Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-10

other day in talking on this subject. AS
at present constituted the force is one
third short of what is necessary to man
merely the guns we have and these guns
in the revolutionary war and in the war
of 1872 In the latter war. it will be
called the British reached Washington
by way of Chesapeake bay and captured
the capital.
Of course Mexico may cause the plan
to be abandoned. Ii the army is with
drawn from there. however such regular
by no means cover the strategic points
that should be protected.
I'm addition to the increased number
of troops ] have mentioned. great need
is depots of reserve supplies. There are
many things needed in war that can't be
procured in a hurry. IN event of hos
tilities we could. for example. go out into
the open market and buy all the under
shirts needed for the biggest army we
could put into the field but we couldn't
buy all the uniforms and guns and am
muntion and wagons and trucks and
other essentials. Delays III securing
these supplies have cost this nation ire
mendously in its previous wars. W.
ought to profit by the lessons of history.
But 1t is only fair To say that we ar"
much better off in the way Of reserve
supplies now than we ever were before
Though regarded a. perhaps tne ahlret
military educator in the country. Gen.
Wotherspoon himself is not a West POINT
man His military education has been
acquired largely in the practical school
of the army Born in the service, the
son of an army surgeon. Gen. Wother-
spoons place of nativity is the National
Capital He was educated in private
schools and then, IN 1871. he was ap-
pointed masters mate in the nav.
where he remained two years. Most 81
his naval service was on the old Plymouth
and il included a Mediterranean cruise.
Returning to Washington in 1873. Gen.
Wotherspoon. after examination, WAS ap-
pointed by President Grant second lieu
tenant in the 18th Infantry. He joined
his regiment in California and began 4
career of a quarter of century's serv-
ice on the frontier and in the indian
country With his regiment h" was ~
the Nez Perce and Bannock campaigns
of the late seventies and then for ten
years he served against the Apaches in
the continuous warfare in the southwest.
short period of service at Sacketts
Harbor n Y was followed by three
wears in charge of Geronimo and other
Apache prisoners in Alabama Then
came a short tour of duty as aid TO Gen.
O. O. Howard. commanding the Depart
ment of the East, followed by service as
military instructor at the Rhode Island
Agricultural College, where he was in
1895 He was out of the Cuban cam
paign on other duty. but in 1899 he Went
with his regiment to the Philippines ana
had four strenuous years there Inc
earlier part of the time he participated
in the fighting on LuZon and later in the
southern islands. In 1898 he came nome
and was made assistant commandment OF
the school of the line al Leavenworth.
In 1904 he was assigned to the general
staff and detailed as assistant director OF
the War College Since then. save FOR
brief periods of absence as chief of stan
of the army of the second occupation OF
Cuba and few months as commander
of the Department of the Gulf, his chief
work has been as president of the " ar
College ASHMUN BROWN.