Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-13

THE FIGHTING STRENGTH Of
ticaiIy doubled as.soon as recruits
are available, and can be rushed
from the ma'nIand. For the time be-
ing, no more resimentaI organizations
are to be sent here, but every troop
and company is to be raised 70 war
strength, which will give almost twic:
as many sabres and rifles as are now
available.
This is the present plan Of the CHIEF
of staff Of the army, based on care
fuI study Of army conditions, and psr
sonaI conferences with 6rigadier Gen
eral Montgomery M. Macomb, depart
ment commander, who returned t.
Hawai- from Washington on the trans
port Sherman this morning, bringing
news Of great interest to service peo
pie and civilians as we'll. The plan o.
the general staff for re-organizatioE
of the land forces Of the United States
made public six months ago, conter
plated war strength organizations 70
Oahu, hut final decision to hurry re
cruits here was rot reached until thu
conference Of general officers Whie'
recently met In Washington, had fully
discussed the ways and means Of sue.
reorganization.
Also, the plan for Oahu s ultimat
military strength has been enlarge
so as to provide three infantry bri
gades instead of two for the perma
nent garrison This will make nine
regiments of infantry. almost one
third of 4he total infantry strength
of the army at present, and m"~
than one-third the number Of rifles
as all the regiments here will be on
war strength basis of $50 men to
company This infantry division vii
be reinforced by a full regiment o
cavalry and nine batteries of field az
tillery, while seacoast Notifications wi
be manned by at least ten companies
of coast artillery. A company of cn
gineers, a signal company, and propol
tionate sanitary troops will complet'
the army of Oahu, as noted in tE'
original plan.
The plan for reorganization of th'
army was not passed on by this con
terence of generals which | ATTENDED
in Washington" said General Ma
comb this morning as he stood OF
the deck of the Sherman and glimpset
with evident pleasure the familia'
landmarks Of Honolulu. "The plal
would have been carried out by th'
Secretary of War in any event, am
we were called to meet merely to dc
tCrmine the best way of accomplish
ing an end that all were agreed woult
'bcnefit the entire service. There wa:
one new feature of the general Staff
plan, added after the conference, how
ever and that was the formation of
fourth geographical department in con
tinental United States, the Southern
Department. This is a logical tactica
unit, as it includes the entire Mexican
frontier 1t is made up of a porti0l
of the present central division and
small part OF Arizona taken from tho
western division.
No more regiments or coast arti'
lcry companies will be sent here unit
there are quarters available. How
ever, the strength Of the force herr
will be almost doubled by bringing al
the organizations up to war fOotin'
as soon as recruits can he secured
This is an economical method of in
creasing the garrison, of Oahu. a:
there are plenty of officers here tC
lapdle the increased number of men
Carrisons Near City.
"Eventually 10 properly garrison
Oahu according to the plans discussed
at the Washington conference, there
will be three brigades on the island
One of these will probably be d
Schofieid Barracks to be brought into
action as an advance to repel any
possible INVASION The other two vii
he garrisoRed nearer the city .Ont
certainly at Shafter and the other Il
be available to defend the right 0.
the line. 1t is not decided where thi,
IHnnkinued ON Pane 81