Bisbee daily review., 1913-12-11
NATION MUST BE READY
 IN CASE OF WAR
Continued or Page D

| mit the department when it IS Eatls- | fled as to the proficiency of the sol. ! dier to honorably discharge him with
 no other obligation on his part, as ! far as the balance of his enlistment i is concerned. except to return to the l colcrs in ease of actual war. The ' hreyity of my allusion to this sub ! iect in this report is not because Of i it's slight importance, the fact being
 that l think it of the very greatest ! importance, but because the details will have to be worked out after the
 most careful consideration by Con. gress.
 Commenting the work of the gen
 eral stan, the Army War College and officers, generally. for tEeir establish
 ment of a definite national military
 policy and the encouragement of mil.
 itary training, the Secretary says:
 iAs a peaceful ant unmilitary peo-
 pie expressed in the settlement and
 upbuild.ng of our vast territory. and
 in the development of the wonderful
 resources with which it abounds, we
 are but dimiy impressed with the
 fact that just as agriculture and com
 merce are the foundations of our
 great national prosperity, so with
 equal truth our military and navy are its bulwark and defense. While
 l believe there is a worldwide and growing sentiment for the settlement without bloodshed of all disputes be- tween nations. just as even now there is provision of law for such
 ;ettlement of difficulties between IF. !iyiduals, I recognize the fact that
 time has not yet come when a nation can wisely disarm or slacken its efforts for preparedness in case of war. The Army is not a luxury 1t is public necessity. A nation that is opulent. enterprising. and un armed, as of old, still invites aggres. sion if not disaster. Speaking for that element Of the national forces which comes under the control of this de- partment, l hope to see in time of peace a growing sentiment Of in. creased pride in our Army that will make the uniform of officer and eu- listed man respected always and everywhere, and not an object of cll- riosity or invidious discrimination.
 The Mexican border patrol the Secretary discussed at some length
 At the date of the last annual re. port there were on duty in connec. ton with the patrol of the Mexican border approximately. 75f officers and enlisted men. The present strength IS atout the same, but largely com posed of different organizations.
 An extensive patrol has been con tinuously maintained by these trocrs from the Gulf Of Mexico to Sasabe. 90 miles west Of NOgaies, Ariz. distance, following the wiudings Of the frontier, of some l,6GD miles. Throughout this stretch of territory our troops have protected the borser from incursiOns by individuals ca small raiding parties from Mexico, ] have been continually on the alert to prevent violations or the neutral . ity laws, and have acted in conjunc- tion with the civil authorities to pre- vent illegal importations Of arms and ammunition into Mexico in violation cf the Presidents proclamation of 1 March 14, 1912.
 The duty of OUT troops at border ] towns during conflicts between the 1 two contending Mexican factions was 1 of a most trying nature, and the con- 1 dlct of the troops under the circCE- . stances and the exercise of good ! judgment and seIf-rnssraint on the | part of commanding officers, are high ly cre5itable"
 There were 9,tS9, vacancies in the | enlisted strength of the regular army | at the end of the iast fiscal year | when its actual strength was 79,9S6. i and the assertions numbered 4.451. | which was 4.15 per cent Of the who,e number of enlistments. Though lsrs- | CT than the percentage for the three preceding years it was yet smaller I tan the percentage for any other year SAntH 4tV1- lAt DEtltAe Ae1Ad ! that a close and sympathetic rela- tionship between the cfHcers and | men will surely tend to lessen de- se.tion and he is personally devotins as much of his time as he can to the enlisted men-literaiiy the back bone of the Army and all that con oerns him.
 The joint encsmpments of the army end College students were highly successful It is said that they foster a patriotic spirit and spread among the citizens more thorough knowledge of military his tcry. policy ani needs. all necessary to complete education of wei equipped citizen in order that be nay himself form correct opinions CT military topics.
 Mr. Garrison recommends that m justice to the hundreds of eager boys who cannot get appointments row. West Point should be opened ! in the widest competiticn 50 that any s,or may take the examinations wi'E .t z, ,.astifsiona thai Sftnf candtda if