The Cairo bulletin., 1911-12-11
AMERICAN Army
"SPRiC IS PRACIICALLY iiI
UNPREPARED
Secretary Of War Stimson Makes
Annual Report 10
President Taft
RlFLEMAN'S EXPENSES GREAT
Would Have Rights Of Citizenship
Granted to. Porta
Ricans
RIFLEMAN'S EXPENSES GREAT

Washington, Dec. 10.--In his an
nual report to the President today
Secretary of War Stimson declared
that the contingency of war with a
first-class power would find the army
of the United States unprepared.
He attributed this largely to the
fact that the army was scattered
cut over the country" in too many
posts, and to a lack of reserves. The
army on the peace footing habit
ually maintained with miniature
companies and troops. he character
iZed as ineffective for any seriou'
wal service.
As to the unpreparedness of til,
army in artillery and ammunition
Secretary Stimson says that "at the
present rate of appropriation it is
estimated that it would take more
than fifty years to secure a reason
able supply Of field artillery guns,
carriages and ammunition that
would be necessary in the event of
war"
! Makes Strange Comparison
The report makes the somewhat
startling statement that at cor
seryatiye estimate the expense PEI
effective rifleman In the United
states Army is between two and five
times as much as any first-class
power on the continent of Europe
This comparison is made after ex-
cluding from consideration the high
or pay and better subsistence that
American soldiers receive. This fact
is stated as an illustration, Secretary
Stmson declares of the extrava-
Tance Of the existing system of wide
distribution of the army.
Dealing with insular affairs, the
Secretary 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 man without a. country
and Mr.. Stimson says that con-
tinued refusal to grant citizenship
to the islanders will "gravely wound
the sensibilities of this loyal people. -
The demand for citizenship of the
Porto Ricans is entirely dis-associat-
cd from any thought of statehood
and ii is asserted that neither in the
United States nor in Porto Rico ie
there any contemplation of statehood
as the ultimate form of government
in the island.
Wants Friar Matter Settled.
Congress is urged to express Its
wishes regarding the disposal of the
uloccupied Friar lands In the Phil
ippenes, to increase the limit of in
debtedness which may be incurred
by the Philippine government for
public works from $5,000,000 to
$15,000,000, to pass Philippine
naturalization law and to grant pen
sions to Americans who have served
ten years in the islands.
Secretary Stimson recommends
that the permanent organization tc
operate the Panama Canal be estab.
lished on strictly business basis and
not with the idea of uplifting d
governing a dependent people. The
question of tolls, he believes, shoult
be left to the determination of tn,
President. based upon acquired ex.
perience. American shipping shoul
be granted practically free use o.
the canal. The Interstate Commerce
Commission should extend its juris
diction over the new transcontinent
al route through the waterways ant
to regulate rates, thus preventing
the great railroad interests from ex
ercising control. While the Govern
ment should build and operate dry
docks, repair shops and coaling sta
tons along the canal, Secretary
Stimsons urges the opportunity b'
offered for the sale of coal and othe
supplies by private persons
Stands with Predecessors
Secretary Stimson takes stant
with his predecessors, Root, Taft
Wright and Dickinson, in favor 0
system of selection in making arm.
promotions instead of complete -
lance upon the rule of seniority
He notes distinct improvement II
the personnel but declares that Their
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