Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-05-04
iutant generals Of the states informed
of their whereabouts


of their Whereabouts.
There is much discussion here as to
who will be president when Diaz retres
which is now locked upon as q GER
tainly following either successful peace
negotiations or more successes IN the
rebel campaign.
The constitution provides that Vice
President Corral shall succeed, but he
is in Europe Foreign Minister De
La Barra would be next, but the con-
stitution also requires that the presl-
dent must be of Mexican parentage
and De La Barra's father was Chilean.
In the same manner Limantour, Creei
and De Hesa are eliminated. The
next choice falls OF General Reyes, who
is full bIooded Mexican and many
think he stands a good chance TO be
come chief executive.
Washington, d c., May An the
first official statement Of the results o!
the Mobilization of troops in Texas.
written exclusively for the United
Press today by the head OF the army,
the strength and the weakness Of the
organization, as revealed AT San An
tonic, are clearly defined.
Copyrighted 1911 by the United
States Press Association.
By MAJOR GENERAL LEONARD WOOD,
CHIEF OF STAFF. Z. 5. 4.
The mobilization at San Antonio
shows that the regular troops are ready
TO leave their garri5ons equipped for
the field on very short notice.
The 10th Infantry at Fl. Benjamin
Harrison was aboard the train Is hours
after receiving It's orders. Where there
was great de.ay in getting aboard trains
it vas due to the inability OF the rail,
roads to supply transportation The
Il Infantry from FIT. Mcpherson, Ga,
was in camp and under canyas al san
Antonio /; and half days alter receiv-
ing its orders, and all the troops sent
to San Antonio we're under canvas at
that place ten days after orders were
issued from the War Department. All
the regular army in the Unitcl States
could have been Iaobilized in the same
period.
As the infantry, cavalry. aud artil-
lery reached San Antonio, they were
organized into brigades, which together
with the auxiliary troops were com
bined into division. Commander,
had to be selected for the division and
brigades, and they in turn had t. select
their stats.
These organizations and staffs were
working together for the first time az
such. This should not be. Brigades
and divisions should be part of peace
time organizations.
As thus organized the division was at
about one half war strength; that is,
the organizations were at peace strength.
Approximately 900 mcn were needed
to complete the division. Had these
men been provided under our system,
they would have been raw recruits. and
would have required many weeks Of
training before being lit for campaign
In foreign countries this increment OF
men is obtained from organized re
serves, which are ABSOLUTELY y essential
u insure speedy change from n peace
TO war footing.
This total lack OF reserves Is the
greatest weakness Of our system, illus.
trated by our mobilization in Texas
Should We have to mobilize large
force. many weeks would elapS" hciorr
our organizations could take the field
at full strength. Public opinion pro
baby would not stand for this delay.
The result would be organizations tax
ing the field At greatly reduced strength
or, if at increased strength, with large
numbers OF men poorly instructed III
their duties and lutte fitted to endure
the exposure of campaign.
We can organize reserve III this
country If We make our eulstmcnts
in the regular army and in the militia
for 10 years, two or three years service
wiih the colors, aud the remaining
seven CT eight years absolutely free
of all obligations TO come TO the colorS
except in case Of war, free from riot
duty, and local state duty, aud to
come to maneuverS every other year
for a period OF eight days. Now we
are losing 10000 or 10000 year
from the mill ia and regular army
combined. about third Of each ser
vice being roenIistments.
If ne give these men 81 30 month,
or whatever Congress might think wise,
We should accumulate $50, 900 men
in eight years These would be IN.
structed men, who have passed