The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-01-06

Army, Large Reserve Force and
Extension of the National Guard to
100000 Men.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-Secretary
Garrison laid before the house militia
ry affairs committee today his formal
argument in behalf of the administra-
ton 3 army plan which is designed to
give the country a definite military
policy. 1t proposes the creation of u
mobile federal force of more than q
million men in six years, accumulation
of a huge reserve of ammunition and
equipment and elaborate extension of
the coast defenses, the whole project
involving an increased expense of
| 5000, 100000 and an annual war de-
| partment budget thereafter of more
than $200,000,0Q0 as compared with an
everage of $100,000,000 for the last
/ few years.
''The integrity of the nation and
| its very existence, - the secretary said,
reading from a lengthy statement he
had prepared, may depend upon what
is done in this matter at this time.
! This great opportunity viii be lost un-
less wise, sensible and practical pol
lev is the result of the consideration
and action of this Congress.
Turning to the National Guard Mr..
Garrison said:
"At the present time this force con
sists Of approximately 129 1000 men and
officers, and It would therefore be
necessary ii it is to be expanded to
100000 to add 271 900 men and officers
elf this policy should be attempted
to be adopted, congress would first
have to require the states to raise
and maintain all of these troops anG
: the states would have to practically
treble their existing equipment. [ dc
not know whether congress woul,
have any power to impose this burde;
upon the states. 1t seems 10 me tina
4 mere statement of this situation in
8 dictates how utterly futile it is to at
tempt this solution
Mr.. Garrison pointed out that tn
National Guard could be called IL
federal service only for three purpose.
to suppress domestic instruction, I
enforce the law. and to repel invasion
I and. added 5. There is no one thiRg 5
free from dispute as that the basis o
any proper military system be unit
Of responsibility, authority and cor
4 troll. 1t is absolutely impossible I
j have this essential unity under til
I constitutional provisions with respet
4 TO the organized militia or Nation;
Il Guard.
4 Mr. Garrison expressed the opinio
! that it was not practicable in tn
/ country TO adopt either Swiss or Au
4 tralian military systems which requi
= service from all male citizens.
The secretary then outlined Il
: continental army which proposes
II raise 400 600 men in annual incr
II ments of 133,000 each from distric
II approximating the 400 congreesion
III districts. each to supply 33 men 4
II nually. The men would enlist f
three wears with the colors and thr
II years on furlough, and would
/ armed, equipped and differed. The
II training would be done by the office
II and men of the regular army organic
II tions and they would be paid durii
II the time of their service On the sar
|! basis rs the regular army.
II Turning TO the question of the ST
II of the regular army necessary TO ira
II the Continentals and carry on the va
y Gus military activities of the war {
- partment in normal times, Mr.. CT
n rison said it had been demonstrat
to him that q mobile force of 500
aud 10000 coast artillery troops won
serve al needs. Such a force, an
crease of nearly 10000 over the pr,
en- army, he said, would be compal
Hit inexpensive, would require
4 ADDITIONAL quarters and could be
! cruited For these reasons he reeo
I mended the addition of ten re
ments Of infantry four regiments