New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-04
EDWARDS CALLS
BIG GUNS FOLLY
General, Sounding Warm
ing to Senators, Calls
for Troops.


Washington, Feb. 3.-The big guns
Of the Panama fortihcat.ons. far from
proving source Of strength in the
event Of attack, would actually prove
weakness unless a sufficient force Of
mobile troops was provided to defend
the fortifcations and the canal from a
land attack, Brgadier General Clar-
cnce R. Edwards. Just returned from
military command of the Canal Zone,
told the Senate Military Committee to-
day.
The same conditions. General Ed
wards declared, applied not only to
Hawaii and other insular possessions
but to continental United States. lie
urged the immed ate taking over OF
such part Of the militia as was willing
to come to the Federal government
leaving to the states such portions as
were needed for constabuiary service
The general scofed at the idea that
enough recruits could not be obtained
TO provide a regular army Of 2lo'OoO
men. with reserve that would bring
the force up to 100000 men. i vent
ure to suggest on this point he SAID
chat the existing Federal macn merry
bo invoked. and every postmaster III
the country be made recruiting
agent TOR the army and navy.
sst rr. 200 at Panama
IN our system Of national defence can
not be overestimated, General Id
wards said. Its protection should be
absolute. Heavy fixed guns, no matter
how many OF large, can never DO TINS
alone. Without sufficient mobile troops
10 defend the canal from land attack
the guns already mounted are not mere
lv weakness, they are positive
DANGER 10 US in the event OF war IN
nv Judgment, the present mobile gar,
rison and the garrison contemplated
bv all existing plans known TO US are
deficient, and In the face OF deter
mined attack can never serve the pur-
pose expected Of them.
"The minimum garrison should %
nine infantry regiments, one cavalry
regiment, two field artillery regiments
ana a third Of the Porto Rican regi-
There is more or less prevalent
belief that the jungle OF tho canal
Zone will prove, IN the event OF war
involving attack on the canal, military
factor in our favor through the Diff
culties an enemy will encounter IN
making its way through It.
81 am convinced, and all officers there
who have rcconnoitered the surrounding
country agree with me, that the idea
that the Jungle will prove greater
handicap to an advancing enemy than
20 our defending troops must be dis
carded At d distance OF from seven
TO twenty miles from the axis OF the
canal. on the Pacific side, the country
is not only free from jungle and the
ordinary tropical growths but - as
open as are parts OF New Mexico and
Lower California.
There AN enemy ia offered every ia
cility for landing mobile troops and
reaching by easy marches the v.tals Of
the canal the NirahOres and Pedro
Miguel locks. The most casual reflection
by any military student familiar With
the facts should show that We must
3 ever let an enemy approach within ten
miles Of the locks II We are 70 save the
canal.
The canal is the sole reason for the
political existence of the zone itself.
The strip of territory that constitutes
the zone has no other purpose than 20
insure the efficient operation and de-
fence Of the canal
81 recommend legislation that shall
require all male civilian employees Of
the canal Of suitable age and physical
condition 20 obligate themselves to vol
unteer. In preparation for this I rec
)mmcnd that they offer themselves for
a Period Of AT least two months train
ing during the first two years Of their
employment and thereafter for ten days
each wear"
What have said in respect 20 the
Importance of the Canal Zone. in any
system of national defence and the
necessity of providing complete pro-
tect.on," General Edwards concluded,
applies with equal force to Oahu.
Hawaiian Islands. | believe that every
American citizen there who is physi-
cally sound and Of military age should
be required TO render military service
in the islands IN the event of war"
General Edwards said he thought
Guam should be included in the scheme
Of defence. and that recent events in
pho Pacific had made this imperative.
With the Panama Canal, the Hawaiian