The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-12-10

234.559 for the administration plan.
Secretary Garrison's statement
shows that the war college has been
asked to renew Its consideration Of
the subject in order that certain
OF it's estimates may be more fully
worked out.
The report opens with consldera-
ton of the military problem con-
fronting the United States from
which 1t reaches the conclusion that
THE safeguard Of isolation no long
er exists" since 1.-The oceans, once
barriers, are now easy avenues OF
approach by reason of the number,
speed and carrying capacity Of the
ocean-going vessels" 1t declares that
the successful outcome of the wars
in which the country has been en-
gagged has given the public a wrong
impression. In as much as careful
study of these wars reveal "a start
ling picture Of faulty leadership,
needless waste Of lives and property,
costly overhead charges augmented
by payment Of bounties to keep up
voluntary enlistments, undue pro-
longation Of all these wars and finally
Tor continuing pensions"
Lesson Not Learned. Il
But we have not learned our les
son." the report adds. ut has never
been driven home by the bitterness
of defeat. We have never known
Jena or Sedan"
Turning to 'our abiding national
policies" the board finds these to
the Monroe doctrine and the policy
Of avoiding "entangling alliance"
To maintain these, It says, n co-or-
dinated policy Of land and sea de-
Tense must be evolved.
The report contains a table of the |,
military strength Of the seven lead
Ing foreign powers as OF August, !
1914, and also an estimate OF the !
available shipping for a military ex-
petition to the United States. II |
says reasonable estimate" shows
that Austria-Hungary. with a total
trained force Of 100000 men could
send 10000 men with all necessary
stores and animals across the seas
within 40.7 days in two expeditions;
France, with 100000 men, 404,-
226 in thirty days: Germany with
100000 men, 1927, 900 in 30.8 days;
Great Britain, with $4,000 men,
10000 in twenty-seven days; Italy
with 100000 men, $4,000 in
thirty-flve days; Japan, with 2,212,-
600 men, 238.367 in forty-one days
and Russia, with 100000 men,
104.074 In forty days.
The qualities Of these troops, with
the exception Of the Japanese who
proved themselves in the Russian
war. are now being tested. the report
declares and finds that the result
Is to show ian example OF resultant
efficiency Of any nation that has
developed sound military policy;
the soundest policy being the one
which insures a successful terminar
ton Of the war in the shortest time"
Presenting the military problem OF
the country the report continues:
Without superiority on the sea or
an adequate land force there Is moth
Ing to prevent any hostile or coali- |
ton Of powers from landing on our
shores such part of its trained and
disciplined troops as its available
transports can carry. The time REL
CURED is limited only by the aver
age speed Of its vessels and the de-
lay necessarily consumed in en-
barking and disembarking."
Statement of Plan.
The report then makes this state
ment Of the military problem: I,
From what has been stated, we
are. forced to the conclusion that we
must be prepared to resist a. COM
bined land and sea operation Of
formidable strength. Our principal
coast cities and important harbors
have already been protected by har-
Dor defenses which, by passive me
thod alone, can deny to an enemy
the use Of these localities as bases for
such expeditions.
The enemy being unable to gain
a foothold in any OF these fortified
areas by direct naval attack will
therefore be forced to find some suit
able place on the. coast from which
land operations can be conducted
both against the important coast
cities and the rich commercial CEN
tiers 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 u BY pro
vtding q mobile land force Of sum
cient siren gtii; 90 located stiiatsit may