Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-11
No Encouragement of Army Posts
In Sec. Garrison Recommendations

and if we are to build up a reserve we
must devise some method of doing so.
That we must build up reserve seems
to be the consensus of opinion, and 1
understand that Congress is favorable
to a reserve. One trouble with the
present law undoubtedly is that it does
not offer as great financial inducement
to tbs man who enlists so as to pass
into the reserve as it does to the one
who does not so enlist, particularly
during the first six years of his service.
From the most careful consideration
that | have been able to give this sub
ject have reached the conclusion that
we will be able to get reserve, II one
Is obtainable at all, by a provision of
law that will permit the department
when it is satisfied as to the proficiency
of the soldier to honorably discharge
him with no other obligation on his
part, as far as the balance of his en-
listment Is concerned, except to return
to the colors in case of actual war. The
brevity of my allusion to this subject
in this report is not because of it's
slight Importance, the fact being that
think it of the very greatest import
ahCe, Dut because lIlt ubldIlS Will lleiN ,
to be worked out after the. most care
full consideration by Congress"
Commencing the work of the General
staff, the Army War College ard offic
ers generally for their establishment of
a definite national military policy and
the encouragement of military training,
the Secretary says:
Ac n Il "a,
pie cngrossed in the settlement and
upbuilding of our vast territory, and in
the development of the wonderful re-
sources with which it abounds, we are
but dimly impressed with the fact that
just as agriculture and commerce are
the foundations of our great national
prosperity, so with equal truth our mil
itary and naval forces it's bulwark and
defence. While / believe there is a
worldwide and growing sentiment for
the settlement without bloodshed of all
disputes between nations, just as even
now there is provision of law for such
settlement of difficulties between indi-
Nlduals, / recognize the fact that the
time has not yet come when a nation
can wisely disarm or slacken its eff
forts for preparedness in case of war
The Army is not a luXury-it is a pub
lie necessity. A nation that is opulent
eutefprising, and unarmed, as of old,
stil invites aggression if not disaster
Speaking for that element of the ma
tlonal forces which comes under the
control of this department, 1 hope to
see in time of peace a growing senti-
ment of increased pride in our army
that VIII make the uniform of officer
and enlisted men respected always and
every where, and not an object of curl
osity or invidious discrimination"
The Mexican border patrol the Sec
rotary discusses at some length:
AT the date of the last annual re-
! port there were on duty in connection
with the patrol of the Mexican border
approximately 6,754 officers and enlisted
men, The present strength is about
the same, but largely composed of diff
/ ferent organizations.
! An extensive patrol has been contin-
ucusly maintained by these troops
from the Gulf Of Mexico to Sasabe. 80
miles west Of Nogales, Ariz., a dis