The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-11-20
ADVOCATES BIGGER
ARMY FOR U. S.
Force of 100000 Urges Gen.
eral WOtherspOon.
ARMY is INADEQUATE
FavOrs Increase of the Militia tn
Form Second Line of
Defence.

torlal possessions against attack
w.th present or proposed garrisons
unless they could be rapidly rein
forced, Major General Wotherspoon.
retired chief of staff, in his report to-
day recommended the increase of
the regular amy to a strength of
2O5,OOO enlisted men. He proposed
that this force be augmented
through system of reserves until
there was created mobile strength
OF 100000 first line troops equipped
for a six months campaign.
General Wotherspoon said there
was need for more forces to protect
rear approaches to American coast
defences and those points not cover
ed by fortresses, and urged that the
organized militia be developed to n
strength of 100000 men.
1T is manifest" General Wother-
spoon asserted, that the great wa
terway of the Panama canal cannot
be protected against the operations
of a first-class military power by the
present or proposed garrison we con-
template placing there, without the
power and ability to reinforce il
rapidly from the United States.
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
That an effective defence against
an entrpris ng enemy in the Philip
pines could be made with n deGci-
ency of 33 per cent of the manning
details OF the coast defences of
Manila and Subig Bay, and with 4
mobile force of little over seven
thousand American troops, supple
mented by less than six thousand
Philippine scouts, is manifestly i'm
poss bic; that we can retain our
valuable territory of Alaska in its
isolated position against On enemy
with any military power by placing
there a garrison of less than 500
men verges on the ridiculous unless
we have an ample force at home to
occupy that territory in the very
e2rlies. stages of an impending con-
Act. AS regards the Hawaiian
Islands, all military persons will
recognize that the proposed garri-
son in this possession is far below
what ii should be to meet a serious
attack"
Outlining his view or the armys
first line requirements, General
Wotherspoon said:
FORCE OF HALE MILLION.
Careful consideration of our
needs would indicate the advisabili-
ty and necessity for having at all
times. available at home, and in ad-
dition to the necessities in our for
eign possessions in the first line of
our military establishment. a mobile
force of at least 100000 thoroughly
trained and thoroughly equipped
hghting men with adequate supplies
for the operation of this force for 4
period Of at least six months. This
Is conclusion that seems to have
been reached by all those who have
gwen careful consideration of this
question. 1t is also agreed that we
should have second line, thor
oughly equipped and trained force
OF organized militia of not less than
$4,000 men, properly proportioreI
as to its staff, several arms with
stores and supplies necessary for it's
operation in the field for a like
period"
OUTLINES HIS PLANS.
General Wotherspoon outlined the
plan through which he would double
the strength of the regular army and
create the reserve. The enlisted
men would serve short term with
the colors, then pass into the re-
serves for periods of Eve years or
more, being at all times under OBJ
legation to respond in case of ma
tional need.
assuming the report says. the
adoption OF q short term OF enlist
ment--say three years--for the pas
sage of men thoroughly trained in
the school of the regular or stand
Ing army into the reserves. and thar
men so trained should not be held
In the first reserve for longer Pc
Nod than five years, il would appear