The Washington herald., 1915-11-14

The plan Of the Secretary Of War for
army expansion and the preparedness OF
the military establishment is premature
and immature IN about equal proper
TONS" says the Army and Navy Regis
ter Its chief characteristic is its in
defniteness; its striking feature is its
ambiguity; its main invitation to con-
gressionaI interest Is in what is left to
the Imagination. II may be claimed for
It as a merit that II will, be certain to
create controversy and, therefore. COM
pei attention which 1t might otherwise
fan to invoke; Il win assuredly accom-
plish that much because 1t goes to Con-
gress with so many omissions in the way
of essential detail, permitting wide
scope Of varied view and inspiring vol
ume of pertinent Interrogation. The sat
isfaction of legislative curiosity in that
particular will be the work of exeprts,
and II is unfortunate that Mr.. Garrison
has committed himself to a scheme that
s so hagrantly incomplete
TT is by no means certain. Of course,
that Congress would have accepted with
out revision a recommendation on the
Tubject originating with the general
Itaf Of the War Department. There
we're, indeed. some preliminary indica-
lions of opposition to whatever might be
derived from that quarter on the as
sumption that it would be too militar-
Istfc and. consequently and correspond
ngly, dangerous to our institutions and
4 burden to the people. All Of that Is
anticipated in the antagonism that has
appeared in the expressions of the paci-
fists. But had the Secretary of War
adopted the views of the General Staf,
he would at least have been in the posi- |
ton of saying that he did the best he
could as head of the War Department |
and as the advisor OF the President. on
military administration to render a serv-
ice for the benefit OF the cause OF pre-
paredness.
He is in no such measurably strength
ened position row in the face of his re-
lection of the General STAFF report or of |
his muddle Of that report to an extent !
which amounts to his rejection Of It. 1t
is safe TO say that the views of the
General Stan will be called for by Con-
gress. That information without ques-
ton is a necessity in the framing of
such important army legislation as is
destined TO engage the attention of the
House and Senate military committees
AT the beginning of the Sixty-fourth
Congress, constituting a subject which
iS NJ bas |
assumed in many years. It is Of advan-
tage to Congress. in reaching a conciu-
sion for the purpose Of enactment Of an
enlarged and a dependable military force.
that the knowledge and experience of
the exeprts shall at least be available
10 those who will have the RESPONSE
oility of formulating the legislation; they
vital purpose with reliance exclusively
upon Mr.. Garrison's memorandum, made
known last Saturday.
While no one has expected that the
new military project would contemplate
a Tremendous increase in the regular
army. it was legitimate to anticipate
much more than Mr.. Garrison suggests
oS ten regiments OF infantry, Tour reg1-
ments of field artillery, fifty-two COM !
panies of coast artillery. fifteen COM
panies Of engineers and four aero squad ,
rons. an acquisition distributed over a !
period of two years. c
1T has been explained that Mr.. Gar
rison evidently fashioned his recon-
to fit his preconception of the /
intention in the matter of
army increase, but in the absence of !
anything definite from the leaders as to Z
The extent and character of their willing
ness in that regard. it seems hardly prob 6
able that any such futile purpose can be
Justly ascribed to him; certainly the little
hat has been vouchsafed as to congress
'ional inclination indicates much more
n the way OF provision for additional
ieId artillery and aero organizations than
las been included in Mr.. Garrison's pro- r
ram. \
1t may be good politics TO beat Con- v
'ress to a demonstration in economy. but
here ought to be nothing in the depart u
mental plan Of military expansion which a
avors OF politics. good or bad. The Sec J
etary of War can afford 70 On before