The Washington herald., 1913-09-16
CITIzENSOLDIERY
GARRISONSPLAN
War Secretary Would Form
Reserve Trained to Meet
Any Emergency.
CONGRESS MAY NDORSE
Senate and House Military Affairs
Committees to Consider Army
Legislation.

To lay the foundation for the building
up in the United States of a great re-
serve of citizens trained in the military
arts will be the chief and immediate pur-
pose of Secretary of War Garrison.
The Secretary began on this task yes
terday by announcing the general feat
ures of his plan Immediately upon his
return to Washington after his six weeks
trip of inspection OF the army posts in
all but the Northern and New England
States.
The Secretary believes that the people
of the United States, as well as the
government, face the necessity of choos-
ing between two alternatives-a large
standing army or the creation of a re-
serve force of trained men, who shall
be competent to do their duty as soldiers
in case their country is involved in a
war with another nation.
Reserve Strongly Favored.
Secretary Garrison does not believe in
a largo standing army, but he does be-
Iicve most enthusiastically and en-
phatically in building up a reserve. After
his trip around the country the Sec
retary believes also that that is what
not only the army officers, but enlighten-
ed American citizens believe in. His i'm
mediate object now is to conduct cam
paiSn of education on the subject which
will convince the country that If the
United States is to be properly prepared
to defend itself in case Of a military
emergency, it must bring into being
trained reserve.
The Secretary will begin at once upon
his task OF securing the cooperation Of
Congress. He will. at the earliest op-
portunity confer with Representative
Hay and Senator Chamberlain, chairman
of the House and Senate Committees
on Military Affairs, respectively. and lay
before them the situation as he sees II.
The Secretary is confident that Congress
will gladly cooperate with the War De-
partment and the army, once the facts
of the situation are properly understood.
Secretary Wants SuEgesIiOns.
Mr. Garrison made it plain yesterday
that he is welded 10 no particular
scheme. nor has he any obstructive pride
of fatherhoOd i'll the general plan which
he has concluded is the best now in sight
He said he would welcome notifications
and suggestions that would better ac-
Cumplsh the desired results.
The aim of the Secretary is to get into
the army the very best young men Of
the country. train them as rapidly as
possible and then turn them back into
civil life, where they are to remain for
d brief period, subject to a call 10 arms
only in case of a war. The Secretary IA
vCrs making an enlistment contract
cover a period OF three years after his
actual service with troops is over. To
encourage the enlistment of young men
Who would appreciate the advantages OF
military training. but who do not care
to give up three or four years to army
life, the Secretary would make II posi-
BILE for enlisted men to be graduated
from the service just as fast as they
demonstrate their proficiency.
That is, by examination. he would per
NIT those young men who in twelve,
eighteen. or twenty-four months could
prove they had learned the duties Of a
soldier. TO receive their honorable dis
charge al once. Such a policy. the Secre-
laTy believes. would encourage Industry
and zeal upon the part OF the enlisted
men as merit would then be rewarded
by release from service with troops. II
Is purpOsed. Of course. to hold on the
reserve list such men as are discharged
for proficiency before the three years
period is up. In few years. IL is eSti-
mated, a reserve OF capable. trained men
" ould be built up, aggregatiHg thou
sands.