El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-12-10
j. 5. AR NJ 7
NEEDS M0RE MEN
Secretary of War Urges the
Addition Of $4,000 Men
and More Artillery.
Confined From Page One.)


modern warfare, a prepared enemy
would progress so far on the way to
success in six months, If his antagonists
had to wait six months to meet him.
that such unprepared antagonist might
as well coneede defeat without con-
of the efficiency of the present army
Mr.. Garrison says:
while our existing organization is
Of the exceedingly small numbers al
ready mentioned, it is unquestionabIy
in as excellent condition as any SINH
lar number of men in any other mill
tarv establishment in the world"
No Time for Platitudes.
ct is, of course, not necessary to
dwell on the blessings of peace and the
horrors of war" he says. Every one
desires peace, Just as every one desires
health, contentment affection, suffi-
Gent means for comfortable existence,
and other similarly benefieent things.
Rit peace and the other states of be-
ing Just mentioned are not always OF
even often solely within ones own con-
troll 1t may truthfuIly be said that
must be paid in order to obtain the
desirable things of life and to defend
them.
I'm the early history of our nation
there was a natural. almost inevitable,
adherence of military force, because II
connoted military despotism. No rea-
sonable person in this country today
has the slightest shadow Of fear of mil
itarv despotism, nor of any interior
ence whatever by military force in the
conduct of civil affairs.
Must Have Protection.
Every nation must have adequate
force to protect itself from domestic
instruction, to enforce its laws, and to
repel invasions; that is, every nation
that has similar characteristics to those
of a self respecting man. To the extent
that it confines its military prepared
ness to the purposes mentioned, there
is neither warrant nor justification IN
characterizing such action as mill
tarism.'
Equally useless, in my view, is the
discussion frequently INDUCED IN as 70
whether military preparation tends or
does not tend to avoid war.
$40 the Best We Cam
81 am not attempting to lay down a
counsel of perfectiOn-that is, an eX-
tensive scheme which is ideal in Its
well be considered and studied and
adopted after long study. But TO
await the result Of such a course
would be to continue the undesirable
situation in which we have SO long
been. In my view, it is much better 70
do these things which lie nearest at
hand and can be done than to remain
as we are, without moving along
proper lines until a more comprehen-
sive and perfect scheme can be agreed
upon"
continental United States and those OF
our other territorial responsibilities
which must be considered" the secre-
tarv says the total strength of the
army June 30. 1914, mas 94,4S2. OF this
number only 80, $50 were available as
a mobile force in continental United
States.
SwifEerland's Army Larger.
table of the Is leading countries
of the world showing area, population
peace strength Of the army and the TO-
tai trained war strength is included IN
the report. It discloseS that with an
area and population surpassed only by
Great Britain and her colonies and by
Russia, the United States stands 10Th
in the peace footing of her army ana
18th in trained reserves. Against Rus-
sia's 100000 trained men, the United
States has 225, 900, including the phil
ippine scouts; and Belgium, with 49,
600, is the only nation below that Ilg-
ure. Switzerland, next above, has
275, 900; Japan has 100000
More Trained Men Imperative.
whatever else may properly be
drawn from the facts as disclosed, the
report says, lit can not be disputed
thatsit is imperative that we have in
this country a very much larger per-
centage of men who have had proper
military training and who are in a
position to instantly respond to the
call of the nation.
1--WE have on hand in reserve suffi-
cient small arms, small arm ammuni-
ton and equipment roughly figuring
for the 100000 men that would have TO
be called into the field in any large
emergency. We have nothing like suf-
ficient artillery and artillery ammuni-
ton.
Make More Ammunition.
ct is imperative that the manu-
facture Of artillery and artillery ammu-
milton should progress as rapidly as Is
possible until a proper reserve thereof
has been obtained.
I'm present day strategy and tactics
the aviation corps has bid fair to be-
come the eyes Of the army. The pres
ent congress made a good start toward
putting aviation on a substantial basis.
This work should be followed up and
consistently pressed.
For Motor Reserves.
1.-THE universal utilization of motor
transportation in the present war has
vastly increased the mobility Of armies.
1t is necessary that we keep abreast
of the times in utilizing motor vehicles
for army transportation. It might be
well worth while to devise ways and
means Of organizing into a volunteer
motor transportation reserve the mo-
tor vehicles adaptable to military use
now in the hands of private citizens"
Urges $4,000 More Men.
Transmitting his recommendations,
Mr.. Garrison writes in part:
MY recommendation of what we
should Immediately do is to fill up the
existing organizations which compose
the aggregate mobile army force just
mentioned to their full strength. This
would require $4,000 men, and in addi-
ton, we should be authorized to obtain
1000 more officers. The legislation to
accomplish these purposes would be Of
the very simplest character, being
merely authorizations to the depart
ment to do these things.
Great Benefits Cited.
'An increase of the enlisted person
mel Of the army by 5000 men would
besides supplying a more adequate
force, afford training for the officers in
the command of such units as they
must command in time Of war and
would prevent, as far as the regular
army is concerned, the crowding of the
ranks with raw levies which always
disorganize and render inefficient the
organization into which they come 1t
would be a wise investment from the
standpoint of economy in that no ma
terial increase OF overhead charges
would be necessary and the addition
of these men could be effected at a per