The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-11

In this rich region an invader could
maintain himself indefinitely. The har-
Dor defences maintained In this region
are reasonably strong. Ordinary pre-
caution demands that a mobile force of
n reasonable strength be maintained also
In this region.
California Coast.
0CsiifOrnia Area-Thege are five
tr~anscontinental lines Of railway enter
Ing Califcrnia-the Western Pacific and
southern Pacific by the passes through
' the Sierras northeast OF Sacramento:
the Atchfson. Topeka and mi FEE and
the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt
Lake via Daggettis Pass northeast ~
Los Angeles. and the southern Pacific
Via the Salton Sea and Gorgonia Pass
southeast of Los Angeles.
There are no other passes through
the Sierras that have been considered
practicable. There Is nc railroad run
ming south into Lower California. Only
one railroad, the Southern Pacific. runs
north into Oregon. As In the Puget
Sound region. communication with the
East is largely dependent upon struc-
lures readily destroyed By explosives
and impossible of restoration to traffic
within "A definite time: California and
the greater centres of population are
separated by wide expenses of sparsely'
settled country.
ITO transport promptly large bodies
Of troops into California would be dill
cult. IL not impossible. In face of oppo-
sition at the passes. The invader would
lave a most fertile region at his back.
while the reverse would he the situation
with us.
THE harbor defences maintained Ia
this region are reasonably strong. but
they are OF little use unless supported
by a reasonably strong mobile force
maintained in this region. To rely
for defence during the first stages OF n
war upon a mobile force shipped In from
the East Is to invite disaster.
ALONG Atlantic Coast.
"Atiantic Arra.-In case of wal with
a first class power on the Atlantic. that
portion of our country living between
and including Maine and Virginia would
undoubtedly be the primary object of AZ
invader. While all other points along
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and al
point on our Ian frontiers would un-
doubtedly be in danger, the danger would
he secondary to that of the north At
lantic States above named. Here ais,
the harbor defences are reasonably
strong and here also a mobile fore.
should he kept sufficient In size to hole
important points until the citizen sol,
diery can be modified.
"W hile many other regions are i'm
portant, the three regions described
Puget Sound. California and the NORTH
Atlantic Ststes-contain the critIra
areas.
"Middie West Area.-The centre o.
population OF the United states is IL
the middle West and here should b,
located IA mobile force for use in case %
need. on either the Pacific or Atlanti,
coast, the northern or southern border.
The outline of the War College plar
provides first that the regular arm,
shall be increased from its present mum
Der OF f02 900 officers and men to 258,
500, OF whom $4,000 shall be kept II
the United States and the rest In tn,
country's insular and axtra-territoria
possessions. such as the Philippines
Hawaii and the Panama Cana zone.
OF the $4,000 In continental United
States there would be 1000 mobile
troops and $1,000 coast defence troops
1t In proposed that the enlistment periot
be extended to cover eight years. tw,
with the colors and six in reserve. II be
ing estimated that under such a system
there would he accumulated In eigh
years a reserve regular army Of 1890,
men. which. with the 121 900 with tn,
] tOlbFs, WOulu klNt a tO'dl aNdl1dDIt reg
ular army OF 800. 600 officers and men
The Garrison or Administration plai
proposes a regular army Of only 40.
900 men.
Larger Continental Army.
In addition TO this regular army fore,
Of active and reserve forces the Wa
College proposes that the Continenta
army instead OF numbering 400. 0Ol
,,a, tla total AxaH In fI,a AIpniyI,tr,
zion programme. Mould consist of 500,
600, to be raised In three annual install
ments, enlisted for three years with tn,
colors and three on furlough. subject 4
call. Instead OF prescribing an annua
training period of two months as In tn,
Administration plan the War Colleg
and General STAFF urge a three mont
period.
Regarding the National Guard tn
military experts would have $1,000, 90
appropriated annually for Federal al,
instead of the 10000, 900 which tn
Administration proposes. On the othe
hand. the experts urge strongly tha
Congress repeal all provisions of tn
present law which provide that In tim
, of war State militia organization
shall he received into the Federal ser
vice In advance Of any other force.
These provisions. they insist. are EN-
barrassing to "a serious extent In tha
they prevent the President from deter
mining on The number of volunteers h
shall call for until after 1t has bee
demonstrated what proportion Of the or
ganized militia In the several Stat
will respond.
orally to the FlaE'' NEXT Tuesda ,
, A Rally To the Flag" meeting of tn
National Security League will be he'll
rext Tuesday afternoon In the Asto
|, Hotel, Joseph II. Choate. honorar
president. will preside n plans for tn
National Congress on Defence To be hel
in Washington in January will be dis
cussed.'
For . Government Powder Plan
> WASHINGTON. Dec. 10.--Acting on tn
recommendation OF he Navy Depart
: ment. Senator Tillman introduced a bi