The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-27
WILSON'S DEFENCE
SCHEME IN PERIL
Collapse Of the Programme
May Follow factiOnal
Strife in Congress.
GARRISON PLAN \ TARGET

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2s.-!: is apparent
now that the Administrators prepared
ness programme is in bad way In
Congress. Secretary Gar,ison's plan for
raising a continental army seems TO
be actually on the rocks, and II would
not be surprising IL It went to pieces.
The first two weeks OF Congress
clearly indicated that there was trouble
ahead for the army and navy pro.
gramme. but especially for the former.
In the last few days Congress leaders
who have remained In Washington have
become more outspoken as to the dif-
ficulty confronting the Administration,
The danger to the programme is due
only In part to the men who are openly
fighting preparedness. II comes also
from the attitude Of the members Of
Congress who feel that the Administra-
ton has not gone far enough and who
will insist on military programme In
keeping with the recommendations Of
the army and navy experts.
Fear IL expressed by Administration
leaders that between these two elements
the situation will be SO confused that the
President will no, be able to obtain the
necessary votes 20 pull his programme
through. II IL understood the President
has urged early action on the defence
measures
Gen. Robert Shaw Oliver. formerly As.
sistant Secretary of War. gave out q
| statement to-day indorsng n resolution
OF the Army League calling for universe
military training. Gen. Oliver said:
Tho Army League Of the United
States has decided that universal mill
tary training Of men fDm IS to 81
years old Is the only true solution OF
the question as to the method Of raising
a force OF citizen soldiers other than
the organized militia. The executive
| council has passed a resolution EN-.
bodyng this policy and recommendina
IL general plan which avoids the de-
mand for a large standing army and
disposes of the bugabOo of militarisn
In II moderate and reasonable increase
of the regular army,
| "a careful study of expert opinion
would appear 30 require for the defence
OF our overseas possessions regular
| army Of at least $4,000 men. Such 9
force, when divided between the Panams
Canal Zone. Alaska, the Philippines
Hawaii and Porto Rico and other navy
bases, could hardly be considered ex
cessive even by the little army men,
| 1.-THE regular army at home woult
| consist OF the COAST artlIieTy OF one re
| lief and the mobile force q. G.. cavalry
artillery, infantry and special troops)
skeletonixed to train the citizen soldier
and for that purpose distributed In {
number OF division districts.
EVERY branch OF the mobile arm,
constituting a division would he included
| In each Of these units. About TOO reg
ulars would be included In each district
A complete division would be built VI
In three years by enlisting each yea
about 1000 young men IS years old II
each district Twenty-Five divisiona
districts would then supply force o
500 900.
"For the last three years Of the 81,
year enlistment these troops would pas
into the reserve subject to the call o
the President and then be given full dis
charge. Thus there would he Away
SOC, 900 OF the reserve. This woult
mean the training and cost Of l67.00'
men each year with the colors and II
the schools.
''These men should receive army pa.
for that number OF mon the first year
two weeks the second and third year,
or thirteen m0nths In oil"