The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-12-17
PRESIDENT URGES
ARMY QUARTERS

pUuI VOuinIHO
In a message to congress ON the sixth,
he second scut by the President, spec.
ial attention is given TO the needs of
the Army, with reference to the sub
stantial increase in the strength Of the
Hawaiian garrison. The President
urges that appropriations be passed
now to provide accommodations on
oahu for the regiments to come and
that haste be made in the construction
OF buildings. In reference to Army
matters the message Of the President
says.
"Our small Army now consists of
$500 men, excluding the 5000 Philip.
pine scouts. Leaving out of considera.
tion the coast artillery force, whose
position is fixed in our various seacoast
defenses, and the present garrisons of
our various insular possessions, 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 garrisons for the great naval base
which is being established Mt Pearl
Harbor, in the Hawaiian Islands, and
to protect the locks now rapidly ap'
preaching completion at Panama. The
forces remaining in the United States
are now scattered in nearly fifty posts,
situated for variety of historical rea
sons in twenty.fonr States. These
posts contain only fractions of regi
ments, averaging less than 700 men
ench. In time of peace it has been
our historical policy to administer these
units separately by a geographical or
ganization. In other words, our Army
in time Of peace has never been a
united organization but merely scatter
ed groups of companies, 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.
Century's Lack Of Method.
''To the task of meeting these patent
defects, the war department has been
addressing itself during the past year.
For many years we had no officer or
division whose business it was to study
these problems and plan remedies for
these defects. With the establishment
of the general staff nine years ago a
body was created for this purpose. 1t
has, necessarily, required time to over
come, even in its own personnel, the
habits of mind engendered by century
of lack of method, but of late years
its work has become systematic and eff
fective, and it has recently been ad
dressing itself vigorously to these
problems.
GA comprehensive plan of Army re
organization was prepared by the wal
college division of the general staff
This plan was thoroughly discussed las
!, summer at series of open conferences
: held by the secretary of war and at
, tended by representatives from al
branches of the Army and from con
gress. In printed form it has beer
: distributed to members of congress ant
throughout the Army and the nationa
guard, and widely through institution
of learning and elsewhere in the Unite
, States. In it, for the first time, W
e have tentative chart for furtur
8 progress.
Full Strength Regiments.
"Unde. the influence of this stud
: definite and effective steps have bee
> taken toward Army reorganization 8
, far as such reorganization lies with
: has been no difference of policy in tn
treatment of the organization of on
y foreign garrisons from those of troop
: within the United States. The diffe'
' ence of situation is vital, and the TO
. cign garrison should be prepared to a
= fend itself at an instant's motto
iagainst foe who may command tn
Isea. Unlike the troops in the Unite
= YsI9an N
y Iments or recruitment. 1t is an on
n post, upon which will fan the brunt {
the first attack in case of war. I'll
Il historical policy of the United STATE
# of carrying its regiments during tin
= of peace at half strength has no appl
i cation to our foreign garrisUns.
n "'During the past year this defect hi
Jbeen remeiied as to the Philippine ga
IS rison. The FORMER garrison OF twelN
y reduced regiments has been replaced b
70 garrison of six regiments at flu
n strength, giving fully the same nun
It her of rifieInen at an estimated econom
J. in cost of maintenance of over 81 ,0OC
d 600 per year. This garrison IS to /
e permanent. Its regimeutal units, il
e stead of being transferred periodical
r, back and forth from the United State
70 VIII remain III lhr lnldHhps hC WI
N GERS and men composing these uni
t. viii, however, serve IT regular tropics
A. Eetail as usual, thus involving l
l. greater hardship upon the peTsonn
and greatly increasing the effsctiv
It ness of the garrison
vi Earliest Possible Day.
n 'IA similar policy is proposed for II
e Hawaiian and Panama <; PRISONS as fai
\; as the barracks for them are complete
a strongly urge upon congress- that III
le necessary appropriations for this pu
II pose should be promptly made. 1t !
T. in my opinion, of first importance thz
these national outposts, upon which
successful home defense will, primarii.
l. depend, should be finished and paced
.; effective condition at the earliest po
u sible day.
20 The Home Army.
!. simultaneously with the foregoiu
r. steps the war department has been pr
d cecding with the reorganization OF II