Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-10-29
WILSON TO open
Fight FOR real
DEFENSE Scheme
fcontlnuee irom psee onel

% battleships Of the second and third
lire.
This nation has no battle cruisers.
while Great Britain and Germany had,
respectively 10 and eight at the out
break Of the war. The United States
has built, building, and authorized, 81
submarines as compared with Brit
ish fiotilIa of SO and a German iotiIla
OF IS at the outbreak of the war.
II is estimated that $500.000.G00
must be spent on the United States
navy within the next six years to
bring that branch of the national de-
Tense up to a safety footing. This
amount is exclusive of the appropria-
tons for the upkeep of the navy, and
will be expended on the building pro-
gram alone.
10000 Men Top Army Figure.
For the present 1t Is improbable
that an attempt will be made to in
crease the regular army to more than
10000 men. Eventually an army OF
100000 men may be obtained, but this
Is regarded as top figure. Recruiting
officers OF the army are understood to
believe that IL will be practically i'm
possible to obtain more than 10000
men In this country who are willing
to enter the army as calling.
In connection with the administra-
tons plan for building up a ~contin-
entail army Of trained citizens, much
is to depend upon the patriotism of
the American people and particularly
the American employer, As explained
below, volunteer citizens must forsake
their regular occupations for two
months In each year, for three years,
to train for warfare.
An appeal is to be made to employ
efs-corporations and business men
Of all classee-to furlough their en-
ployes who want to undergo this two
months training each year. The re-
sponse to such an appeal is problem
atical.
Citizen Reserve" 10 Basis.
In connection with the partially dis
closed plans OF the administration for
national defense, 1t il apparent today
that citizen reserve is the basis
OF the program for the army--the
present expectation of the administra-
ton being to recruit these citizen-
soldiers at the rate of $4,000 per
year..
Each citizen reseryist Is to be given
two months training during each
year, or six months within three
years. After the expiration OF the
three-year period, the citizen win be
mustered out, but viii be subject to
call to the colors for an additional
three years.
Meanwhile, as each quota of 1873 900
men finishes out its training, an addi-
tional Quota of 1873 ,000 will be enlisted
to replace the former.
That there viii be no large standing
army Is shown by the fact that Chair.
man Hays Of the House Military AT.
fairs Committee, has tentatively
agreed to the administrator pro-
gram. Mr.. Hays position for years
has been that with an adequate navy
and an isolated position this country
does not need q large and expensive
standing army.
Army Increase Of $1,000.
The best figures obtainable indicate
that the strength of the army, now
about $4,000 men, will not be in
creased to more than 10000.
Much Of the increase to be carried
In the next army appropriation bill
will be for the pay of the men added
to the army and the citizen reserve. /"
It is said authoritatiyely that al.
though Chairman Hay is willing to
support the administration reserve
idea. he has frankly said that he
fears the enlistments will not be as
gratifying as expected by the secre-
tary Of war.
Secretary Garrison, 1t is learned, es-
timated the annual cost of the new
reserve at $15,0O0,O00. Mr.. Hay be-
lieyes it will approximate twice that
amount, and will grow more expen.
siye from year to year, as thousands
of extra officers must be used to train
the 'citizen=soldiers.r
So far as it has been worked out,
the high spots of the administration
national defense program for the
army-which is to have an approprisl
ton next year of around $180, 000, ESQ
lis as follows:
Start Many Training Camps.
The establishment of training
camps to teach the rudiments of war.
fare to the $4,000 men expected an.
nually to enlist with the reserve.
Each citizen-soldier will receive sir
months actual training during three
years.
The addition to the aerial equip.
ment of the army of at least 20 aero.
planes of the most modern type and
the discarding Of old machines as
soon as they cease to be up to date.
The purchase of armored motor We
hicles, such as are now being used
successfully in the European war.
Large increases in the artillery
branch of the service. now lamentably-
weak. This part of the appropriation
win be unstinted, the exact amount
to depend largely upon the
advice of experts now engaged in de-
termining what is needed.
The laying in of vast supplies of
reserve ammunition.
A standing army whose strength
viii be compromise between the fig.1
ures of the small army" advocates,
who are opposed to any increase, and
the big army" forces, who desire an
army of 100000 to 100000 men.