The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-17
WILSON AGAINST
A COMPULSORY
DEFENCEA
He Is i'm Conflict With the
War Department
Officials.
OPPOSES 4 LARGE
IACREASE OF FORCE
President Asks Secretary
Garrison to Revise
the Plans.

WAsHiSGroN. Sept. Ie.-President
Wilson is said to have intimated to the
whr Department officials that he will
not approve any plan for compulsory
military education or service which may
BE- suggested by them in their recon-
rendations for the reorganization OF the
army.
The President has frowned on the ef-
forts OF the General stan to convince
him and he has suggested material modi-
foations in the plans Cor an increase in
the army as formulated by Secretary
: Garrison and the War College.
Word has gone out from The War
Department that II is not wise to specu-
late on the reorganization scheme. The
President does not want the country to
believe that there has been any material
conflict in opinion between him and the
military experts, although he has deter
mined not to go to the length that the
experts desire to bring the army up to
what they conceive to be an efficient
defensive standard.
The President is still opposed gener-
programme. although he realizes that
the country is demanding an increase
The Administration is now attempting
o. feel out the country in an effort to
See Just what 1t will be satisfied with.
Secretary Garrison and the War Col
Increase the strength of the regular
army to 100000, to provide for a reserve
Of an equal size made up OF former regu-
lar soldiers, and to increase the avail
able State militia forces to 220.OOO
through the granting of additional Fed
sral aid.
Wants the plan Revised.
THIS plan calls for a considerable in
crease In the appropriations for the
army To avoid such an increase the
President has asked Secretary Garrison
% revise the plan. AS matters now
stand the War Department is said to be
entirely up in the air on the proposition.
Up to several days ago officers on the
General Staff were enthusiastic about
the prospect of getting some sort OF
executive announcement for compulsory
military education. Now these officers
hardly dare admit their own opinions In
that regard.
Opponents OF the Administration are
following the Presidents course with
great interest. 1t is said that President
Wilson does not want TO go before the
country 10 ask for a bond issue or 10
defend a policy which might leave the
Treasury in debt at the opening OF the
national campaign next year.
The general fund balance of the
Treasury is decreasing daily. II has
been pointed out by fnanciers that the
United States, unless it enacts new tax
Ing measures, must certainly 20 TO the
country with request for loan In
the near future or else sell the Panama
Canal bonds now in the Treasury.
Under present financial conditions the
United States would have to enter the
market as a bidder for credit In COM
petition with the belligerents, it was
pointed out. The Presidents friends
admit that he abhors such an Idea They
also admit that he is attempting to
eliminate such possibility through
forced economies, wherever it Is possible
~ make such economies.
Prepar ration for a Fight.
Mr. Wilson will soon begin his prep
aratlon for the fight expected on the ma
national defence programme at the next
session of Congress September 29, when
w W III WIN CHAIRMAN dubttt VI
the House Committee on Naval Affairs.
II Is expected that by that time the
President will have received from Secre-
tary Daniels {. fairly definite statement
of the General Boards views regarding
the building programme and that he will
be ready to discuss with Mr.. Padgett
ways and means for getting the Adj
minis1raton's programme adopted with
the least friction.
The President had brief conference
with Secretary Daniels to-day regarding
the problem of national defence. No dis
closure Of the Presidents views was OBJ
talnable however.
There seem good reasons for the ex-
nectation that the programme to be
presented % Congress by the President
Will not overlook the fundamental i'm
portance Of the battleship in modern
naval warfare for the sake Of a
Spectacular submarine programme. Per-
sons who are regarded as familiar In a
general way with the purposes In the
Presidents mind are confident that there |
will be no sacrifice of battleships. the
number the President is expected TO |
recommend being four.