The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-25
TO ADEQUATELY GUARD TERRI
T0RIAL POSSESSIONS
SAYS Chief OF STAFF
Major General Wotherspoon Calls At
tention 70 Our Outlying ISLANDS,
Our Small Force in Alaska and the
Need Of Protection for the Canal
Advocates Army of 100000.

Declaring In Wou1o Dc lmposSlDi'
/ to defend the Panama canal ane
American territorial possession
against attack with present or pro
posed garrisons unless they could bt
rapidly reinforced, Major Gen. Woth
erspoon, retired chisf OF staff. in hi:
report Wednesday recommended the
increase Of the regular army TO
strength of 205.o0o enlisted men.
Gen. Notherspoon proposed thai
this forcs be augmented through
system Of reserves until there Wai
created e mobile strength Of 100000
first line troops equipped for sis
months campaign. Gen. Wotherspoor
said there was need for more forces
to protect rear approaches to Ame'r1'
can coast defences and those points
not covered by fortresses. and Urged
that the organized militia be develop
ed to q strength of 100000 men.
1T is manifest Gen. Wother-
spoon asserted, "that the great Wster-
way OF the Panama canal can not be
protected against the operations OF
first class military power by the pres
ent or proposed garrison we contem-
plate placing there, without the pow
er and ability to reinforce It rapidly
fro mths United States.
"That an effeetivs defense against
an enterprising enemy Id The Philip
pines could be made with defciehcy
Of SO per cent. Of the manning details
Of the coast defences Of Manila and
subig Bay, and with q mobile force
Of little over seven thousand Amer
lean troops, supplemented by less
than six thousand Philippine scouts,
IS mauifestly impossible; that we can
retain eur valuable territory in
Alaska in it's Isolated position against
an enemy With any military power by
placing there q garrison OF less than
500 men verges on the ridiculous un-
less we have an ample force at home
to occupy that territory IN the very
earliest stages Of an impending con-
dict. AS regards the Hawaiian Is
'ands, all military persons will recog-
nize that the proposed garrison In
this possession is far below what It
should be to meet serious attack:
Outlining his view OF the army's
first line. requirements, Gen. Wether-
spoon said:
Careful consideration O. our needs
would indicate the advisability and
necessity for having at all times,
available at home, and in addition to
the necessities IN our foreign posses
sions In the first line Of our military
establishment, a mobile force OF at
least 100000 thoroughly trained and
thoroughly equipped fighting men,
with adequate supplies for the opera
tion of this force for g period OF at
least six months.
"This is a conclusion that seems to
have been reached by all those who
have given careful consideration OF
this question. It is also. agreed that
we should have G second line, thor
oughly equipped and trained force, OF
organized militia Of not less than
$4,000 men, properly proportioned
as to its stan, several arms with
stores and supplies necessary tor its
operation ID the fela for q like Pc
riod."
Gen. Wotherspoon outlined the
plan through which he would double
the strength Of the regular army and
create the reserve. The enlisted men
would serve short term with the
colors, then pass into the reserves for
periods Of Ave years or more, being
at all times under obligation to re-
spond in case Of national need.
Assuming the report says. the
adoption Of short term OF enlist
ment-say three years-for the pas
sage Of men thoroughly trained 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 a longer period than
fiye years, it would appear that the
size OF the regular or standing army
to be used as school for the train
ing OF reservists should be about
.2O5,o0o enlisted men,"