Honolulu star-bulletin., 1914-12-19
WOTHERSP0ON
SOUNDS NOTE
OF Warming
Actual Fighting Force of Army
Much Less Than Author
lied Strength

his report recommending the increase
or the regular army to a strength of
205,O00 enlisted men, declared il
would be impossible to defend the
Panama Canal and American terrific
rial possessions from attack with
present or proposed garrisons, unless
they could be REINFORCED rapidly. He
proposed that the force be augmented
through a system of reserves, until
there was created a mobile strength
OF 500 900 first line troops equipped
for a six month"; campaign.
Gen. Wotherspcon said there was
need for more forces TO protect rear
approaches to American coast defens-
es and those points not covered by
fortrcsses, and urged that the organ
ized militia be developed TO a strength
OF 100000 men.
Plea for Greater Defense.
1T is manifest" Gen. Wotherspoon
asserted. that the great waterway Of
the Panama Canal cannot be protect
cd against the operations of a first
class military power by the present
or proposed garrison we contemplate
placing there, without the power and
ability to re-enforce it rapidly from
the United States.
''That an effective defense against
an enterprising enemy in the Philip
pines could be made with deficiency
OF 33 per cent of the manning de-
tails of the coast defenses of Manila
and Subig bay, and with mobile
force of little over 1000 American
troops, supplemented by less than s.
900 Philippine scouts, is manifestly
impossible; that we can retain our
valuable territory of Alaska in its
isolated position against an enemy
with any military power by placing
there a garrison Of fewer than 500
men merges on the ridiculous, un-
less we have ample forces at home
to occupy that territory in the very
earliest stages Of an impending con.
fiict. AS to the Hawaiian islands, all.
military persons will recognize that
the proposed garrison in this possess
sion is far below what Ii should be
to meet a serious attack -.
Would Double the Strength.
Gen. Wotherspoon outlined the plan
through which he would double the
strength OF the regular army. The en-.
listed men would serve a short time
with the coolers, then pass into the
reserves for periods OF five or more
years, being ct all times under obli-l
CATION to respond In case OF national
need
Assuming" the report continues
'4he adoption Of short term Of en-
listment-say three years-for the
passage Of the men thoroughly train
ed In the school OF the regular or
standing army into the reserves, and
that men SO trained should not be
held In the first reserve for q longer
period than five years, 1t would ap-
pear that the size Of the regular or
standing army to be used as school
for the training Of reseryists should
be about 205.0O0 enlisted men.
Gen. Wothcrspoon contended the
proposed system would be economi-
cal. as the reserve officers and men
would receive pay only during their
active service and on being called 20
tho colors.
Gen. Wotherspoon deyotes consider
able space in his -eport to the organ.
lied militia, which. he believes, should
be Increased to about three times its
present sire. and better trained and
equipped. He also advocates a system
OF reserves for the militia. radical
change in the laws governing the citi-
zen-soldiers, to bring them more di-
rectly under federal control, by the
passage of pay bill. and by detailing
more officers and non-coms for duty
with the militia is advocated.
While the general opiaion prevails
that the United States has standing
army Of 100000 men. the Wotherspoon
report shows that only a trifle more
than half that number are effectiyes
OF the mobile army.
The report says:
According to the latest returns the
actual strength of the army. exclusive
Of the Philippine Scouts. is 4572 off.
Gers and SS,444 enlisted men. The
authorized strength of the army is
4T26 officers and y5,977 enlisted men.
The army is therefore 154 officers and
1888 enlisted men below its authorized
strength.
aOf the total present enlisted
ClICukN vi sSbC CtAhg saw POI SOAS
including recruits and recruiting par
ties. belongs to the non-combatant and
non-effective class, and is not with
the colors; 1915 per cent is in that
branch whose special function is coast
defense. and 5S.05 per cent belongs to
the mobile forces (cngineers, cavalry,
field artillery and infantry.
aOf the actual strength Of the army
from the latest returns 1867 officers
and Is. .S99 enlisted men tincluding re-
cruits and Inen engaged in recruiting)
belong to the staff. technical and non
combatant branches of the army.
: Seven hundred and forty-six Off
GERS and 17,201 enlisted men belong
to the coast artillery, and 273S officers
and 51,S44 enlisted men belong to the
mobile army u. ~
"The total strength of the field or
mobile forces in our army is therefore
less than $4,000 enlisted men. If
from this strength the non-combat-
ants and non-effectiyes belonging to