The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-20
Must Have Larger Navy Than
Japan.
ACT QUICK IN MEX TROUBLE
Give Commanders on Border
Power to Act.
Eliminate Red Tape-RecOm-
mends Swiss System.
BY WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.

Berne. Switzerland. March 20.-To
handle the Mexican problem, the Unit
ed States needs border commanders
with the power to act on their own in
itiative in crises such as the Villa raid,
Colonel Sprecher Won Bernegg, CHIEF
of the Swiss general staff. told this
correspondent. To meet other more
serious international situations that
may arise at any hour, the United
States needs d stronger navy than
Japan. large standing army TO guard
her coast and borders, and military
training for her youths. he added
The Swiss military leader is one CT
the most expert military men of all
Europe. He shows evidence of haN-
ing made the closest study of Ameri-
can military problems An earnest
advocate of the swiss system for his
own republic, he believes the system
should be modified If introduced into
the United States
About Columbus Raid
I asked Colonel Sprecher how the
Swiss military system would have
helped America in the Mexican crisis
1t would not have prevented Villas
raid on Columbus. he said.
But wouldn't the citizens of Co.
lumbus have been soldiers with COM
mander to call them to service? - he
No" he said. The district com
mander would have been obliged %
get orders from the government Of his
canton before acting. Switzerland is
small Our troops move quickly. You
would be obliged to modify the $
tenn to suit your size For example,
you need commanders along the bor-
der with power to act on their own
initiative in such a situation as the
Villa incident"
Under swiss System
Under the Swiss system. wouldn't
all citizen soldiers in the border
states have been called to arms first,
in case of actual war with Mexico and
forced to fight in behalf of the re
mainder OF the Americans" he as
b asked.
Yes, the border troops would meet
the brunt of battle first was the re-
ply but it would be the duty of the
government to see that troops else
where rushed to the scene to rein
force them and relieve the border
contingents."
But suppose the New Workers and
the citizen soldiers of Illinois felt that
the Texans should take ere of them
selves and did not want to go2"
There is no unwillingness in a real
army" said Colonel Sprecher, but
the question you raise naturally grows
out or the immensely of america. The
Swiss feel that what happens to one
part Of the country concerns all
Must Excel Japan's Navy.
THE Swiss system il introduced in
America needs a hundred changes,
but the first thing is to get military
training started Other questions can
be settled as you go along
In America you will always need
a large standing army to guard your
coasts and borders To this you must
add a stronger navy than Japan's to
keep you safe.
You ought TO have immense mil
itary supplies along your coasts and
borders, but not close enough to allow
enemy landing forces to capture
them. They ought to be back a good
ways, surrounded by strong entrench-
ments. A large force ought to guard
the Panama canal. and you ought to
be able to augment your ten thou
sand or more troops in the Philippines
at q moments notice."