New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-11
First Legislative Step for
Preparedness To Be
Taken To-day.
STAFF'S PLANS ARE
IN FIVE MEASURES
Garrison Argues for Increase
from s7,464 TO 1O9,62S in
Line of Regular Force.
Won NJ T-Isuro Dneaul

Washington. Jan. 10.--The first leg
islative sten to place the military forces
Of the United States on the basis OF
preparcdness for war will be taken bN
the Senate Military Affairs Comm wee
fo-rorrow. when tho bills employing
the plans for increasing the ehclencE
Of tho army worked out by the Cen
oral staff and suggested by Secretary
Garrison. which have been introduced
nv Senator Chamberlain, chairman. VIII
be taken up for consideration. An e.
fort will be made 10 obtain iaNoIaole
rcports on these measures and action
on thcm by the Senate during the pres
cpt session OF Congress.
The General staff plan recommended
Inv Secretary Garrison is incorporated
In hve bills. These provide tor;
The maintenance Of organizations OF
;he mobile army at their maNimum1
strength and an increase OF l'UOO OF
An increase Of twenty officers in the
signal corps.
reserve.
serve corps.
The establishment OF an army trans
portation reserve corps.
The enactment of these measures
viii IL Is believed. give the United
States a military force Of no mean
nronortioDs. which can be made avail
eb1c for service with the least posi-
HE DELAY and least possible eXpendlt-
ure of money. They carry out the
Presidents idea OF trained "citl-
zenry." e4.-
In communication 10 Senator
Chamberlain Secretary Garrison MAKES
inc following explanation OF the hrsJ
Of these measures:
The bill. is passed. will permit the
maintenance Of the present orgahl1a-
lions of the line of the regular army
q, Tho strength prescribed by statute
without adding any organizations 10
no army. Under existing law, the
President has authority 10 MAINTAIN the
onli,ted strength Of the army, lAcluI-
NO the Philippine Scouts, at lOO,0Oo
Under existing executive orders Iha'
authorized strength rs ol,f3l LOT the
line OF the regular army ana BOO IOr
tbe Philippine Scouts. total OF 81
i64D Although the President under
cxisti,c legislation, could issue an eT-
ccu,ive order raising the enlisted
strength Of the army, including the
Philippine Scouts. 10 100000 men, new
ortbeless. IL is urgently recommended
hat the bill be passed, that the or
ranizations Of the mobile army IN the
Continental limits of the United states
NAV he maintained at full statutory
strength. a.
ALREADY the organizations OF the
mobile army on foreign service and all
organizations Of coast artillery are
maintained at full statutory strength
n is lust as requisite for reasons o.
accumulation. instruction and readi'
ness for defence that the organization:
of the mobile army in the continental
limited States be maintained likewise a
fuil strength.
"Tbe bin under consideration, !
nassed. will authorize the President u
increase the enlisted strength OF th'
line of the regular army, not lnelud
ing the Philippine Scouts. TO lO3,o9i
men. This represents statutory IN
,rease of 9S28 enlisted men IN th'
line of the regular army. Including The
enlisted strength (5,733) of the Phil
ippine Scouts as now authorized by
executive order. the total strength Of
the line would be lO9,626.
1T would supply more adequate
force IN the mobile army IN the Con
1ncntal United States. though this
.orce would still be very small. II
would afford training for the officers
IN command of such units as they
must command in time OF war, and
would prevent, so far as the regular
,rmv IS concerned, the crowdng Of
he ranks with raw levies. which al
WAYS disorganize and render inef-
fcient the organizations into which