The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-02
GARRTSON'S ARMY
PLAN MAY BE LOST
Senator Chamberlain's OPPOSE
ton Due to Col. Glenn's In
reference, Secretary Says.
OMNIBUS BILL Is URGED

WAsHINGroN. Feb. IA sharp diff.
ference of opinion has developed between
Secretary of War Garrison and Senator
Chamberlain. chairman Of the Military AZ.
fairs Committee, a. to how legislation for
the Improvement ofthe military establish
ment which both agree is needed, should
be sought Should the two be unable to
reach an agreement there Is danger that
prospects for the better preparation OF
the army for war will largely disappear
for the present.
Secretary Garrison in his annual re-
port distinguished between a general
scheme for giving the country adequate
military defences and measures which
could be adopted at once for certain
material improvements. To this end he
presented six bills which were offered
by Senator Chamberlain Favorable ac-
ton In committee on the bills seemed
certain.
Senator Chamberlain last week sur
prised the Secretary with the statement
In letter to him that he did not APP
prove Of the bills as a whole and sug-
gested that the Secretary submit a bill
which would provide for the complete
reorganization and rebuilding Of tho
army in accordance with the principles
laid down In report compiled three
years ago, which is the basis OF the pol
icy Of the War Department
Omnibus mn n Risk.
To this suggestion Secretary Garrison
replied to-day with the statement that
to submit sort OF omnibus army bill
would he to run the risk OF the army
getting none OF the things II now most
urgently needs.
In his letter he took occasion to refer
TO the activities OF Col Edward +.
Glenn, now attached to the stan OF tho
eastern division at Governors Island.
The idea prevails at the War Depart
ment that Col. Glenn's activities In sup
port Of his plan for general bill are
not unrelated TO the suggestion now
made by Senator Chamberlain, as the
Senator appealed last year TO the War
Department to have Col. Glenn retained
al the War College longer than his at
lott.d period. The Secretary's answer to
these suggestions was to transfer Col.
Glenn to New York Concerning this
phase of the matter Mr.. Garrison says
From time to time the War College
has devoted its attention 10 formulating
general bill covering the whole sub
ject matter. recall that an officer
connected with the General STAFF APP
p"aled 81 YOU some time last summer
10 secure his retention in Washington
TO work on this very matter, and that
YOU brought It 10 my attention. HIS
duties called him elsewhere, and | notice
that he has continued his activity In
this respect and has caused his views To
be published in several newspapers.
Il suppose II Is too much to h"pe
that all % the officers Of the army can
be expected TO reach the wise conclusion
that by interfering with the policies
adopted by the war Department they
cannot achieve any good results and
almost always succeed IN blocking and
be fer the best interests of the service"
would Delay Result.
Concerning Senator Chamberlaln's
proposal the Secretary said:
IT We could deal with the question
Ideally, OF course. the proper way 10 30
would be to prepare one great bill en-
bracing everything and ask that 1t be
accepted as whole and thus enacted.
believe the effect OF dCing this would
he to retard the subject matter almost
to a hopeless extent, and certainly would
impair the opportunity of achieving the
result aimed at with so vast sub
ject as this It is practically impossible
10 settle II all Al one time in one
measure.
The practical way to deal with this
matter Is along the Lines with which we
are now dealing with Il. We have laid
down a broad military policy. We have
published 1t. All those interested either
have or can secure the statement OF
these views containing all Of the essential
outlines Of the policy. Step by step
we should proceed to put into effect the
principles uf the policy thus adopted
G. ngress, as II is asked to take each
step, has before II the general outline
OF the whole policy"