The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-11
OUR LAND DEFENcEs.

Secretary of War Garrison's report on
the needs OF the land defenses of the
United States against aggression is a
vigorous document, indeed, is so forceful
as to command serious thought on the
part of those who may be induced to
read. And, by the way, it should be
stated that the official reports of the
heads of departments, particularly of
the army and the navy, make very inn
portant matter at the present time and
will continue to do so for many months
to come; and hence there ought to be
quite general perusal of the reports, at
least of the summaries presented by the
newspapers. Secretary Garrison's recon-
mendations are along the line of those
pronounced by President Wilson, al
though varying slightly as to the exact
figures. Briefly stated, the plan is to in.
crease slightly the standing army of the
country, to build up an army reserve, TO
maintain a continental" army much
along the method of procedure carried
out in European countries which have
their "landstrums," etc, and 10 increase
the efficiency of the national guards of
the various states. The first and the
last appeal TO us as being very reason
able and feasible. The standing army
representing lO0.000.000 people ought 10
be much larger than the comparatively
small knot OF men who now compose il
and we believe that Secretary Garrison's
plan errs in placing the figures of that
proposed standing army altogether too
low. An army Of merely l2l 600 effec. |
tives is but slightly stronger than the
present standing army and for immedi-
ate use would not make a calculable IN.
crease in the value OF the service. Moth
ing short Of regular army OF 100000
or about double the enrolment now per.
mitted by law, viii make any material
difference in the security Of the nation
a. far as emergency call il concerned.
Little Switzerland herself maintains an
army on peace footing larger than CARR
sons recommendation proposes; and vet
the interests Of the United States need.
ing prompt protection are tremendously
more important than those Of switzer.
land. Many other nations Of similar size
20 Switzerland maintain in arms ) force
more than double that Of the Garrison
army. The standing army Of the United
States ought 10 BE- double the present
force because il h on the strength a
the standing army that Ne must place !
our main reliance the reserves and the
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u best n free-thinkiuq nation. and the
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