The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-10-18
PLAN ron ARMY or DEFENSE Il
PROPOSED.

w III rIEN4D4E IDttDl1 uA k44t dLt4d
progress of the world toward peac'
completely upset BY the appalling OF
Jet lessoE presented BIZ Eur vp'
during the past year. the question o.
preparedness has been forced to tbs
front as a grave public issue in
America. While the people Of the
United States abhoT war and vii
never seek #. the conviction is becom-
ing more deep-seated that in world
community where many Of the neigh
bors possess the war habit. this
country must be prepared to take care
Of itself effectively in the event II i
forced into bloody conflict.
TO meet the situation that has been
revealed, the national administration
ia making plans for larger military
and naval establishment. not for the
purpose Of going to war, but for de-
tense. A part OF the plans that will be
submitted to congress relates 70 In
crease In the army. According 10
press dispatches from Washington.
the program which Secretary Garri-
son will present to the national legis.
lature is substantially as follows:
First--ReguIar army, 10000 men.
an increase Of more than $4,000 men
in the present establishment
sccond-A continental army. 400.
600 strong. enlisted for six years for
service within the continental United
States. These men could serve two
months year for the first three years
with the colors, undergoing period Of
intensive training. A remaining three
years they would be on furlough, sub
ject to call at time Of need.
Ii is estimated that 10000 Of the
$4,000 men thus provided for would
be non-combatants Of the medical
corps, or other auxiliary forces, not
included in the fighting line.
Behind this army would be the ma
tional guard now some 125.0o0 strong,
but whose numbers might be substan-
tally augmented by the continental
army. The plans contemplate the
transfer of such national guard off
GERS and men as desire II into the
continental army and more liberal
treatment OF the guardsmen would be
nrged, and increase Of these state
forces encouraged in every possible
way.
Increases in the regular establish
ment contemplated are:
Infantry-Ten regiments.
Field artillery regiments
oCast artillery--Fifty-two COM
paDies,
Engineer corps-Fifteen companies
Aviation corps-Two detachments,
All Of these new commands would
be organized at peace strength. Ade-
cuate supplies Of small army and field
guns and howitzers and Of reserve
ammunition for the enlarged estab
lisbment would be sought.
The plan is erected on the theory
that the nation must depend upon a
citizen army largely Of volunteer
character. In time Of war There are
many hundreds Of thousands of young
men. ii IS said. who have both the
time and inclination to devote at least
Two months year to rigid and inten
glve military training and the conti-
mental army would be composed of
these, leaving 10 the national guard
those citizens whose responsibilities
prevent their devoting more than one
night week or 20 to military service
With six months actual field traininp
army officers are confident that the
continental army would be as thor
oughly organized as is possible with
any system short Of compulsory serv
ice and regular establishment of hal
a million men.
Officers for the new army would bf
obtained from civil life almost en-
tIreIy. as the West Point military
academy would be overtaxedl even te
supply officers for the increased reg
uiar army
Even al present no more than hal
Of the officers Of the army are Wes'
Point graduates. and an extension q
the work al West Point would be re.
ouired to care for the new regiments
10 be created.
For the continental army the plan
contemplets drawing from the ma
tlonal guard and from educaticnaF ir
stItutions where military training