The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-21

Washiugton, Nov. lS.---Declaring il
would be impossible To defend tie
Panama canal and American tcrritor-
iai possessions against attack with
present or proposed garrisons unless
they could be rapidly reinforced. Mai
or Gen. Wotherspoon, retired chief
OF stan. in his report to-day recon-
mcnded the increase OF the regular
army to n strength of 100000 enlisted
men. He proposed that this force be
augmented through "a system of re-
serves uniL there was created a mo.
bile strength OF 100000 first line
troops equipped for a six months
campaign.
Gen. wotherspoon said there was
need for more forces to- protect rear
approaches to American coast defCn-
ces ard those points not covered by
fortresses. and urged that the organ
tied militia be developed to strength
of 500. 200 men.
1T Is manifest" Gen. Wotherspoon
asserted. that the great waterway of
the Panama Canal cannot be protect
ed against the operations of first
class military power by the present
or proposed garrison we contemplate
placing there. without the power and
ability to reinforce 1t rapidly from
the United States.
.fTa .l~e
an enterprising enemy in the Philip
pines could be made with n deficiency
OF 80 per cent. OF the manning de-
tails OF the coast defences OF Manila
and subig Bay. and with a mobile
force OF a little over seven thousand
American troops. supplemented by less
than six thousand Philippine scouts.
In manifestly impossible; that We can
retain our vtIIdble territory OF Alas
k.s I'm Its Isolated position against an
enemy with any military power BY
placing, there "a garrison of less than
600 men verges on the ridiculous un-
less we have an ample force at home
To occupy that territory M the very
earliest stages of an impending con-
flict. As regards the Hawaiian Is
lands. all military persons will recog-
nize that the proposed garrison i'm this
possession Is far below what IL should
be to meet a serious attack"
Outlining his view OF the army's
first line requirements. Gen. wother-
soon said:
Careful consideration OF our needs
would Indicate the advisability and
necessity for having at all times avail
able at, home, and in addition to the
necessities in our foreign possession
I'm the first line of our military estab-
iishment. n mobile force OF ut least
100000 thoroughly trained and thor
>ughly equipped fightinT men, with
adequate supplies for the operation o..
this force for a period of at least six
months. This Is u conclusion that
seems to have been reached by all
those who have given careful consid-
Grafton OF this question. IL is also
agreed that we should have a second
line. thoroughly equipped and train
ed force. OF organized militia of not
less than $4,000 men. properly pro-
portioned as to its staff. severa, arms
with stores and supplies necessary for
its operation I'm the field for a like pc
Rod"
Gen. Wotherspoon outlined the plan
through which he would double the
strength OF the regular army and crc-
ate the reserve. The enlisted men
would serve II short term with the
solors. then pass into The reserves for
periods OF five years or more. bcinI
at all times under obligation To- re-
spond I'm case of national need.
Assuming" the report says. "th,
adoption OF short term OF enlist
ment-say three yt0rs---for the pas
sage OF men thoroughly trained in the
school of the regular ur standing army
into the reserves, and that men 50
trained should not be held In the first
reserve for longer period than live
years. 10 would appear that the size
OF the regular or standing army 60 hc
used as "a school for the training of
reservists should be about 2O5, 900 en-
listed men.