The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-09-25

met across a table upon which large
map was spread. The map showed
North America and the western half of
the north Atlantic ocean. Upon the
continental section Of the chart We're
chalked the numbers and location of
the 100000 men. including the militia
who already had been raised to re-en
force the 10000 men of the regular
army being modified in the east. Al
the mobilization point in each state
was chalked the number of men avail
able Washington $500: Oregon
1000; California. 10000: Texas. S.G00
Minnesota. 10000: Michigan. 5000: Hi
nois, $4,000: Louisiana. 1900: Maine
5000; Vermont. $500: Florida. 1000
and so on throughout the forty -eighi
states.
Those figures mean. of course the
general said quietly. "a proportion of
from three to five absolutely green and
unframed men, except for their service
on the Mexican border. In some states
the situation is even worse Nevada
has pledged men. but has had not even
a national guard organization for ten
years. Entirely neglecting the prob
lens of their equipment. drill and
training. the matter of their oFganiZa
ton and transport alone will require
many days"
As the chief of staff had been speak
ing an aid had been laying down upon
the sea section of the great chart q
number of small seed shaped blocks
AS the chief of staff gazed at them the
eyes of the president and his advisers
followed.
What are those?" the secretary OF
the interior inquired.
The aid continued to lay down add
tional blocks as the general replied
''Those are some of the transports OF
the enemy. According to the figures
which the general staff furnished the
house some time ago. the number o.
the first expeditionary force sent to
attack us was calculated to he in ex
cess of 100000 men. We have no rea-
son to believe the force now at sea is
less. They are. of course, thoroughly
trained troops, completely organized
and disciplined, and have adequate sup,
piles Of ammunition"
l. The aid placed his last block. The
chief of staff bent closer and read the
longitude figures.
"You have placed the transports
where, according to our information.
they were yesterday" Stone said. He
put his hand over the blocks and swept
| them toward the American coast. ITO
| day, of course. they must be 300 miles
| nearer
The president. as he gazed at the new
position of the ships. wet his lips and
| clinched his hands. The secretary of
war estimated again with his glance
the distance Of the enemy's transports
| from the coast and the distance of the
| points inland upon which were marked
| the numbers of the militia levies.
"You will explain" the president di-
rected. 1.-The plan Of the general staff
| for the present contingency
THAT part of the plan already under
| the authority of the general staff is
being carried out, as you see" Stone
| referred to the map. The coast de
lenses are being manned to their fuii
1 capacity as rapidly as possible. AMI
adequate ammunition is to be supplied
as quickly as it can be manufactured
| The national guard of the coast states
is being modified in its own states
and will remain TO defend it's own
states until Lhe objective Of the enemy
is determined. The national guard of
| other states is being modified, as
| you see, in its own states and as
| rapidly as possible will be concentrat
| ed at a secret railroad center. The
regular army is being reformed so that
each battalion at peace strength shall
be the nucleus of regiment at war
strength, forming Il brigade. with the
colonel as brigadier. the battalion com.
manders as colonies and corresponding
| promotion of other officers and non
commissioned officers and with pri-
Yates made noncommissioned officers.
THE navy should at once be concen
trated In Long Island sound, and the
national guard of New York, increased
to war strength. should be sent to
Long Island With this done and with
the army concentrated at a point un.
1
feasible for him to make a landing
south of Portland. Me-. or north of
Chesapeake bay without exposing him.
self to the double danger of naval
attack and a land attack at the mo
ment of debarkation
with the probable resultT'
THAT the enemy would have TO land
| I'm a southern state uhara he cou1d do
little military damage and where he
should be left to roam, watched by
cavalry, which would destroy all rail.
roads In front of him until our army.
equipped from the New England fac
tories and hardened by training. is
able to meet him in the open field"
"You mean to sacrifice the south r
The chief of staff turned patiently TO
the secretary of the navy. II mean to
choose no section of our country for
sacrifice" Stone replied CURLY. 81
| hope to force the enemy to occupy a
section where in addition to having to
transport his munitions from over the
seas. he will be obliged to bring all
food for his soldiers also--a section
which cannot be held by us If the
northern Atlantic seaboard fall. but
which may be redeemed if we hold our
Industrial centers. To prevent the enc
| my supplying himself from our store
| houses, I ask that measures be taken
at once TO prevent foodstuffs from
moving from the west into the sea-
| board states"
| "And starye orr civil population