Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-12-16
ARMY NOT A LUXURY
BUT A PUBLIC
NECESSITY
GARRISON
SAYS
Secretary Of War in Annual
Report Declares Time Has
Not Come to Slaoken min
tary Vigilance.
GREATER RESERVE Is
VITALITY NEEDED
Better Trained Militia An
other Requisite to National
Safety; Guardsmen Poor
Marksmen.

Marksmen.
l Washington. Dee. i6.--Seoretary
I Garrisons first annual report 90 che
president. as head of the war depart
I mcnt. makes no recommendations
Tor the generally expected re-ar-
rangement of army posts 60 distrib-
ute troops Tn mobile units. The Sec
/ Rotary says that other things of Inn
mediate Importance, particularly an
adequate supply Of field artillery
will postpone his recommendation
20 congress. but In the meantime the
troops VIII be- garrisoned IN aa prac-
teal a manner for mobilization as is
possible.
Mr.. Garrison discusses the militia
Lat some length. he says in part;
"Thc national importance ~ a re-
serve system for the organized mtli-
tin can not be- questioned. The mini
mum strength at which militia or
! CARNATIONS are maintained tn time
Of peace VIII render necessary "a great
and immediate increase in "a national
emergency. and this fact demands
the presence of a system OF reserves
from which trained mon may be se-
cured for this Increase. without
some such system, not only will such
Increase be rendered exceedingly dif-
ficuit. but even when accomplished
the efficiency OF the organizations
will have been reduced 10 a minimum
| by the introduction OF an unframed
element double In number tho trained
personnel
Proper organization ms required
by law Is absolutely necessary II the
organized militia is 40 be counted on
as dependable military federal as
set In time of national need, and the
organization existing az such in name
only will be required Go complete
their component elcmcpts or lore
federal recognition OF their character
as such organizations
"Whu, there has been "a small dee
crease IN officers ana enlisted men
/ in the organized militia during the
past year, this decrease has occurred,
/ IN great part. as on. result OF tho
elimination of organizations found
hopelessly Inefficient and IS comprn-
stated FOR by an increase In general
deficiency. ID is regretted that ln tar
get practice the reports show hut
slight progress during the year This
fact is the more serious as rifle prac-
| tice o. recognized as one of the most
vital elements IN the training of the
Infantry soldier Tho present tend
ency 10 develop rifle teams, COM
posed mostly OF commissioned oih-
GERS, az the expense OF target prac-
tice for the enlisted man, is opposed
10 the federal policy In this matter
and should be- discontinued
Discussing the army reserve tho
J secretary says:
"The adiutant general reports that
approximately $1,000 men enlisted in
tho army between November :, 1919
and August 81. 1918. ana Of this
number 81 made application 70 be
furloughCd othc reserve IA cXpira-
ton Of three years service. and that
on the date last named the reserve
consisted ~ eight men.
II found from personal trip 70
most OF the army posts una from iU
terviewing as any OF the officers ant
men as ! could that the men wor,
dissatisfied with the present enlist
{ ment contract 10 does not seen
worth while to discuss whether thci
dissatisfaction is well founded nr not
since % exists, and DO wc are 90 bu.'
mp "a reserve wc must devise SOM,
method of doing 500 That SIC mus
build up q reserve seems 90 boz th'
consensus 81 opinion, ana 1 under
stand that congress is favorable CO.
reserve. one trouble with tho pros
cnt law undoubtedly is that It. doe.
not offer us great financial induce
mcnt Zoo tho man WHO enlists so ga
Go pass into the reserve us it does O.
tho one who does not 500 enlist. par
ticularly during the first six years n
hls scryiro From IA, most careful
consideration thar I have been able
SEQ give this subject have roaehrt
the conclusion that 49,, win boz ablo @.
get reserve. Do one is obtuinanlc a
luu hy "a provision Of law that SSH
permit the department when h u
satisfied as 90 the proficiency of the
soldier 90 houoFubly Discharge him
with mo- other obligation ON hts part
ns Gar ag the balance of hls enlistment
is concerned, except Gao return go an,
culors BOZ case of actual war The
broyity of my alluslun 90 this sub
ioct ln this report is not because 90
it8 slight Impotence. tho fact bolnl
that ! think "a ot tho very creates
Importance. but because thc retail
VIII have 90 De- worked uui after ih'
most careful consideration boy con
vrcss"
Commenting the work of the gen
oral star. the army war college au,
officers generally for their establish
ment of definite national miltnr
Ipullcy and thc encouragement of mil
imH training. thc secretary ays
"As "a peaceful ana unmllitary Teo
ple cusrosscd it the settlement Goa,
lupbuilding of our vast territory an,
in mo development of tho wonderful
resources with which 81 abounds. Va,
are hut dimly impressed with IA,
fnci ihai iust ns aariculmrc and com
MERGE are Tho foundations of ou
Igreat national prosperity SO VIII