The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-01-02
ARMY NOT READY
FOR A BIG WAR
Would Take Halt Century 10 Gel
Guns and Ammunition.
SECRETARY STIMSORS REPORT


the Natives of Porto Ricc-Recom-
nendations as to Operation of the
Panama Canal.
Secretary Of War Stimson in his an
nual report says the army is unneceS-
sarily expensive and that it is unpre
pared for war with first class power.
He attributes this largely to the fact
that the army is scattered over the
country in too many posts and to
lack of reserves. The army on the
peace footing habitually maintained.
with miniature companies and troops.
he characterizes as ineffective for any
serious war service.
AS to the appropriateness Of the army
in artillery and ammunition. Secretary
Stimson says that ''at the present rate
Of appropriation it is estimated that it
would take more than fifty years to Sc
cure reasonable supply of field artil-
lery guns. carriages and ammunition
that would be necessary in the event
of war
The secretary says that at a conserv-
ative estimate the expense per effective
rifieman in the United States army is
between two and five times as much
as any first class power on the con
tinent of Europe This comparison is
made after excluding from considera-
ton the higher pay and better sub
sistence that American soldiers receive.
This fact is given as an illustration of
the extravaganza of the existing sys-
tenn of wide distribution of the army.
Scattered Army Posts
The army posts as at present located
are said to be wholly unfit and to lead
to great extravaganza. They were
originally located in many cases with
reference TO possible Indian troubles.
and few of them are in positions suit
ed to meet the strategic needs of ma
tional action or defense. The average
number of companies to each of the
forty-nine posts is only nine.
Secretary Stimson takes a stand
with his predecessors. Root. Taft.
Wright and Dickinson. in favor of a
system of selection in making army
promotions instead of complete reli-
ance on the rule of seniority He notes
a distinct Improvement in the per-
sonnet. but says there is much dead
wood in the army and many backward
tendencies. The consolidation of the
quartermaster's. subsistence and pay
departments into one general supply
corps is suggested. with the assertion
that the immediate result will be the
saving of 100000 annually.
AS to the Colonies.
Mr.. StimsOn urges that the right of
American citizenship be granted to the
natives of Porto Rico. 1t is asserted
that neither in the United States or
in Porto Rico is there any contempla-
ton of statehood as an ultimate form
of government in the island
Congress is urged to express its
wishes regarding the disposal Of the
unoccupied friar lands in the Philip
pines. to increase the limit of indebt-
edness which may he incurred by the
Philippine government for public
works from S5.G0O.OOO to S150O0,O0O.
to pass a Philippine naturalization law
and to grant pensions to Americans
who have served ten years in the is
lands.
Secretary Stimson recommends that
the permanent organization to operate
the Panama canal be established on
Il strictly business basis and not with
the idea of uplifting or governing
people The question of
tolls. he believes, should be left to the
determination Of the president. Amer
lean shipping should be granted prac-
tically free use of the canal. The in
terstate commerce commission should
extend its Jurisdiction over the new
route through the wa
terway and regulate rates. thus pre-
venting the great railway interests
from exercising control
WAPI s Strip FOR Alto oil