Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1915-10-21
PLANS LARGE INCREASE IN BOTH
ARMY AND NAVY
Administration Scheme for Defense
Virtally Completed, Contemplates
Available Military Force Of
$4,000 Men and Addition OF
Sixteen Capital Ships

tration programme for national de-
fense to e recommended to the forth
coming session of congress proposing
t total expenditure on the army ana
nevy next year Of aout $4OO,OOO,Ooo
virtually was completed tonight.
Secretary Garrison'S plan, approved
by the president, calls for an increase
of S75,OOO,OOO00O in the war depart
ment's annual appropriation, to be
used for augmening the regular army
to 100000 men all the creation or a
new continental army Of 100000 men,
which, together with the militia OF
125OOO. would give the United States
military force in time OF need OF
665,OOO.
Approval was also given today to
the proposal of Secretary Daniels ana
the general board Of the navy Tor
fiveyear naval construction Pro-
gramme to cost s5OO,OOO,00O, giving
the navy ten new dreadnoughts and
six battle cruisers as WE'LL as more
than 70 submarines, so destroyerS, ten
scout cruisers and host Of auxiliary
ships.
Secretary Daniels and members OF
the general board were in conference
until late tonight discussing the exact
number of ships to be recommended
for the first year and plan for equal
izing the expenditures over the five
year period.
After the conference Of Secretary
Daniels, Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
md the general bobard adjourned ut
3 midnight, IL became known that the
Ifollaxtpg - laval construction p,'.
grirrme ftr the first of five years nha
heen decid:l upon
Two dreadnoughts, two battle cruis-
ers. 25 coast submarines, five sea-
going submarines, II destroyers, ana
increase of 5000 in personnel and the
augmentation by $50 Of the naval
accademy student body.
Secretry Garrison has guarded
carefully his plsn for Strengthening
the military establishment and organ
izinp q great continental army for de-
tense, and virtually noting was
known of it until tonight.
The programme proposes:
600 strong, enlisted for six years for
Second: A continental army, 4OO.-
in the present establishment.
First: Regular army, 100000 men,
an increase Of more than $4,000 men
service within the continental United
States. These men would serve two
months a year for the first three years
with the colors, undergoing a period
Of intensive training. The remaining
three years they would be ON furlough
subject to call in time Of need.
It is estimated that 10000 Of the
$4,000 men thus provided for would
be non -combantants Of the medica
corps. or other auxiliary forces not in
cluded i'm the fighting line.
Besides this army would the the
National Guard, now some l25,0oo
strong, whose number might he sub
stantially augmentated by the organi-
zaticn of the continental army. The
plans contemplate the transfer OF such
National Guard Officers and men as
desires, it into the continatial army.
and more liberal treatment OF the
euardsmen will he urged and the
increase of these State forces en-
couraged in every possible way.
More Regular sAlso.
Increases in the regular establish
ment contemplated are:
Infantry, ten regiments; field artil-
lery. four regiments; coast artillery,
SO companines; engineer ccorpS 10
companies; AVIATION corps, two
detachmenments.
All the new commands would be
organized Mt peace strength. Ade-
ouate supplies Of small arms and
field guns and hawitzers and OF re,
serve ammunition for the Enlarged
establishment would he sought.
The plan is erected on the theory
that the nation must depend on a
citizen army. largely Of a volunteer
chararter. in tide Of war.
With six months actual field train
ing army officers are confident that
the continental army would he as
thoroughly orGaniZeZd as is possible
with any system Shcrt Of compulsory
service and a regular establishment
of half million men.
Officers for the new army would