Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-10-21
Former Secretary of State Is
in Washington Laying Lines
for the Coming Struggle
Over Preparedness.
AMBITIOUS PLANS READY
Half Billion Dollar Addition to
Navy, and Army of 140,-
600, With 1900, 900 Re-
serve, Are Favored.

ton is rife owe the action by congress-
on the administrations national defense
program. The fact hat William j.
Bryan is in Washington preparing to
wage war on it and beat the admins
lstrations' plans il possible has added
to the interest.
confident the program in substance will
go through. They believe enough re-
publlcans will support it to more than
onset m OBJECTIONS which Bryan may
be able to cause.
Presid. mt Wilson has given his Of
mean approval to the army and naval
plans for a greater national defense.
ngre will be asked for an immedi-
ate outlay of $500. 000, 900 for the COM
Ing year.
Details of the administration pro-
gram Tor national defense became
known officially today. They include
a slx-year program, which in thai time
VIII bring the American army with re-
serves up to 1900, 900 trained men and
nave a building program to add 16 cap
ital ships: 10 ~dreadnaughts and six
cruisers. IS submarines, so d%estroyers
n 10 scout cruisers in five years,
with proportionate increases in per-
sonnet and officers.
Approved BY Wilson.
Estimates of appropriations needed
gram are placed at $IS2. ooo, 900 foe the
army and s216, 10000 FOR .he navy.
President Wilson has approved the
program as sumEitted by SECRETARIES
Garrison n DanAels.
In the first years Secretary
Daniels has recommended the building
OF two dreadnaughts, two battle cruis-
ers, % coast submarines, five oceaS.
going submarines, 10 destroyers. three
scout ships, an increase Of 5000 enlisted
men and legislation for the appoint
naval academy.
For the army $72.0 900, 900 more than
last year will be asked and for the
navy a SOS, 900, 900 increase. making the
total increase for defense over last year
$40, 600, 900.
atoms for national defense will be be-
tween s39S,Oo0 900 and $500, 900, 900, the
latter figure being the estimate that
has been kept in mind from the begin.
ming as the limit for expenditures.
100000 in Six Years.
Secretary Garrison's plan to increase
the regular army from $1,000 to 140, 900
men under a six-year enlistment, re-
quirlng two years of service and four
years in reserve. will give about 800, 900
reserves in six years, according to war
department calculations. The cont.
rental army. which is to be created by
means of a slx-year enlistment of two
months each wear for three years, with
the colors, and three years of reserve
subject to call at will at the end Of
Xix years, gives a total of 800, 900 men.
rh1s trained citizen army, together
With the regulars, will give, with the
$4,000 national guardsmen, a mobile
trmy of more than 1900. 900 men in six
Eears.
Tho YIor ic 1,nr<1l ~~ ~ -.
hat the nation must depend upon a
:itizen army, largely Of a volunteer
character, in line of war. There are
many hundreds Of thousands of young
men,. it is said. who have both the
line and inclination to devote at least
iWo months a year to rigid and active
military training, and the continental
lrmy would be composed of these.
eav1ng the national guard those citi-
tens whose responsibilities prevent
heir devoting more than one night a
week or so to military service. With
Xix months actual field training army
,~fficers are confident that the con-
mental army would be us thoroughly
organized as is possible with any sys-
EN- short of compulsory service and
/ regular establishment Of 500, 900 men.
officers for the new army would be
obtained from civil life almost entirely.
Us the West Point military academy
l NOdlt pC oNeI IdAeO even TO SuDDly Of
lcers for the Increased regular army.
even at the present not more than
1alf or the officers of the army are
West Point graduates, and an extern
ion of the work at West Point would
be required to care for new regiments
10 be created.
Would Provide Guns.
Fol the continental army the plan
;ontemplates drafting from the ma
l btnnaJ ri rI aud FV~v, - , -,
buttons where military training is COM
Pulsory at least 1000 officers a year for
Zach of the first two years. Eventually.
t is hoped that all military schools in
The country can be standardized az to
heir course in engineering and other
military sciences.
Adequate arms, field guns and re-
serve munitions would be provided.
The new army would be organized in
convenient geographical divisions and
pm the theory that its members could
De citizens of the districts in which
heir organizations were located.
Regular places OF mobilization and
for storage of equipment for each com
pany would be provided and every man
pr the force would know where to 90.
Ind what he was expected to do when
! call to arms came. The six years en-
tstment would bind him to answer any
,all to the colors regardless of any per-
,onal affairs with which it might in
.erfere.
While under training the men of the
continental army would receive the
regular army pay.
In the beginning the new army would
be organized by companies, and later
would be constituted into regiments.
brigades, divisions and army corps as
they developed in the various sections
of the country.
WOULD KNOW RESOURCES.
Atlantic City, N. j., Oct. 16.-In
closing their annual sessions here today|
the American Hardware Manufacturers.
association requested President Wilson |