Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1914-12-15
(By Associated Press.J

That the United States army be i'm
mediately recruited to its full wal
strength, which would mean the addi-
ton Of $4,000 men and 1000 officers, is
urged by Secretary Garrison, of the
War Department in his annual report
presented today to President Wilson.
Such an increase would give the
regular army a total of about 10000
men, of whom $4,000 would be avilable
as a mobile fighting force in the Con-
tinental United States. The present
mobile strength of $1,000, the Secre-
tary points out, soon will be cut in
half by additions to the garrisons in
the Canal Zone, Hawaii and the Phil
ippines.
The report directly mentions the Eu-
ropean war but once.
ut would be premature" it says, Ito
attempt now to draw the ultimate les
sons from the war in Europe. 1t is an
imperative duty, however, to heed Sc
much of what it brings home to us as
is incontrovertible and not to be
changed by any event, leaving for later
and more detailed and comprehensive
consideration what it's later develop
ments and final conclusions may indi-
cate"
I'm addition to Strengthening the
regular establishment, the Secretary
urges that steps be taken at once to
create a more adequate reserve army
He dismisses as impracticable talk OF
immediate disarmament, and as
groundless fears of militarism in
America, and recommends military
preparedness on the ground that
eternal vigilance is the price which
must be paid in order to obtain the
desirable things of life and tc defend
them"
Whatever the future may hold in
the way of agreements between ma
tons, followed by actual disarmament
thereof, of international courts Of ar
bitration, and other greatly-to-be-de-
sired measures to lessen or prevent
conflict between nation and nations,
SAYS the report, I'VE all know that at
present these conditions are not exist
ing. We can and will eagerly adapt
ourselves to each benefcent develop
ment along these lines; but to- merely
enfeeble ourselves in the meantime
would, in my view, be unthinkable fol-
ly. By neglecting and refusing to pro-
vide ourselves with the necessary
means of self-protection and self-de-
Tense we could not hasten or in any
way favorably influence the ultimate
results we desire in these respects"
The present full war strength of the
United States is summarized by the
report as follows:
THE Organized Militia of the var
ious States totals 1928 officers and
119.O87 men. The enlisted men thereof
are required, in order to obtain the
financial aid which the Congress au-
thorizes the Secretary Of War to ex-
tend under certain conditions, toI at
tend "a drills a year and days an
nually in the field. If all of the Ma
tional Guard could be summoned in
the events of war and should all re-
spond ian inconceivable result, and
If they we're all found fairly efficient in
the first line-that is, the troops who
would be expected to Immediately take
She feld-we could summon force in
thi, country Of regulars and National
Cuard amounting to 9,S1S officers and
1AS492 men. (This would include only
reguars Of fighting force stationed in
the United States proper)
And this is absolutely all! The
only other recourse would then be
volunteers, and to equip, organize
train. and make them ready would
take at the smallest possible estimate
six months.
Anyone who takes the slightest
trouble to investigate will find that In
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