Bisbee daily review., 1912-10-30
gen. WOOD SAYS
ARMY UNREADY
Status of the Military Forces
of United States Not of
the Best Now Says
Expert
RESERVE is NEEDED

Ell PASo. Oct 2s.-~we talk about
licking England twice and that we
could go out and do L again. We are
not ready TO lick any body" That is
how General Leonard Wood, chief OF
stan of the United States army last
night summed mp the present status
OF the United States army. General
Wood made his address at a ban
quet rendered in his honor at the
Hotel Sheldon.
Cavalry for Fort Bliss.
We plan 10 keep regiment OF
cavalry at Fort Bliss permanently, -
said General Wood in the first of his
speech. This viii be done at any
rate. II is quite necessary for you
10 help us. We want 10 make this a
regimental post and possibly a larger
one. but we will need your assistance
with your congressman. There are
now no funds available for an en-
largement. The war department has
about ST. 600 left for an barracks to
be built in the army and the best we
can do now is TO erect temporary
quarters
We are now trying TO establish
the army on the most economical
and efficient basis. The present plan
is TO divide il into three main groups
one on the Pacific coast. one on
the Mississippi That ION the Pacific
coast would be stationed in three
departments. the first near Vancouv-
er. The second at San Francisco and
the third near San Diego. On the
Atlantic coast the main divisions
would be at New York. Chattanooga
and San Antonio. There would be a
few posts maintained In the west. At
present IS per cent Of the army is
stationed in q country where there
are only thirteen people to the square
mile. This is mostly in the old In.
dian country and was brought about
/ by the war on the Indians. The
cause for the pests being located
where they are has Jassed away La
addition 10 these stations named,
/ there will be q post al FL Paso and
Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
What we now need is a reserve
Along this line we are taking up the
matter OF lettering the national
guard by sending TO it regular army
| officers to give instruction In :he
regular army We are trying to limit
the time of service. This is being
I done so, ,.,:;t,,:
done so that when a man becomes
an Efficient soldier he can be put on
| the reserve list The old idea OF
| keeping n man in the army as long
I as possible only mssSes a large ex
pense without increasing the eff
( cieneg of the army. We keep q man
I in the army for thirty years and then
/ retire him on pay that is equal to
T that OF four recruits We want "a
; keep the nOn-commissioned officers
/ but, if a man has heen in the ser
[ vice thirty years and has not riser
from the rank of a s!Cn-commissioreC
/ Officer, it Is far better 10 have new
I recruits IN. Another plan TO hell
Z build up a reseT-e force is TO have
4 the graduates of military institutes
| enter the army as officers. Those
( who we're recommended by the mill
! tary instructors of the institute!
| would be given a commission for one
/ year and then discharged with a Ger
I tifCate 20 command volunteer or
| CARNATIONS. The building up Of al
| efficient reserve Is the most import
! ant thing that now con'ronts us. Per
, sonaliy I should like to see universe
! service established ir this country
/ established on the lines OF European
countries.