The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-12-12

1CS6 Iuttu lOI 1O1O.
The president then explained at
some length the national reserve as
ISOLATION system recommended by the
monetary commission and urged con-
gress to examine the plan impart1ally
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 new
congress has been elected on a plat
form of tariff for revenue only. .
Army Reorganization.
Our small army now consists Of
$4,000 men, excluding the 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 mobile
army of only about $4,000 men. This
little force must be still further
drawn upon to supply the new garrl-
sons for the great naval base which
is being established at Pearl Harbor,
in the Hawaiian islands, and to pro-
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 variety of his
torical reasons in twenty-four states.
These posts contain only fractions OF
regiments, averaging less than 7OO
men each. In time Of peace 1t has
been our historical policy to admins
ter these units separately by geo.
graphical organization. In other
words, our army in time of peace has
never been a 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 collie e division Of the general
staff This plan was thoroughly dis
cussed last summer 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 foe
who may command the sea. Unlike
the troops in the United States, II
can not count upon reinforcements
or recruitment 1t is an outpost
upon which will fall the brunt of the
first attack in case of war. The his
torical policy of the United States Of
carrying it's 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 1:
reduced regiments has been replaced
by garrison of six regiments at full
strength. giving fully the same mum
Der of rifemen at an estimated
economy in cost of maintenance O
over $1,O00,O0O per year. This garri
son Is to be permanent. It's regimen
tai units, instead of being transferred
periodically back and forth from thu
United States, will remain in tn
islands. The officers and men com
posing these units will, however
serve a regular tropical detail a
usual, thus involving no greater hard
ship upon the personnel and great,
increasing the effectiveness Of tn
; garrison. A similar policy Is Pre-
posed for the Hawaiian and Panam
garrisons as fast as the barracks 70
them are completed. l strongly urg
upon congress that the necessary az
[ propriations for this purpose shoul
| be promptly made. It is. in my opir
ion, of first importance that thes
national outposts, upon which sue
[ cessful home defense will, primarily
I depend, should be finished and place
, in effective condition at the earlles
l possible day.
= The Homo Army.
, simultaneously with the foregoin
! steps the war department has bee
+ proceeding with the reorganizatio
( of the army at home The formerl
, disassociated units are being unite
} into tactical organization Of thre