New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-22
Says Big Army, Not Coast
DefenCes, Is COuntry'S
Only Salvation.
GEN. BLISS SCORES
WAR COLLEGE IDEAS
Calls Scheme wholly made
quate"-Help for Military
Schools Asked.

States from invasion is utterly wrong
and only large, mobile army Will pro
tcct the country. Major General Hugh
l.. Scott. chief Of staff, told the Sen
ate Military Affairs Committee this NJ
ternoon. He hit nj the army plans OIL
Chairman Hay. Of the House commit
toe. rs far too weak for any real pur-
nose. and supported the Garrison con
unontal army plan as the best pos
siblc. Like all other officers who have
appeared before the committee. he ia
vors universal service as the only way
OF raising enough men for real de-
fence.
Legal obstacles. General Scott de
clnred, would prevent development OF
the state militia rs an adequate de
fcnsive force Lack of training under
the present system, the methods OF
appointing officers. the limitations on
the times and places where the mill
,ia could be used. and the lack Of Fed
cral control he declared "insurmount-
able Obstacles 70 efficiency IN the
state troops. The continental army. he
admitted. would not be composed OF
veteran troops, but he calculated that
having them organized would savo 1--WE
months at the outbreak Of war,
when every day is precious"
General Scott opposed General Wood
in favoring the continuance and in
crease of Federal all TO the state mill
tia. The men who would volunteer
from it. he believed, though OF no i'm
mediate value. would become valuable
enough sooner than raw volunteers TO
pav the government for its contrlbu-
lions. He believed that there would
always be q place for the militia and
that there would be enough men who
could not enter the continental army
to keep its ranks filed.
Urges Short STAFF Duty.
The general struck directly AZ the
heads OF most of the army bureaus
when he urged that 40 man should be
PERM ted TO continue long on stat
duty The bureau heads. with an eye
20 the efficiency Of their bureaus, favor
detailing men for long periods
"The army is for use in war" said
General Scott. I'VE cannot let any
consideration OF the slightly greater
efficiency which results from long de-
tails blind Us 20 the fact that for war
purposes we must have great number
o. officers trained TO staff duty. IL IS
only by frequent transfers that many
can get this training / would even
make it apply TO most OF the bureau
heads. That also has the advantage
that the officers then are always fresh
from service with the troops, and
know the needs Of the army far better
than if they have been long in bu-
reaus."
General Scott also urged that
quartermasters reserve corps OF en-
listed men be formed. TO include me-
chanics Of all kinds. telegraphers, ra-
do operators, motor vehicle drivers
and experts, transfers. railway men
and the like a representative of the
/ American Legion had told him recently
/ that 10000 men Of this sort had been
listed by the organization who we're
willing 20 enlist in such a corps.
Could Have 1900 at West Point.
The possibility Of increasing the
/ number Of graduates from West Point
was brought up and the general re-
ported that. while there were at pres
cnt only $50 cadets there accommoda-
lions could be provided for no. at
/ cost Of only $4,000. The capacity OF
/ the institution could be increased 10
/ 1900 at cost of $4,000 900, he ey-
/ planned. if the present style Of build
ings were followed. Senator Weeks
suggested that the present buildings
frtr mt aftI oil for ftO-
ures allowing for more modest ones.
Major General Tasker H. Bliss fol-
lowed General Scott on the stand. He
also gave his unqualified support TO
Secretary Garrison's plan. Tesufyirg
about artillery, he said that the cOnti-
mental army plan called for 246 bat
tcries Of field guns. When asked whore
the horses for the training of the men
could be found, he said they were not
necessary.
"The days when a field battery was
drawn back and forth across the field
Of battle have gone he said. "Nowh-
days horses are merely used to get the
guns into place. They stav there then
till the battle is won or the guns ate
lost. No battery could be drawn in
the open across a modern battlefield;
1T would be blown TO pieces instantly.
Motors, horses, mules or anything else
that could get the guns to their hiding
places would be all that would ne
needed. What we have got to do :
TO train the men. The traction of the
guns needs no training"
Bliss Scores War College Plan.
General Bliss read a report Of Adiu
tant General Mccain. 20 show that the
War College plan of increasing the
regular army to 100000 would call for
q great change i'm system, higher pay or
greater inducements 10 the men, and
was wholly inadequate. Under the
present system, the adjutant general
/ reported. only l220 600 men could be
kent i'm the field. ] his j. 5000 less
than Secretary Garrison has asked for
Recruits now cost the government
500 man, delivered TO their regi-
mcnts. the general said. lie disao-
proved short enlistment terms TO Dulid
up regular reserve, saying inns
would make 10 necessary 10 recruit
200 600 or more men annually.
General Bliss said universal service
WAS the only real solution of the army
problem i'm the United states.
Questioning both witnesses. thalr-
man Chamberlain brought out the state
ment that the bin prepared by Secre-
tary Garrison had never been submit
ted 20 the War College division Of the
General STAFF. General Scott pointed
out, however, that the Continental plan
had been approved by the War College
IN its report 70 the Secretary.
The executive committee Of the Asso-
citation Of Military Schools and Col
leges asked the House Military Com
mittee to-day TO give the forty-two pri-
vate institutions in the association bet
ter facilities for training their ten