The Washington herald., 1914-01-14
NEED RESERVES,
SAYS gen. WOOD
Vital Problem Confronts the
Army. He Declares. IN
Annual Report.
WANTS MORE ARTILLERY
Present Force. with Militia. 1t L
Stated. Would Have Poor Chance
Against Big Nation.

The United States Army. re-enforced
by the entire militia force of the States,
has neither. the officers. men, field guns.
nor artillery ammunition which would be
required In the first few weeks Of war
with any first-class power. This state
ment is made in the annual report of
Mai. Gen. Leonard Wood, Chief of Staff,
made public yesterday.
Gen. Wood holds that the necessity for
providing a reserve of trained men avail
able for duty with the United States
forces in the event of war is a critical
problem confronting the government
Next in importance he places the urgent
need for more field artillery, to bring
this arm OF the military service up to the
minimum strength required. There Is
hardly enough artillery ammunition in
the United States to supply the existing
batteries with enough shells for one big
engagement, it is declared.
The Chief of STAFF recommends the cre-
alton of sufficient additional regiments to
permit the organization of three COM
plete infantry divisions in the United
States, or one field army. He also favors
legislation providing for the elimination
from the service of all officers who have
outlived their efficiency or failed to make
Mobile Army Small.
In speaking OF the need for reserves,
Gen. Wood calls attention 10 the fact
that the mobile army within the limits
CT the United States is SO small as 20
provide only per cent of the force re-
CURED in 4 conflict with any first-class
nation. The militia forces number about
10 per cent Of the total force required,
bringing the entire trained force avail
able at a call to arms only Is per cent
of that required at the outset. Seventy
five per cent, therefore, Of the forces
required at the beginning OF war,
would have 10 be made up of volun-
teers
ITO fill up organizations 90 full statu-
tory strength says Gen Wood, with
Cninstructed men would bS to destroy
largely their efficiency; to fail to fill
them up would be to leave them 50
small that they would have relatively
little power. They must be filled up
by instructed men to attain their full
efficiency, and the losses of the first
Tronths must be made up from the same
class Of men. This can be done only
through reserve.
at is believed legislation shorld be had
modifying the present enlistment con-
uact so as to give an enlistment which
Will permit a mans transfer to the re-
Is 4 well trained soldier, rs determined
icy his company and post commanders.
A soldier so transferred would serve
the balance of mis- enlistment period with
the cOlors in the status of 4 soldier or
furlOugh without pay, but under the
obligation to come to the colors in case
Of war, and for instruction at maneuvers,
if deemed advisable, for not to exceed
six to ten days every other year. What
ever system Of reserves is adopted, il
should provide ultimately for a total
reserve service of at least two and one
half times the service with the colors.
Building Up Reserve.
In the early stages of building up i
reserve, il will be necessary TO enlist
men directly in the reserve-men who
have had previous military service. The
provision for a reserve must provide for
a paid reserve of all men, except those
who are serving the balance of their
active enlistment in the reserve on fur
Tough. 1t is not believed men will enlist