The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-08-03
'GARR|SOKS PLANS
CALL FOR MILITARY
DIVISION ON OAHU
Reorganization Of Regular Army
and National Guard Means
Much For Hawaii
WAR SECRETARY HAS
PRESIDENTS APPROVAL
Scheme Under Way Also Con-
templates Building Up Strong
Reserve Force

\, Having no. direct relation TO the
leontroversy pending between the
United States and Germany, but more
IN the nature of precautionary step,
the plans of the government for in.
creasing the national defense are taxi,
ling shape. These plans affect Hawaii
Immensely, so far as the army is con.
cerned, and the very latest informa.
tion from Washington in this connec.
ton confirms the exclusive forecast
made In The Advertiser weeks ago that
the land forces on Oahu soon would be
strengthened to nine infantry regi-
ments, or what will be a complete tao
tieal brigade. y..l
According to advices just received
here under the reorganization Of the
tarmy now being worked out In Wash.
ington, instead of Hawaii being q de-
lpartment Of the army it will become
ldivision with all branches Of the ser
vice increased correspondingly.+ This
means the great increase in the mill
ltary strength on Oahu that The Al.
vertiser forecast. While not complete
in any detail, sufficient progress has
been made with the plans for the re-
Organization and increase Of the army
by Secretary of War Garrison and the
military experts Of his department to
indicate the general scope Of the plan
of reorganization for the maintenance
Of which the next congress will be
asked to provide. a
/ The plan contemplates a considerable
increase in both the regular army,
which now consists of 400 officers and
81 ,008 men, to 100000 officers and men,
and the state militia organizations, OF
1923 officers and ll9,0S7 men, to a
full complement of 100000. The de-
tails of the increases in both the regu-
lar and irregular forces are now be-
ling worked out by the war college and
high military officers of the department
under, the general direction of Mr..
Harrison.
Approved By President
Regular army officers have q pretty
definite idea of the recommendations
that the secretary of war will senc
to congress. Mr.. Garrison has &C.
voted considerable time to the per.
lection Of the plan he has in pros.
pect and has conferred frequently with
the President, who is known to have
Expressed his approval of the project.
It is expected that the first public
announcement of the plan. will be dis.
closed by Secretary Garrison to Sena-
tor George f. Chamberlain, chairman
of the senate committee on military
affairs, and Representative James Hay,
chairman of the house committee hav-
ing Legislative supervision over the
military establishment.
| There IL SparPaly anV hnuht thnf the
secretary will have the thorough co.
operation of these two officials, both
of whom are known to favor an in
crease in the regular forces so as to
bring them to the highest point of eff
dciency for the national defense. Con
gress, it is believed, will provide the
amount of money necessary to develop
the land forces of the country to 4.
higher plane.
1t is roughly estimated that about
$40 900, 900 additional to the $lOI,-
0I0,215.5O now available for military
purposes will be required to place the
new plan on working basis. Thlh
cost of individual States for bringing
their citizen soldiery up to the point
of efficiency desired.
Seven Divisions Of New Army
There Is reason to believe that the
plan Of distribution to govern the de.
velopment Of the regular forces con
templates the creation Of seven divis-
ions of the increased army, each dl
vision to have 10000 men.
OF these divisions, one will be sta
toned in. the Hawaiian Islands, one
in the Philippines, one in the Panama
Canal Zone, and four in the United
States proper. e1,r... .,
There will be New England diyis
ion, southern division, an eastern
division and a western division. The
military needs of Alaska and Porto
Rico will be provided for by some of
the divisions nearest their respective
boundaries.
The increase, in the regular forces
would add about $4,000 officers and
men to the regular establishment,
which, with the state militia forces,
would increase this army to 100000
| in time of war. 80 Nrf
The manifest necessity for an i'm
lprovement in the establishment for
1.-THE national defense has inspired de.
gree Of harmony between the execu.
tive and legislative departments Of
the government which has not existed
since the Spanish American war. The
matter of politics has apparently been
entirely subordinated to the necessity
of the situation, and there is a very
fair prospect that congress will give
its consent to the plan Of increase up
on which the war secretary and his
aides are working without the usual
criticism and cheese'paring that have
always characterized the consideration
and, discussion of bills appropriating
money for military needs.
To Profit By the Big War
Secretary Garrison apparently IS
working on the theory, that it would
be premature to attempt to anticipate
1.-THE ultimate effect. on the Quilted
states from the European war. But
he has made 1t plain that he regards
lit as his duty to profit by the lessons