Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-26
S0UnDS|A Warming
Gen. Wood ictlres Gountry's
Unpreparedness Tor War.
FIELDQ MFIlIEAY SHORT
Army and ,lkaitis Lack so Per Cent
sC.xI nf Eqnipmsnt.
/:
COAST HAH DEFENSE NEEDS
Revision Of the Militia Law Urged
That Defects May Be Remedied
and Contradictions Illuminated.
FIELDq ARFIllEAY SHORT
COAST NAH DETENSE
NEEDS

Maj Gen. Wood, chief Of staff, in his
annual report to the Secretary Of War
paints rather gloomy picture Of the
lack of preparedness Of the army In case
Of war. There are weak spots In many
directions, he says, and most serious II
the shortage of field. artillery and am
munition, fault which should be i'm
mediately corrected. There il also q
great lack OF reserve seacoast ammuni-
ton. Gen. Wood says that at the present
rate Of appropriations by Congress It
will take over fifty years to secure q
reasonable supply Of ammunition for the
coast defense and q stu longer time to
secure the necessary number Of field ar
tillery guns and ammunition. II the reg
ufar army and organised militia at war
strength were called to arms today.
says Gen. Wood. there would be q short
age Of over 30 per cent In the field arr
tillery necessary to equip them. AS this
force would represent only q portion OF
the force called to arms in case of war
with first-class power. he says, the
gravity of the situation becomes at once
no opportunity to buy this material
abroad or time to manufacture 1t at
home without delay that would be fatal
to our hopes of success.
Weakness of Coast Defense.
ut is recognized" says Gen. Wood,
that the number Of guns and emplace-
ments already provided In our fortified
harbors at home Is ample. II not more
than ample, for the defense Of the har-
bors In which they are located. But It
must be admitted that Notifications are
required at such an important point a.
hn IN 10
wholly undefended. Since guns cannot
be used effectively at night without pow
erful searchlights and an adequate fire-
control system. most of our harbors Will
not be properly prepared for defense un-
til these. absolutely essential accessories
are provided. Until these details are
completed the guns already emplaced 1t
great expense will be Of relatively little
service"
Gen. Wood strongly urges the passage
by Congress of the pending bill for rails
ing volunteer army in time Of war. He
says this will cost nothing in time OF
peace, and will save the government mil
lions OF dollars In time Of war. The
present law is SO unsatisfactory and
vague that the general stan cannot make
in advance for its execution
in event of war.
Militia Law Defective.
1.-THE present militia law" Gen. Wood
says, contains a number Of defects bear
Ing principally upon the Aanner In which
the militia shall be brought into the serv-
ice Of the United States at the outbreak
of war. The law is silent upon important
features of this subject. and there are ap-
parent contradictions in others. A care
full study of this subject will be made
with view to rewriting portions of it SO
that these difficulties will be cleared up.
n yuyfth M
militia in the past has been the confusion
upon their being mustered into
the service Of the United States. The
War Department and the President have
been subjected to all kinds Of pressure to
accept persons not suited for military
service. and to make exceptions In the
cases of many who were suited and called.
The War Department has not been able
to foretell exactly upon what organiza-
tons they could absolutely depend to re-
spond to the call, and has been compelled
to accept troops wholly unsuited to the
service. These conditions have arisen, as
q rule. from constructions placed upon
loosely drawn laws. and 1t Is deemed to
be of the greatest Importance that the
militia law should be so clearly drafted
that it will be thoroughly understood by
all. Thus mOoted questions are settled In
and the department will be able
and the character Of the militia it can
depend upon In the event of war. Nothing
should be left for the last minute. and
possible should be done In ad-
vance to expedite the action Of the War
Department at the proper time IL the
stress of war should come.
Need Of District Armory.
Suitable armories are essential to the
efficient training Of the militia. Some of
the states. such as New York. Massa-
and Pennsylvania, have adopted
e wise and liberal policy in regard to
armories. but in other states the &C
of armories is inadequate
and Ill adapted to the needs both Of stor-
ade and indoor instruction. One of the
most Migrant deficiencies in this matter
of armories is to be found in the District
of Columbia.
Other needs of the military service are
set out in the report. including the adj
dition of go officers to replace those de-
tailed from line duties for the staff and
militia work; the creation of q reserve of
not less than 100000 men who have served
in the regular army or militia; the con-
centration of the army in large posts; the
re-esta blishment OF the canteen and