The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-11-20

low what it should be to meet a SER
dons attack.
General Wotherspoon's Conclusions
Outlining his view of the army 5
first line requirements. General
Wotherspoon said:
Careful consideration OF our
needs would indicate the advisabilHy
and necessity for having at all times
available at home. and in addition to
the necessities in our foreign pos
sessions in the first line of our for
eign military establishment a mobile
force Of at least 100000 thoroughly
trained and thoroughly equipped
lighting men. With adequate supplies
fer the operation Of this force for
period OF at least six months. This
is a conclusion that seems to have
been reached by all those who have
given careful consideration of this
question. 1t is also agreed that We
should have as a second line thor
ough1y equipped and trained force of
organized militia of not less than
10000 men properly proportioned as
to its STAFF and several arms, with
stores and supplies necessary for its
operation in the field for like per
iod..
Plan to Increase Army Strength
General Wotherspoon outlined the
ip1an through which he would dou-
BILE the strength of the regular army
and create the reserve. The enlisted
men would serve a short time with
the colors and then pass into the re-
serves for period Of five years or
more being at all times under obldga-
tions TO respond in case Of national
need
! Assuming, the report continues,
the adoption of short term of en-
listment say three years for the
passage of men thoroughly trained
in the school of the regular or stand
| ing army into the reserves. and that
men SO trained should not be held In
the first reserve for a longer period
than five years, it would appear that
the size of the regular or standing
army to he used as school should
be about l2d5 900 enlisted men.
/ Iii from such an army. organized
ION a basis of thu ee years training,
/ We discharge yearly that increment
below the grade of sergeant, which
had completed its three years train
ing, we would have, with due allow
ance for deaths, ETC., in the first year
of its complete operation an army OF
t 263 900 (205 900 plus 5000 re-
sefyes) !; in the second year an army
4 of 32l2.400 l205 900 plus H. 90 10 re-
serves /; in the fourth year an army
Iof 439 800. 0205, 900 plus $4,000
reserves) in the fifth year an army
lof 498,500. (2O5,0OO plus 293 900
reserves) After this the army would
,lbe maintained at the last figure, and
in addition we would be accumulate
ing men in the second reserve ait the
rate OF $1,000 each year
General WotIerspoon contended
that the proposed system would be
Economical inasmuch as the reserve
officers and men would receive pay
only during their active service and
on being called to the colors. He
said he saw no reason why the same
principles as to reserves should not
be applied to the organized militia.
/ In thar case however ne saws
1T must be admitted that unless
there be a material change in the
laws governing the organized militia
(which will bring about general
greater reliance upon and an increas-
Led control by the general goVern-
Ement, that branch of our military es-
Establishment cannot be regarded and
depended upon as a reliable force. :