Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-07-30

ONeepluS CndHSeS IN the MAKEUP
of the United States army, which are
of special interest to Oahu, are EN-
bodied in the report of the General
STAFF. II carried out, the scheme will
include not only force of 10000 men
for Hawaii, as announced some months
ago, but also a large reserve force
composed OF soldiers who have serv,
ed their time with the colors, and
who will then be encouraged to re-
main in the Territory as Federal re
servists.
The General STAFF has completed its
plans for an entire reorganization and
increase of this country's military es-
adjustment, work upon which il
has been engaged ever since it was
founded some months ago. Although
the report containing these plans is
now in type, it will probably not be
presented to Congress at this session,
owing to the fact that members OF
the Senate and House Committees on
Military Affairs desire ample time in
which to consider all the provisions
recommended by the General Staff.
Among those most active in the con.
ferences on these plans are Senator
Root of New York, former Secretary
of War, and Senator DUPONT, of Della
ware. Chairman of the Senate Com
mittee on Military Affairs.
The plan for the reorganization of
the army, as drawn up by the Cen
eral STAFF, rs declared by experts to
be the most important and compre-
hensive piece of constructive work
along these lines ever performed in
this country. It is also regarded as
marking the first schematic military
policy yet drawn up for the land
forces of the United States. While
some of its details have been en-
bodied in Congressional bills or let
tiers of the Secretary of War, the re-
port has never yet been made public
in its entirety.
Be Always Prepared.
The great object sought to be gain
ed is the organization of the army on
footing of constant readiness for
war, with a permanent expeditionary
force always ready for instant service.
In order to insure this result, it is re-
commended that the forces. liable for
duty anywhere be increased about
seven times.
In the regular army the highest pro-
posed unit of organization is raised
and the mobile branches, which in
clude all arms except the coast artil-
lery, are divided into two parts, the
foreign and the domestic. The do
nestle service is to be kept perman-
emily in continentals United States
while the foreign service is to be
sent to American territory elsewhere.
to remain, as an organization, out
side of this country for good.
In additional to proposal making
for the liberalization, within Consti-
tutional limits, of the present National
State Guard. the General Staff also
asks for the creation of two new types
of American soldier; namely, the fed
eral reservist and the federal volun-
teer, the latter to be recruited in time
of peace for war service, and held re-
sponsible only TO the central govern
ment.
The General Staff also recommends
that the present regular army be re.
lieved of police duties in Alaska, and
suggests that peace be preserved in
that district by a federal constabulary
to be legislated into existence by Con-
gress. If this suggestion becomes
law, the nited States will have, for
the first time in its history. police
force. owing its authority directly to
the federal government.
In outlining the Importance of this
reorganization, the General Staff
points out that the land forces of the
United States are now in no condition
to face the armies of a first-class
power, and maintains that the neces-
sity for this country so to prepare it.
self is immediate and imperative.
whatever our military institutions
may be- says the report, we must
recognize the fundamental fact that
victory is the reward of superior
force, that modern wars are short and
decisive, and that trained armies can
alone defeat trained armies.
Progress Since Spanish War.
The report refers to the "close
contact recently established" between
great nations and the races" con-
tact which tends to become contin-
ually closer, due to the increase OF
population and national needs The
report then goes on to say: with
this close contact thus SO recently es-
tablished comes a competition, com
merciaI, national and racial, whose
ultimate seriousness current events
already enable us to gauge. Since our
conflict with Spain in 1898 practically
all of the principal nations of the
earth have either been actively en-
gagged in war or else brought to the
verge of actual war The evidence is
clear that the nations and races cap
able of maintaining and protecting
themselves are the only ones who can
flourish in this world competition.
In the light of present
day conditions it is estimated that at
the outbreak of war with first class
power we should be capable of mobil
izing at once in the United States an
effective force of 100000 mobile
troops and $4,000 Coast Artillery; that
this is the minimum number of first.
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