Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17
RELIES ON COUNTRY
FOR RDEFENSE PLANS
Administration Believes People
Will Support Ideas for
Preparedness.
FIGHTS IN CONGRESS
DO NOT GIVE CONCERN
Question of How continental
Army Shall Be Differed Is
Already Brought Up.

The administration believes the coun-
try will support the great national de-
fense plans which have become the
general topic of conversation since the
publication yesterday of the full de-
tails of the new navy and the cont
mental" army of 100000 young men OF
college age.
Despite the threat of a fight in the
statement by Mr.. Bryan that the coun-
try will never stand for such scheme
and that it will be ruinous politically to
advocate any such measure, the feelins
in administration circles is that the
country will speedily indicate it's sup
port of the entire program.
OF course, it is assumed that there
will be fights in Congress. There Will
be fights within the democratic party
which has in it's ranks men who are
constitutionally opposed to the present
strength of the army and navy, men
who have made speeches declaring tha'
the squirrel hunters of the Appaiacn-
fans could be counted on to repel the
Invading hosts, etc However. 1t Is
evident the administration believes
these stumbling blocks will not oheI
any real resistance; that the fight Will
be one of talk merely.
To Be Leading Topic.
~
the leading topic when Congress meets
that seems certain There Is red
blooded appeal in the big program that
is sure to bring out the loudest whoop-
ing the old halls have heard for a
decade or more Talk about revision
of the tariff and extension of the war
tax and other dry and dusty subjects
is weak compared to the warm interest
being taken in the Garrison plan for a
citizen army and the navy's first real
navy plan that has been given admin
istration support since war times.
1t would be a splendid thing for the
President and his cabinet, of course, If
the republicans would turn in and
support the program. Whether or not
and there is no way of answering 1t
Just at present. Every opportunity
will be given to take the national de-
,fense question out of politics. however.
and the republicans will have the
chance to cooperate. 1t has been said
by democratic statesmen that certain
old-line republicans will protest for
more ships and more men. no matter
how great a program Is presented to
Congress: but this remains to be seen.
The general feeling is that any fights
occurring will be on details and that
the general proposition is big enough
to command respect from all quarters.
Officers for Army.
One of the details being discussed at
this early date is the matter of officers
for the continental army. AS far as is
known no provision has been made for
Increasing the student body at West
Point, although an increase will be
asked for at Annapolis. More officers
are needed right now for the regular
Establishment of the army, as now
made up. Just where officers for the
continental army of 100000 will come
from IL being talked of in Washington
At this time.
Many army officers doubt that this
continental army can be raised by
voluntary enlistments. However, there
will be every chance given to the
American people to show their patriot
ism, and employers will be asked to con-
tribute as their share in the national
defense permission for their employees
to engage in, without serious financial
loss, two months annual field training
for three consecutive years.
This would be an essential part OF the
plan for raising the citizen army of
100000 in six years. With a regular
army of 100000 men. and 100000 re-
serves. exclusive of state militia, there
would be a large force OF men in case
of war. The cost would be relatively
small. 1t is argued. and the plan de-
pends largely upon the patriotism OF
the people of the United States.