The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-12-10
Military Information,

TT would appear says the Army and Navy
Journal, that Secretary of War Garrison is not
personally responsible for the report issued from
the war department in his name His loyalty to
the administration Of which he is member re-
ing his recommendations to congress on the sub
iect of preparedness. Those who have studied his
first annual report and read his public utterances
realize that the program which has been adopted
is not that represents Mr.. Garrison's ideas,
"a shown in his outline of policy published two
weeks ago. 1t is not in harmony with the plans
that he had announced when the President author
lied him to prepare a report on the question of
land defense AT that time Mr., Garrison EXPLAIN
ed that the report that to be sent to the next
congress would be really elaboration of the re-
port Of 1912 He made no secret of his intention
TO be guided by the recommendations of the war
college, +.'
1t will be remembered that after Secretary Gar
rison sent his first report to the President it was
held for five or six weeks without any action. 1t
was during this period that the President was
visited by Senator Kern, of Indiana, the leader of
the senate; Representative Kitchin, of North Caro-
lima, the leader of the house. and a number of
other small army" men. From an absolutely
reliable source it has been learned that it was
colleges report. Hostility toward the military
authorities has been further indicated by the de-
cision this week not to make the college report
public until after congress convenes in Decor
Der. This report is treated as if it were one Of
the regular annuol reports from the bureaus in
the department. 1t is realized that the country's
attention is now conferred on the question of ma
tional defense. Earnest and thoughtful men, with
out regard to party affiliations, seeking light
upon the subject. They want the very best adj
vice as to what should be done and have been
expecting expert opinions from the depart
ment, and the President in his letter on the sub
ject given out in June promised to give this to
the country.
The President was appealed to to permit the
publication of the report by the secretary, who it
is known, favored giving out not only his own
report but the report of the war college two
months ago Not only the secretary of war, but
a number of prominent advocates of national de-
Tense Urged that the war college report be pub
lshed before congress convenes so that the mem
bers OF congress may have an opportunity to dis
cuss it with their constituents. But this small
favor has been refused 1t is the evident purpose
to get all the members of congress into Wash.
ington; where they can be reached more easily and
where they will have less time to consider the
report But despite all of these efforts the war
college report Will be considered by congress and
the country when it is made,public.
Every event in the European war emphasizes
the Importance of allowing the military author
tiles to control military affairs The time was
when the people could be deluded by demagogic'
attacks upon army officers, but now thinking men
begin to recognize them as the highest authority
on military affairs, and they will not be satisfied
if the war college recommendations are disregard
ed in legislating for the army. We are informed
that the war college plan provides for a much
larger number OF trained men and does not "Cn-
tain such temporizng ideas as are to be found
in the much discussed Continental Army plan 1t
has not been the custom in the past to publish
recommendations of the general staff of the army
or the general board of the navy, Secretary Dan
iels having created precedent in attaching the
general boards report to his own statement Of
the ships required by the navy. But in time
like the present when so much is at stake, il would
seem to be advisable to discard precedent IN the
war department, at least to the extent which has
been allowed in the navy department. The peo-
pie are entitled to know the expert opinion Of the
men the country pays to formulate its defense
plans. 1t is quite safe to say that the college
plan differs substantially from the plan adopted
by the administration.