The Washington times., 1915-03-01
GARRISON TO STUDY
RESERVE ARMY PLAN
Expresses Great interest in
Scheme, Although Ne Has No
Official Advices.

Secretary OF War Garrison today ex-
pressed greatest interest In the plan
placed on foot by army and navy Of
ncers in New York for the organiza-
ton of a reserve army for service II
the United States IL drawn into the
European war.
Secretary Garrison had no official
| Information as to the Organization.
but he said he was Interested in OBJ
tanning all the facts and would make
an investigation OF the aims OF the
new organization.
Major General Wood. Capt. Gordon
johnson. and other officers interested
in the new movement were acting in
an unofficial capacity in planning the
organization Of reserve army. 1t was
greatly interested in the movement,
as they saw in II plan for the or
sanization of reserves which they had
been unable to place on foot Off.
cially owing to lack Of Congressional
authorization.
Acting Secretary Of the Navy Roose-
welt had not been officially advised Of
the movement and declined to COM
ment.
PlanS Announced.
Plans for the forming of a reserve
army of from 25O,OOO to 100000 to
insure the nations preparedness in
case Of war. were announced In a
statement given out by Capt. Gordan
johnson. aide-dc- camp to Maj. Gen.
Leonard Wood. commanding the De-
partment of the East of the United
States army.
The organization was launched with
president Theodore, Roosevelt and
yelt accepted the craftsmanship of the
American Legion" as the orEaniza-
pledged himself and his four sons as
members of the legion. but said that
in the event Of war he would ask
congress for permission to raise a
Forming nucleus for the new or
anizati on will be men who have seen
ee serps II In 'n sddton mS men Anp Of masaf speciai
aviators. .blacksmiths. teiegraphers.
and chauffeurs will be enrolled.
The Surest Way.
In strong statement indorsing the
new organization, Colonel Roosevelt
declared that while he hopes and
prays that there will be no war. the
surest way to avert war is to be pre-
pared for It; and the only way to
avert disaster and disgrace in war is
by preparation. both military and
naval. in advance"
I'VE should as a nation have begun to
prepare ourselves the minute this war
broke out. seven months ago." Colonel
Roosevelt continued. 1T Is absolutely
impossible to be sure. when there Is
such a tremendous war, that we shall
not be drawn into IL against our will.
The people of this country are only be-
ginning to realize the extent of our
military and naval unpreparedness.
In the event Of war I should ask
permission Of Congress to raise u d.
vision of cavalry-that is. nine regi-
ed In Cuba-and unquestionably the
ranks of these regiments would largely
be filled from the men of the legion. for.
in the event Of war there will be no
in such duties as shooting. riding. and
taking care Of themselves in the OPEN
Can't Trust To Treaties.
Colonel Roosevelt added that lit is
idle for us to trust to arbitration and
neutrality treaties unbacked by force"
The legion plans to embrace in its
membership all men who have had army
and navy training, men especially fitted
for service demanding special qualifi-
| cations. and patriotic citizens gener-
ally. In Il statement explaining the
| aims of the founders Of the movement,
Captain Johnson said
The Government at war and re-
cruitiny for special services could do
only what the legion will do beforehand.
For both firing line and special service
the Government could draw first from
the legion. for both its branches would
be the best material available. would
be already partly organized already
modified and all preliminary work
done.
while not an official organization,
the reserves have been given tempor-
ary quarters by General Wood at
Governors Island. n. Y"