Evening journal., 1915-07-19

that absolutely essential under existing
Iic has told the President
that the present administration must
earnestly address itself to the question
of proper preparation TO protect itself.
His duty, he contnds, is to set forth the
facts and the necessities growing ont Of
the facts, aud suggestions as to the ways
and means OF fulfilling such necessities,
Secretary Garrison has told his as
sociates in the War Department that
he is not attempting TO provide a per-
feet army, hut something that Will
improve the present organization very
materially and supply a plan which
may be improved from year 10 year.
He thinks 4 is much better to do
these thinge which lie nearest at
hand and can be done than to remain
inactive without moving along proper
lines until A more perfect and COM
prehensive scheme can be agreed
upon What he would have Congress
do now would f. into a larger plan
later The military needs Of the
country are evidenced by these fig
ures:
Area TO ne Guarded.
In Continental United States there
are 3.026.7s9 square miles, with a
population # 98.7S1 324. In Alaska
there are 590.S64 square miles, and
64,356 people. In the Panama Canal
Zone the population is small, but the
United States Las an investment Of
S400000,000 and the destruction Of
the Government waterway would be
an international calamity Hawaii
has an area of 6.449 square miles and
population Of 191 800; Porto Rico.
3,606 square miles and a population
of 111S,012; Philippine Islands, 127,-
500 square miles and a population OF
7635,425
OF the regular army of the United
States. 760 officers snd 1900 men be-
long to the Coast Artillery and are.
therefore, practically stationary:
00S officers and 1s,44O men belong
to the staff. technical and non-com-
hatant branches OF the army, includ-
ing recruits anG men engaged in re-
cruiting
This leaves the army which can be
moved from place TO place-the mo
bile army--composed of 2.940 officers
and 52,450 men. Practically all the
army organizations in the United
States are on what is known as a
peace footing which means that an
infantry company. which upon a war
footing should have $50 men now
has 65 men: a cavalry troop. which
upon q war footing should have 100
men, now has II men; an artillery
battery, which upon a war footing
al
men. The Coast Artillery companies
are always kept on war footing Of
104 men each
Olioers Badly Needed.
Scarcely any unit in the army ever
las its complement of officers. ac-
oording 10 Secretary Garrison, and
the need for an increase of officers is
urgent and imperative.
"The organized militia of the vari-
Gus States totals S,32S officers and
1l9.0s7 men" said Secretary Garrison.
The enlisted men thereof are rcquir-
ed, in order TO attain the financial ad-
vantages which the Congress author
ICES the Secretary Of War to extend
under certain conditions, to attend
twenty-four drills a year and FIVE
days annually in the field.
If all of the National Guard could
be summoned in the event of war and
should all respond ian inconceivable
RESULT, and if they were all found
thorcughly efficient in the first line
that is, the troops who would be ex-
pected to Immediately take the field
we could summon a force in this coun-
try OF regulars and National Guards
amounting to a,s1s officers and 49,
492 men, and this is absolutely all.
The only other resourse would then be
volunteers, and to equip, organize,
train and make them ready, would
take at the smallest possible estimate
six months.
ANY one who takes the slightest
trouble to investigate will find that,
in modern warfare, a prepared enemy
would progress so far on the way to
success in six months. If his antag-
onist had 10 wait six months to meet
him. that such unprepared antago-
mist might as we'll concede defeat
without contest"
FavOrs Reserve Force, Too.
With the present forces properly dis
tributed, there would be left in the
United States proper about 24,O00 OF
the mobile army. the latter being then
not much more than twice the size oi
: the police force of New York City.
In addition TO 100000 men in the
regular army. Secretary Garrison IA
/ vors a prepared reserve. He would
use the standing army as a school
/ through which to pass men who come
into it with knowledge that il they
are proficient they can be discharged
any time after a year or eighteen
months In that way he believes tbs
3 necessary reserve would begin to builC
up and something approaching a bal.
ance organization might be reached.
A number Of military experts would
federalize the State militia so that il
would be under the complete contro
] of the head of the United States army
Those preparing the recommendation
for Congress are expected to present
some scheme by which militia troop:
+ can enlist in the army and become
part of that organization in time o.
/ peace.
AGED TOWNSEND RESIDENT DEAD
Special TO THE EVENING JOURNAL.
TOWNSEND. Del. July 19.-Mrs
Martha Vandyke aged so. died AT the