The Detroit times., 1915-12-07

dependence secure-and not their
own Independence merely but the
rights also OF those with whom thev
have made common cause. sh -
must be fitted TO play the sreal role
in the world. and particularly in this
hemisphere. for which they are quail
fed by principle and chastened am
bition to play.
The Program Defined.
II is with these ideals in mind that
the plans OF the Department Of War
for more adequate national defense
were conL siyed which viii be laid
before you. and which ] urge you tc
sanctioN and put into effect as soon
as they can be properly s-Eptinized
and discussed. They seem 10 me the
essential first steps. and they seem
to me for the present sufficient
They contemplate an increase Of
army from Its present strength Of
6.o23 officers and 1029s5 enlisted men
Of all services TO a strength OF 7.lSs
efncers and i34 7o7 enlisted men. or
l4l ;st3. all told. all services. rank
and file. by the addition OF 50 COM
panies OF coast artillery. Is compan-
les OF engineers. 10 regiments OF In
fantry. four regiments OF field artil-
lery. and four aero squadrons. be-
sides $50 officers required for a great
variety OF extra service, especially
the all important duty OF training
AHt CillEtu IOTCe Oh Nnltn I FNdAl
presently speak. 1872 non-commlssion-
ed officers for service I'm drill. re-
cruitlng and the like. and the neccs-
sary quota OF enlisted men for the
corps. the ordinances department. and
other similar auxiliary services.
These are the additions necessary to
render the army adequate for It's
TO perform not only upon our own
continental coasts and borders. and
al our interior army posts. but also
IN the Philippines In the Hawaiian
Islands, at the isthmus. and In Porto
Rico
BY way Of making tho country
ready 20 ASSERT some part OF its real
power promptly and upon a larger
also conte nplates experimenting the
army by force OF 400 900 diaciplinnd
citizens raised IN increments 81
10000 a year throughout a period
Of three years. This 10 is proposed
TO do by n process OF enlistment un-
der which the serviceahle men % the
themselves 10 serve with the colors
for purposes OF training for short
, periods thropghout three years, and
| 20 come % the oolors AZ call az any
! time throughout an additional FUR
} lough period or three years. This
force OF 400. 200 men would be pro-
vided with personal accoutrements as
last as enlisted and their equipment
piled at any time They would So
assembled for training at stated in
: tervals at convenient places In as
! ISOLATION with suitable units OF the
regular army. Their period Of an
/ nual training would not necessarily
I exceed two months IN the year
/ II would depend upon the patriotic
! feeling OF the younger men 81 the
| country whether they responded 20
such a call 20 service or not. "
would depend upon the patriotic
| spirit OF the employers OF tho coun-
! try whether they made II possi hl .
for the younger men In their en-
, ploy 10 respond under favorable con-
I ditions or not. I. for one. do not
! doubt the patriotic devotion either oi
l our young men or of those who give
them employment-those for whose
! beneft and protection they would IN
lfact enlist wohid look forward
10 the success OF such an expert
ment with entire confidence
AZ ien-t 80 much N, wSy of prep-
aration for defense seems TO me to bs
absolutely imperative now. We can
sot do less.
The Navy Plans.
Z The program which will be laid be-
fore you by the Secretary OF the
Navy is similarly conceived. " in-
wolves only shortening OF the time
within which plans long matured
shall be carried out. but 10 does make
dehnite and explicit n pre- gram which
has heretofore been on.y implicit.