The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-12-10

an extensive scheme which is ideal in
its completeness Such q scheme might
/ 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
Il my view, 1t is much better to do those
things which lie nearest at hand and
can be done than to remain as we
are. without moving along proper lines
until q more comprehensive and per-
feet scheme can be agreed upon"
| Arny's Total Strength.
After enumerating the vast areas Of
continental United States and those Of
Our territorial responsibilities which
| must be considered" the report says
the total strength of the army June
80, 1914, was 94,4s2. OF this number
| 80, $50 were available as a mobile force
in continental United States, the rest
being employed In the Philippines, Ha-
wait or the Canal Zone or comprising
hospital, Quartermasters, or other
auxiliary services. In the near future,
the report states, additional forces will
be sent to the Canal Zone and else
where, reducing the mobile force on
the continent, exclusive OF coast artil-
! lery, to $500 men. Even with the in
creased force there, Secretary Carl
son declares, the Panama garrison win
be inadequate in his opinion.
A table of the thirteen leading coun-
tries of the world showing area, popu-
lation, peace strength OF the army
and the total trained war strength is
included in the report. It dfsclOses
that with an area and population sur
passed only by Great Britain and her
colonies and by Russia, the United
States stands tenth in the peace foot
ing Of her army and twelfth in trained
reserves. Against Russia's $500, 900
trained men, the United States has
225,000, including the Philippine
Scouts; and Belgium, with 10000 is
the only nation below that figure,
Switzerland, next above, has 275,000,
Japan, 100000.
Whatever else may properly be
drawn from the facts as disclosed"
the report says, cit can not be dis
puted that 1t is imperative that we
have in this country a very much
larger percentage Of men who have |
had proper military training and who |
are in position to instantly respond |
to the call OF the Nation"
OF war material the report says:
Gent small arms, srnaIl-arnn ammu-
milton and equipment, roughly figuring
for the 500, 900 men that would have |
to be called into the field in any large |
emergency. We have nothing like suf-
hcient artillery and artillery ammu-
milton. This has been urgently pre-
scented 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 |
for these purposes II
There is universal agreement among l
all who know, that artillery is an eS-
sential feature of modern warfare and II
that proper proportion thereof to H
any army is indispensable IL SUCCESS
Is to be even hoped for. It is i'm
perative that the manufacture OF artil-
lery and artillery ammunition should
progress as rapidly as is possible un-
til proper reserve thereof has been
Army Aviation Corps.
''In present-day strategy and tactics
the aviation corps has bid fair to be-
come the eyes of the army, and
general commanding an army without
IN adequate flying corps against an
army of equal strength in other re-
spects but with an adequate flying
corps, would be in the position OF
blind man Contending against q man
With sight. The present congress made
good start toward putting aviation
On a substantial basis. This work
Ihould be followed up and consistently
pressed.
1.-The universal utilization Of motor
in the present war has
yastly increased the mobility OF ar
MES. 1t is necessary that we keep
breast of the times in utilizing motor
rehicles for army transportation. 1t
night be well worth while to devise
ways and means Of organizing into a
motor transportation reserve
he motor vehicles adaptable to mill
oru ,yeo yo0uy in ho hands oF fa Ii