New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-23

the coasts would be of little value. and
il would have 10 be so scattered as
TO be of no value whatever If 1t were
TO protect our whole coast.
~ the navy is 20 be free, we must
have mobile army, capable Of holding
our coasts and atfording points OF sup
port for the navy. Thus. IL Ia evident
that the army is not trying TO solve tne
whole problem Of defence, but mercy
TO provide such force IA will be enaoie
the navy 10 act efficiently.
1--WE estimate that to do TINS we
will need n mobile force OF about
$1,000 men--regulars and their re-
serves-with additional civilian re,
serves Of some training. We need
enough regulars TO garrison the over
sea possessions and defend the CONT
mental coast. We would need $1,000
men abroad and 10000 regulars at
home. These. Of course, must he sup
ported by the reserves. which would
be developed in the course of about
eight years.
Would Index All Males.
"The War College has taken up the
question of how 10 encourage enlist
mcnts for these larger forces. II has
been suggested that every man capable
Of bearing arms should be indexed, and
when enlistments fell below the need
ed number CONSUMPTION could follow
IL is further suggested TO repeal the
bounty for re-enliStment; TO have re-
cruiting done by districts with local
depots; TO have moving pictures illus
trating military life; TO send out into
tho rural communities; TO advertise
by newspapers and TO abolish the iden-
tihcstion photographs taken on enlist
ment."
The general believed that two full
regiments could be recruited in Porto
Rico. with brigade at Honolulu
where already one national guard regi-
ment was doing good work He also
thought, as suggested by Senator du
Pont. that g division might be recruit
ed In the Philippines, to be turned over
70 the islands should they be made in
dependent
EDO you think" asked Senator Hitch
cock, chairman Of the Committee on
the Philippines. chat an American
guarantee OF the independence Of the
islands would require a larger Ameri-
can garrison there than our present
exercise Of sovereignty
"A very much larger one replied
the general, because there would be
much more trouble"
In response to a question by Sena-
tor du Pont, General Macomb said he
thought the defence Of the country
would be greatly increased by q sea.
level canal connecting Delaware and
Chesapeake bays. The War College
ne said, had already gone SO far as ia
list all means OF transportation be-
tween various harbors.
The canal" he said. would not only
assist as TO military communications
permitting the movement Of mobile
defending force from point TO point
but II would be physical obstacle
Of military value should an invading
force reach II. A force coming from
Lewes encountering this obstacle
might be delayed until stronger forces
came up"
The general said that the War Col,
lege was considering the equipment OF
the mobile force with S-inch mobile
howitzers. These would be able to
keep warships at n distance OF 10000
yards and compel the invaders to land
In small boats over long range
swept by artillery and musketry
The mouth of the Delaware Bay, he
said, replying 10 suggestion by SEN
ator du Pont, was a danger point
where long range coast guns ought 70
be placed. The breakwater there, he
declared, would give unusual facilities
TO landing party.
The general did not agree with the
report of the adjutant general that
the regular army could not be enlisted
above a strength of 10000 men. He
was not sure that the best methods OF
enlistment had ever been developed
and he believed that the standards
might easily be Covered In some re-
spect. without harm TO the services
He pointed out that last year $4,000
men had been rejected by the army
while only $4,000 had been accepted.