
eral Staff Corps. he warns against the
destruction Of that system in any legis-
lation for the consolidation of the three
Offices. and says care should be take:. to
prevent any individual number Of in
dividuals from becoming permanent
members OF that corps.
For Fertilization Of Canal.
Taking up the subject of short-term
enlistments, with short period Of serv-
Ice IN reserve, Gen. Wood strongly ad-
vocates IL and incidentally scouts the
statement often made that the men would
not return to the colors In time Of war.
and characterizes the statement as ''an
unwarrantable reflection on the patriot
ism Of men who have served with the
colors and returned to civil life
The soldiers of the mobile army receive
too little instruction under arms, says
Cen Wood. and efforts are now being
made to correct the conditions RESPONSE
bic for this evil.
Taking up the subject of garrisoning
the Panama canal forts Gen. Wood de-
Clares the time is at hand when II is
most necessary to provide an adequate
garrison for It's protection, and to insure
this purpose, according to the chief of
staff would be twelve companies Of Coast
Artillery troops, four regiments Of infan-
try at full strength, one battalion Of
field artillery, one squadron OF cavalry
aud certain auxiliary troops"
Although he submits no set argument
in favor Of the restoration of the canteen
to army posts. Gen. Wood says II is the
consensus of opinion in the army that 1t
should be re-established, and places him.
self on record as favoring il.