New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-07
Secretary Garrison Be
lieves the People Want
an Adequate Army.
CONGRESS LEADERS
DISCUSSED METHODS
Conference Reached No Deci-
sion, but Military Increase
Will Be Urged.
From The Tribrns Bureau ]


War Garrison declared to-day that
public attention was riveted on the
problem Of national defence and that,
as result it would be far easier
TO make progress toward preparedness.
The Secretary Of War, whose opin-
ions on the question Of preparedness
have differed materially from those Of
other members Of President Wilson's
Cabinet, was the originator Of the con-
ference at his house last night in
which Secretary OF the Navy Daniels
and the heads Of the Naval and Mill
tary committees Of Congress took
part. In discussing to-day what took
place in the conference he made IL
plain that ne felt that at least he was
acting according to the wishes OF
majority Of the people.
1t is my opinion" said Secretary
Garrison, "and / think IL was that of
the other members of the conference
last night. that we have started on
the right track. The public attention
IS rlveted on the national defence
problem, and 10 is far easier 20 make
progress in season when the public
participate with the legislative and the
executive branches of the government
in such a deep interest as exists at
present
THE awakening Of public interest
in national defence is exactly like that
which followed the clean city move
ment and the good roads movement.
Men as sincere as any one engaged
to-day in the movement for the de-
velopment Of a national defence, ade-
quate, complete, efficient, have urged
for years and years the very things
that now we are urging, with public
sentiment back of Us and reasonable
hope of fruition to our efforts. IL
was different even a year ago. The
appropriations could not be obtained
and activities could not be initiated
along lines in which the country was
not Interested 1t is different now"
Talked over Situation.
"The meeting last night was in the
nature of general symposium. We
did not discuss details of the meas
ures now pending before Congress,
but we did discuss in the most gen
eral way the legislative situation.
at is, of course, impossible at this
juncture, with only about eight weeks
of the legislative session yet remain
ing to us. TO get the programme OF
bills for the proposed changes IN the
military and naval establishments or
the United States all through at this
Congress. The results of our confer
euce will appear in the various bills
that appear from time TO time mere
after.
1T can hardly be said that the meet
ing was for the purpose OF inausu-
rating a new policy, but it was more
for the purpose OF discussing the best
methods Of carrying out the existing
policies and carrying through improve
ments suggested in the general organl-
cation of the army and the navy. The
army and the navy are two services,
and il is not reasonable 20 ngure that
the appropriations Of the War De-
partment can be mixed with the APP
preparations for the Navy Department.
There exists no point OF contact. The
services must be regarded as sepa-
rate"
Mr.. Garrison explained that no con
crete propositions were presented
looking to material changes IN the es-
Inmates already at hand for the ensu-
ing fiscal year.
Hopes TO Increase Army.
Although the conference resulted IN
no definite conclusion. Senator Cham
berlain, chairman Of the Committee on
Military Affairs, said to-day that he
would make an effort to pass as soon
as possible the measures recommended
by Secretary Garrison. These include
an increase Of the enlisted force OF the
army by $4,000 men, an increase OF
/ 900 officers, and the establishment OF
a reserve force of enlisted men who /
have served with the regulars.
These steps could be taken, it is |
asserted, without putting on the gov
eminent Immediately the burden Of /
additional expense required for the /
maintenance OF additional men and |
officers. II will be a long time before l
! 900 additional officers can be commits
stoned
The question of additional revenues /
10 meet the expenditures for the inn
of the military and naval [
forces was the most perplexing of all
the questions taken up by the confer
ence. If all, or even a part, of the I
increases demanded in various quarters
we're provided it would be necessary,
according to the conclusion informally
reached by the conferrees, TO ind
some means of obtaining additional
revenue. if there is no improvement IN
present receipts.
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