The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-10
THE UNITED STATES ARMY AS
COMPARED WITH OTHER NATIONS


in the United States" says Secretary
Garrison, ARE on what is known as
a peace footing, which means that
for instance, an infantry company,
which upon war footing should have
$50 men, now has 90 men. Scarcely
any unit in the army ever has its
proper complement of officers, and the
need for an increase OF officers Is
urgent.
My recommendation OF what We
should Immediately do is to fill up
the existing organizations which COM
pose the aggregate army 10 their full
strength. This would require $4,000
men In addition 10 the enlisted men
just mentioned, we should be author
lied 10 obtain 1000 more officers"
Results Of Increase.
An increase OF the enlisted person
mel OF the army by $4,000 men would
accomplish threefold results. says
the report. 1T would, as before
mentioned. bring up 10 full
strength the existing units OF the mo-
bile army IN continental United
States and thus supply more ade-
Quate force Second. II would afford
training for the oficers in the COM
mand 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 leyies which always disor-
ganize and render inefficient the or
carnations into which they come.
Third, II would be wise investment
from the standpoint OF economy, In
that no material increase OF overhead
charges would be necessary, and the
addition OF these men could be effect-
ed at a per capita cost TO the govern.
ment OF about one-third the per cap
tia cost under existing conditions
Since the existing physical plant and
the administrative organization would
not have to be in any way increased
TO take care OF this increased force.
the only additional expense would be
the clothing, feeding, and paying
thereof
Again. without attempting TO wait
until perfection has been reached, II
seems TO me that IL Is only the part
OF wisdom to do that which We know
will produce a beneficial result, and
one that approximates the best.
am firmly convinced that II we can
use the standing army as school
through which to pass men who come
into il, with the knowledge that II
they are proficient they can be dis
charged at any time after year or
is months, we will begin at once TO
build up the necessary reserve, and
will, for the first time in the military
history of this country, have some
thing approximating balanced or
ganization.
by intense military training, any
young man OF good health and aver
age mentality can be made a service
able soldier in II months. and. In fact.
has been so made. This has been
tried abroad, and have caused II to
be tried under my own administra-
ton and inspection. Even II there
were doubt about IL, II would not
cause a different conclusion TO be
by a reasonable man. because
we certainly would be better on with
a reserve OF men who had had one
years training than we are without
any reserve at all and having TO de-
pend, as we do, upon men who have
never had any training whatever.
caused, about a year ago, recruits, as
they came in, and without selection.
to be organized into a battery Of ar
tillery. a troop Of cavalry, and COM
pany OF infantry; and from my own
and from the reports OF
experts. each Of these units. well with
in a year, was found proficient to a
very high degree.
st am, therefore, firmly convinced
that we should have immediate legis-
lation dealing with the matter OF en-
listment and reserve. am not so
much concerned with the length OF
the enlistment, provided the secretary
of war Is given power to discharge
into the reserve, at the end OF IL
those who have shown them
selves proficient up to a required
standard.
"a practically similar provision
should exist In every state which
an organized militia.
The health Of the army has been
exceptionally good. The last year
has afforded the lowest recorded non
effective rate In the history OF the
army; a reduction OF nearly 90 per
A.. Ill IL.