Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-09

greater strategic importance for the
protection of the entire Pacific coast
from attack than any of the positions
On that coast now so strongly forth
fed No naval enemy could make a
serious effective attack upon any por-
ton of the American Pacific coast, I'M
til it had first reduced the position at
Oahu. threatening its flank. Quarters
for the men who are to project the
great stalls, naval material, and sea
coast guns from falling into the hands
of land attackers should be pushed to
completion as rapidly as possible.
The tactical reorganization of the
army on the basis Of three infantry di-
visions. the report shows, has progress
ed as far as possible without congress
sional assistance in the way of provid-
ing for large, ample posts. and series
of conferences of the general officers
of the army has been planned for this
winter. AS a result, the time now nee
essaTy at the outbreak of war to organ
ize the regular army will be dispensed
with
1OUCAALS7 lll0 al III lV9'l We lON uluo
which congress has made a start in the
present appropriation bill, the secre-
tary said that the most serious defect
in he plan is that il creates too long a
period of service with the cOlors. The
experience of the United States and
that of European nations has shown
that the soldier can be adequately
D =. g.. (, IA IL.
less than three years. A shortening of
the period of training with the colors,
/ says the secretary, would greatly i'm
prove the character of the young men
who will come into the army, and in no
way diminish the effectiveness of their
training.
a strong plea is made for the pas
sage of the militia pay bill, now pend
ing, because the 100000 men now in
/ the national guard, eager and ambitious
4 to be of service in case of war, are
practically unavailable under present
conditions These men. the secretary
says, should not only be trained for
war in time Of peace and paid by the
national government, but it must be
possible TO transfer them Immediately
into the general military force and not
militia in time OF war. In connection
with the subject, the secretary also
( recommends the passage of the pending
volunteers bills which would not entail
a dollars expense upon the government
in this time or in the future until war
comes Attention is also directed again
to the great shortage in the supply of
field artillery, which cannot be purchas
ed abroad in time of war and requires
years to manufacture. Taking a les
son from the present great struggle in
the east, Secretary Stimson says: THE
amount which we have permitted to
accumulate would be insufficient for a
single engagement of the character OF
the engagements in either the Russo
Japanese or the present Balkan war"
Suggestions of the old controversy
between the executive and congress
over the construction of dams in navi
gable streams without compensation L
the government are contained in Ions
chapter of the report dealing with tbs
attempt of the war department to pro
tee such streams from private leopard
atoms. The secretary reiteTates hi.
views already laid before congress il
connection with the veto last session o.
the Coosa river dam bill, and he again
urges that existing law be amended 81
that the guarantee Of dam privileg.
be required to pay a reasonable sun
p to the government. the proceeds 10 b.
used for the development Of the streau
where the dam is located
The International Waterways com
, mission has completed its investigation
J Of the boundary waters between tn
; United States and Canada, and witt
the exception of the final report upol
T "a dam at the quite. of Lake Erie de