The Washington times., 1915-12-10
u. SAT MERCY OF
> FOE, ARMY MEN SAY
War College Experts in Report
Ask for Standing Army Of
One Million.
Continued from First PaEe.)

Continued from First Pagel
ton of the submarine, the aeroplane. and
wireless telegraphy all supplement
ocean transport in placing both our A.
lantic and Pacific coasts within the
sphere of hostile activities of oversee
nations"
Faulty leadership, needless waste OF
lives and property. costly pension pay
ments and undue prolongations OF past
wars were due, the report said. to lack
Of preparedness.
I'VE are forced to the conclusion"
the War College report continues. that
we must be prepared to resist a COM
bined land and sea operation OF for-
midable strength. Our important har-
bors and principal coast cities have al
ready been protected by harbor de-
fenses.
Open To Enemy.
THE enemy being unable to gain .
foothold in any of these fortified areas
by direct naval attack will, therefore, be
forced to find some suitable place on
the coast from which Interpretations
can be conducted both against the i'm.
portant coast cities and the rich COM
mercial centers in the interior.
Long stretches Of coast line between
the fortified places lie open to the
enemy. The only reasonable way In
which these localities can be defended
is by providing a mobile land force OF
sufficient strength, so located that 1t
may be thrown In at any threatened
points at the proper time.
Our system should be able to furnish
troops at the outbreak OF war and to
have at least 10000 more available
within ninety days thereafter. We
should provide also for at least 600. .vJ0
additional troops to replace the Losses
and wastage In personnel incident to
the war;
The report provides also for making
the Hawaiian Islands safe from attack
by heavily fortifying Oahu and Pearl
harbor and by keeping a force Of sub
marines and destroyers there.
Control of Pacific.
UNLESS we provide such dual defense
OF the Hawaiian Island We cannot be
, sure of retaining control OF that part
of the Pacific" the report says.
To defend the Panama canal. the re-
port urges a permanent garrison large
enough to guard the locks. spillways
and other important works and to pre-
vent a naval attack, which. under mod
ern conditions might precede a declara-
"A modern fleet might land a small
Taidng party Of several thousand blue
| jackets and such a force landing out of
| range OF the seacoast guns could. II
| unopposed, penetrate to some vulnerable
part of the canal within a few hours.
The permanent garrison, therefore.
should include a mobile force strong
enough to anticipate and defeat naval
raids"
The War College plan provided for .
regular army constantly under arms OF
| 2S3. 800. In continental United States
| alone there was provision for 12l ,0ot
| combatant mobile troops. and N,00(
coast artillery troops. The enlistment
period was proposed to be eight years
| two years with the colors and six years
| In reserve. Inside Of eight years this
would give a reserve OF $4,000.
Six-Year Enlistment.
The continental army Of 800 oo0 In
addition to the regular reserve. was to
have an enlistment Of six years, three
years with the colors and three years
on furlough.
| Under this plan it was provided
| that the regular army with its re-
| serves would increase from $4,000
| the first year Of it's operation under
the plan proposed to l.134.00J at the
end of eight years. 1t would be re-
+ tanned at that figure.
! Secretary Garrison made the report
of the War College a part OF the re-
port he made today, SO that all avail
| able information on the preparedness
needs OF the country might be made
available to Congress and the public