The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-10
GARRISON SEES NEED
OF STRONG RESERVE
Preparedness Keynote Of VigOr-
GUS Report of Secretary of
War on Nations Army.
By THEODORE TILLER.

BV 1HEUDURE 1ILLEN-
In a remarka bly, straightforward
vigorous annual report, the Secretary
r War today pleads for a strong mill
larry reserve, and warns that the day
or effective peace treaties and courts
oC arbitration has not arrived
While Secretary Of State Bryan con-
tinues to stress the Importance Of inter
rational agreements Of goodwill. Sec
rotary Garrison, a member of the same
Csbinet. stands sponsor in these times
Tor tvo-fsted preparedness.
There is nothing Of Jingoism IN the
report of tho Secretary of War, hut ne
deals in ANALYTICAL fashion with the in
sufficient strength Of this nations army
and the lack of trained reserve
without recommending a big standing
army such as certain foreign nations
hive. Secretary Garrison sees the es-
sentials of preparedness IN q reserve
system for the organized militta-the
training of men who Will serve Tor
short-term enlistments with the under
standing that when the call 10 the
coiors comes they shall he ready and
equipped to fight.
Views On Peace.
Perhaps the most striking paragraph
81 the report of the Secretary of War
made to the President, is that reveal
inS his views regarding piece treaties,
which received the names of scraps of
paper in Europe WHICH hostilities broke
ont there Secretary Garrison says
nothing condcmnatory Of the peace
propaganda which may he sponsored by
nuc or more of his colleagues IN the
Cabinet or by legislators, but he warns:
Whatever the future may hold in the
way OF agreements between nations.
followed by actual disarmament there
Of of international courts of arbitra-
ton. and other greatly 70 be desired
measures to lessen or prevent conflict
between nation and nation. We all know
mat at present these conditions are not
existing.
I'VE can and will eagerly adapt our
selves TO each beneficent development.
;.lcng these lines; but to merely en-
feeble ourselves in the meantime would,
IN my view be Unthinkable folly.
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
This country. Secretary Garrison
AYERS. no longer fears 'milltarism'' and
re expressed . degree OF impatience
with those who are wont to appl- this
term loosely to organized preparation
~ military force No reasonable per
son in this country today, Mr.. Garri-
son thinks. has the slightest fear OF a
military despntisTn. nor of any inter-
ference whatever o. military force in
i've conduct OF civil affairs.
The military and civil are Just as
completely and permanently separated
~ this country" he adds, as the
church and the state are; the suhjec-
N of the military 20 the civil Is
settled and Interchangeable"
What Nation Needs.
what then does this nation need in
the way of military preparedness
secretary Garrison outlines the area
o- the United States and its possess
sIC-S and locates the armed forces or
80 United State throughout this terri
'--v as ~ June %, 1914 He adds:
TIE regular army OF the United
S-stes on thaT date consisted of 4.I11
GERS ana S'.Isl men. including the
cr'artermaster and hospital corps. Of
t-ese. as officers and 1I,9oI men belong
20 the Coast Artillery, ana are, there
ore. pra Ctically stationary in coast de-
lenses: l05s officers and lS.A4 men be-
long to the staff technical and nom
'omSotant branches Of the army, in
Guiding recruits and men engaged in
rrCruifing. This leaves the army which
ran be moved from place to place-that
is The mobile army. so-Called-cOmpoSed
o.. 2q25 officers ard 81 10 men.
Practically all these organizations in
he United States are on what is known
IS peace Footing which means
upon q war fo0tirg should have 80 men,
now has s. me-. a Caral-y pou which
upon a war footing should have 100 men,
nov has - men: an ar L,r- battery,
which l.pon a war footin- should have
Il men. now has l73 men. The coast
a-tllle-r companies are div avs EepI OF
a war footing OF l3f me each
i addition 10 work with the troops
. r Ef-.- 4f -F he .HrraaTH
ere called upon to DO great variety
90 work known as detached service.
-'0T instance. the engineers have IS Of
I~cre detached for uver and harDor
army have SIS officers Of the lire de-
arred for service IN trai1ing the or
-a-Ized militia Of the several States on
Uuty at schools and recruiting.
Need OF Officers.
Tho real condition as 10 men and am
..i,ion is then frankly stated as fol-
.-ws.
-. a result. scarcely any unit in the
-.y Ger has is proper complement
q. officers. and the need for an increase
officers Is urgent and imperative. IN
gaLinent=l United states We had in the
mobile army on June 30. 1914 2Csg Off
els and s5.sar men.
We have q gCscTEc-thaI Is. men VINO
nave been trained in The army ana I'M
der the terms OF thir enlistment are
,rject 10 be called back TO the ColOrs in
.4ur Of waT-COHslst.uE Of sixteen men.
r he organized militia Of the various
.@tes totals 2Z3 officers and 1905
mem The enlisted men thereof are re-
..Ired, in order to obtain the financial
winch Congress authorizes the
='.claTy Of War TO extend under GER
ain conditions. to attend tvveuJy-fOur
-"ils year and five days annually in
&c field. II all the National Guard
rglld be summoned in the event Of war
I'd should all respond Tan iucOnce!v-
be result, and II they were all found
AMY efficient il the first lme-that
$. the troops who would be expected To
immediately take the field-we could
mnon fore" IN this country TO
'6gllars ana National Guard amounting
20 Hop officers and l548S7 men.
ana this is absOlutelF- all The only
.ther recourse would then be volunteers.
nd 10 equip, organic train, and make
mem ready would take at the smallest
aoSsIbie estimate. six months.
As Well Concede Defeat.
Any one who takes the slightest
.oGDie 10 investigate will find that in
iodern warfare a prepared enemy