The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-11-10
OUTLINE OF WILSON'S
DEFENSE PROGRAMME,
Details of the New Army and Navy
Changes are Given to the Public
for the First Time.

for the First Time.
Washington, November G.-An out
line of The army's part in the national
dclensc program to be submitted to
congress in December by the admins
tratlon was made public Friday by
Secretary Garrison disclosing official
~ Tor the first time details Of the plan
10 raise Il great continental or citizen
army to supplement the regular es-
taDlishmcnt.
IN brief, it is proposed to increase
the regular army from 1OS,O0S to ILL.,
"i5 olllcers and men Changing the
term OF enlistment from four years
with the colors and three years on
lurlough to two years with the colors
ana -FOUR years on furlouglD; to or
ganize a federal citizen army of 400
ooo Ito be enlisted 10000 year for
three years.; to strengthen the state
militia by increased appropriations
and closer cooperation; and to spend
S2o,oo0.O0O year for four years on
coast defenses and $26,OOO,OO0 a year
for four years in the accumulation of
reserve material for use by force OF
100000 men.
Mr.. Garrison says that the trainers
or the new policy are fully conscious
OF the possibility of formulating Mill
tary policies much better in theory,
but that "aftcr concentrated consider
auon of existing legal and other con-
ditions they think it will be found that
almost insupcrable objections and diff
ilcultics arise in carrying into practi-
cal operation suggestions that from
the military standpoint might other
wise be very acceptable.
The statement reveals that in the
preparation of their plans, War De-
partmcnt officials have called into
consultation specialists in various
lines Of private industry.
1T has been proposed" it says, "to
make available in time Of need the
services of those in certain kinds Of
employment requiring special knowl-
edge and skill, such as railroad men,
bridge builders, engineers Of all des-
cription, etc., and leading MEN in
these lines and professions have been
collaborating with the War Depart
ment In an endeavor to formulate, by
legislation or administrative action, an
acceptable and useful plan with re-
spcct thereto
"in this connection, and because of
the patriotic spirit thus displayed it
seems desirable to say that if those
who are the employers Of the young
men of the country cannot by reason
of age or situation in life, give their
personal service, they can do that
which will be equally useful by en-
couraging in every way the partici-
patton of those in their employ in
the plan Of national defense. If they
would so arrange their business that
certain proportion of those whom
they engage could undertake this ma
tional service without sacrificing their
personal interests, those who did this
thing would be acting in the most
public-spirited and patriotic manner
possible"
The citizen army would be recruit
ed throughout the entire country and
organized in geographical divisions
Its members, though enlisted for six
year terms, would be required to re-
port for intensive training only for
short periods each year for three
years and during the remaining three
years would be furloughed subject to
call to the colors In time Of war. In
addition to officers who may be de-
ton, Mr.. Garrison proposed to draw
officers for this force from men who
have served in the national gaurd or
the regular army or who have been
trained In private military schools
Individuals or organizations in the
existing national guard free to do so
would be permitted to come into the
citizen army without change of rank.
For the next fiscal year, when It IS
proposed to put this new policy into
operation. congress will be asked to
appropriate $lS2,717,036; the second
year the amount will be $212,Sl5,S19;
the third $22S,3l5,S79, and annually
thereafter If the policy were continued
without change the army budget would
be $1S2,234 $50.