The chronicle=news. (Trinidad, Colo.) 1898-current, 1914-12-11
perfect scheme can be agreed upon. "

perfect scheme can be agreed upon.
After enunerating the vast areas
of continental United States and
those Of "our other territorial re-
sponsibilities which must be consid-
cred" the report says the total
strength OF the army June 30, 1914,
was 94.482. or this number 3O.SS0
were available as a mobile force in
continental United States. the rest
being employed In the Philippines.
Hawaii or the canal zone or compris-
ing hospital, quartermasters. or other
auxiliary services. In the near flu
ture, the report states, additional
forces will be sent to the canal zone
and elsewhere. reducing the mobile
force on the continent. exclusive of
coast artillery, to $4,000 men. Even
with the increased force there. Sec
rotary Garrison declares, the Pan
anna garrison will be Inadequate. in
his opinion.
A table of the Is leading countries
of the world showing area. popula-
tion. peace strength Of the army and
the total trained war strength is in
ciuded in the report. 1t discloses
that with ar area and population
surpassed only by Great Britain and
her colonies and by Russia. the
United States stands tenth in the
peace footing of her army and
twelfth in trained reserves. Against
Russia's 100000 DRAINED men the
United States has 225.0OO. includ-
ing the Philippine Scouts; and Bel
GUM, with 100000 is the only ma
ton below that figure. Switzerland.
next above, has 275.0OO. Japan
100000.
| Whatever else may properly be
drawn FROM the facts as disclosed"
the report says. at can not be dis
puted that 1t is imperative that Ne
have in this country very much
larger percentage of men who have
had proper military training and
who are In a position to instantly
respond to the call of the nation"
or war material the report says:
1--WE have on hand in reserve suf-
ficient small arms. small-arm ammu-
milton and equipment, roughly figur-
ing for the 500. 900 men that would
have to be called into the field in
any large emergency. We have
nothing like sufficient artillery and
ARTILLERY ammunition.
This has been urgently presented
in all OF the recent reports of the
head OF this department and the
chiefs Of staff. and = congress has
from time to time recently increased
the appropriations for these pur-
poses. There IL universal agreement
among all who know, that artillery
is an essential feature OF modern
warfare. and that u proper proper
zion thereof to any army is indispen-
sable If success is to be even hoped
for 1t is imperative that the
manufacture of artillery and artil-
lery ammunition should progress as
rapidly as is possible until proper
reserve thereof has been obtained.
I'm present day strategy and tao
tics the aviation corps has bid fair to
become the eyes of the army, and
general commanding an army with
out an adequate flying corps against
an army of equal strength in other
respects. but with an adequate fly
| ing corps. would be in the position
of blind man contending against a
\ man with sight. The present con-
gres5 made good start toward put
ting aviation on substantial basis.
| This work should be followed up and
consistently pressed.
THE universal utilization of mo.
tor transportation in the present war
has vastly Increased the mobility of
armies. It ia necessary that we keep
abreast of the times in utilizing mo-
tor vehicles for army transportation.
II might be well worth while to de-
wise ways and means Of organizing
into volunteer motor transportation
reserve the motor vehicles adaptable
to military use now in the hands of
private citizens"
Transmitting his recommendations
Mr.. Garrison writes In part:
MY recommendation Of what we
should Immediately do is to fill up
tile existing organizations which
compose the aggregate mobile army
force just mentioned to their full
strength. This would require 49,
900 men. Inaddition to the enlisted
men Just mentioned. we should be
authorized to obtain 1000 more Off
GERS .rhe Legislation to accomplish
these PURPOSES would be Of the very
simplest character, being merely All
Ithorizations to the department to do
these things.