Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-08-09
.sTAFFs new PLANS.
Seek an Entire Reorganization
Of Uncle Sans Army.
Report Probably viii Not De Present
% to Congress At This Session -
Committees Desire Ample Time
70 Consider Provisions

Washington.--The general stan OF
the United States army has completed
its plans for an entire reorganization
and increase of this country's military
establishment work upon which II
has been busy over since IT was form
ed some years ago. Although the re-
port containing these plans Is now IN
type 1t probably will not be presented
to congress at this session. owing 10
the fact that members OF the senate
and house committees on military al
fairs desire ample time In which TO
consider all the provisions recon-
mended by the general stan Among
those most active in the conferences
on these plans are Senator Root OF
New York. formerly secretary OF war
and Senator Dupont Of Delaware.
chairman Of the senate committee on
military affairs.
Tho plan for the reorganization OF
the army as drawn up by the general
staff is declared by experts to be the
most important and comprehensive
piece of constructive work along these
lines ever performed in this country.
It Is also regarded as marking tne
first schematic military policy yet
drawn up for the land forces Of the
United States. While some Of Its de-
tails have been embodied in congress
sional bills or letters Of the secretary
Of war. the report has never been
made public In it's entirety.
The great object sought to be
gained is the organization OF the
army on a footing Of constant readl-
ness for war, with a permanent ex-
peditionary force always ready for In
slant service. In order to ensure this
result 1t Is recommended 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 domestice. The do
nestle service Is to be kept per
manently in continental United States,
while the foreign service Is to be sent
to American territory elsewhere, to
remain, as an organization. outside OF
this country for good.
In addition to proposal making for
the liberalization, within constitution
al limits Of the present national state
guard, the general staff also asks for
the creation Of two new types OF
American soldier; namely, the federal
reservist and the federal volunteer.
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 federal constabulary
to be legislated into existence by con-
gress. II this suggestion becomes
law, the United States will have, for
the first time in its history. a 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 hrst-class power, and
maintains that the necessity for this
country so to prepare itself is 1mme-
diate and imperative.
whatever our military institutions
may be- says the report. I'VE must
recognize the fundamental fact that
victory is reward OF superior force.
that modern wars are short and de-
cisive and that trained armies alone
can defeat trained armies" (