The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-06

construction for 1914 are $4,000. 900
less than for 1913.
The president then explained at
some length the national reserve as
sociation system recommended by the
monetary commission and urged con-
gress to examine the pla4l impartially
from all standpoints and then to adopt
some plan which will secure the bene-
fits desired
Concerning the tariff he had little to
say in view of the fact that q new
congress has been elected on a plat
form of tariff for revenue only.
Army Reorganization.
Our small army now consists Of
SO. 800 men, excluding tt 5000 Philip
pine scouts. Leaving out of consid-
Grafton the coast artillery force.
whose position is fixed in our various
seacoast defenses. and the present
garisons of our various insular pos
sessions, we have today within the
continental United States a mobile
army of only about 35 900 men. This
little force must be still further
drawn upon to supply the new garri-
sons for the great naval base which
is being established at Pearl Harbor,
tect the locks now rapidly approach
Ing completion at Panama. The
forces remaining in the United States
are now scattered in nearly fifty
posts, situated for a variety of his
torical reasons in twenty-four states.
These posts contain only fractions of
regiments, averaging less than 700
men each. In time Of peace 1t has
70 Cd fnfe
ter these units separately by a geo
graphical organization. In other
words, our army in time of peace has
never been united organization but
merely scattered groups of compa-
MES, battalions and regiments, and
the first task in time of war has been
to create out of these scattered units
an army fit for effective teamwork
and cooperation.
To the task of meeting these pat
ent defects. the war department has
been addressing itself during the past
year. A comprehensive plan of re-
organization was prepared by the
war colle.e division of the general
staff. This plan was thoroughly dis
cussed last SKINNER at a series of
open conferences held by the secre-
tary of war and attended by repre-
sentatives from all branches of the
army and from congress. In printed
form It has been distributed to mem
bers of congress and throughout the
army and the national guard, and
widely through institutions Of learn
ing and elsewhere In the United
States. In it, for the first time, we
have a tentative chart for future
progress.
Under the influence of this study
definite and effective steps have
been taken toward army reorganiza-
ton so far as such reorganization
lies within the executive power.
Hitherto there has been no difference
of policy IN the treatment of the or
ganization of our foreign garrisons
from those of troops within the Unit
ed States. The difference of situa-
ton is vital and the foreign garrison
should be prepared to defend itself
at an instant's notice against a foe
who may command the sea. Unlike
the troops in the UEited States, 1t /
can not count upon reinforcements |
or recruitment II is an outpost, |
upon which will fall the bruft of the |
first attack in case of war. The his
torical policy of the United States of !
carrying its regiments during time of
peace at half strength has no appli- |
cation to our foreign garrisons. Dur |
ing the past year this defect has |
been remedied as to the Philippines !
garrison. The former garrison of II |
reduced regiments has been replaced !
by a garrison of six regiments at full !
strength, giving fully the same num-
Der of rif1emen at an estimated |
economy in cost OF maintenance of !
over $1,000.000 per year. This garri- |
son Is to be permanent. It's regimen |
tai units, instead of being transferred /
periodically back and forth from the |
United States, will remain in the !
islands. The officers and men com
posing these units will, however !
serve a regular tropical detail as |
usual, thus involving no greater hard |
ship upon the personnel and greatly |
increasing the effectiveness of the |
garrison. A similar policy is pro-
posed for the Hawaiian and Panama |
garrisons as fast as the barracks for |
them are completed. 1 strongly urge |
upon congress that the necessary ap- |
preparations for this purpose should |
be promptly made. 1t is, in my opin-
ion, of first importance that these !
national outposts, upon which a sue
cessful home defense will, primarily, |
depend, should be finished and placed |
in effective condition at the earliest |
possible day.
The Home Army.
simultaneously with the foregoing |
steps the war department has been |
proceeding with the reorganization |
OF the army at home. The formerly |
disassociated units are being united |
into a tactical organization Of three