The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-16

That the country hasn't the troops ana
the equipment Ia repel an invasion nv a
homogeneous and we'll trained army OF
10000 men. assuming that IL could make
a landing. say. on the Pacific Coast
everybody knows, or ought To know. by
this time. II has been dinned in the
ears OF the American people enough.
One does not have TO take every state
ment and deduction that General HOMER
LEA sets down in his -Nalor of Igno-
rance with tragic seriousness. but there
is something moro than sensationalism
m the case presented by him of the
unpreparedness of the United States,
army for great war, offensive or ds-
fensive. And whatever our military
condition IL, the war offices Of tho other
great Powers know il Ia he last disturb
Ing fact.
Why then all this excitement in Wash
Ington about tn. suppression of the
report OF Secretary DICKINSON on the
resolution introduced by Representa-
tive JAMES MC1ACHIAN in the House
on May 10. 1910. calling for the truth
about the condition of the land forces
and their ability TO defeat an army of
one OF the great Powers dis.mharked
on the soil of the United States. sent
to the House As A confidential document
"A most remarkable proceeding. II found
it's way into MANY hands and some OF
the contents were published Among
the members of the Hous. who pro-
cured or obtained copies were Repre-
sentative RICHMOND r HOBSoN OF Ala
bama and Chairman JAMES 4 TAwNEY
of the Committee on Appropriations
Nr. HoB>NS seized the opportunity TO
introduce" "a bill providing for council
of national defence of which Secretary
DICKINSON l. sponsor. Tho partially
suppressed report aTectad MIR TAwSEY
differently. 1t is the worst report |
have ever seen. he said. 1t should
not have seen the light Of day tr,i. or
not That is very curious. not only
b'sCa,Iss the true condition Of TIN. mill
tarv forces IL known from Toklo To R.,r-
lin. but because the report II the Chief
Of staff published a week ago and read
nn doubt by MIR. T,wNFY, contained
some unpleasant revelations and grave
warnings of military Deficiencies. and il
differed from the report on the NlcIach-
ian resolution only IN not telling tn"
whole story. Tho Chief Of staff said.
among other things:
W. have accumulated considerable supply
~ small arms and small arms Ammunition but W.
ar- ssily d-rctent In the reserve supply O, h-ld
artillery and Held artillery ann milton ami ~
reserve sracoasi ammunition At the present
rate o, appropriations II i estimated that It
would ta.c n' er nifty y~ar~ 70 secure = --a.rnar~
supply " ANN unition for the coast dcrcncoS anl
4 still longer time to secure \ reasonable ,.lrp.y
~ n~Ii artillery guns. carriages an4 ammunition.
RMS shortage - n"h artillery rratcr'a,
: the mos, serious feature NJ ne present. mH,ar,
~ alton. AMI which ,hoGlI he Immediately
corrected
Not only y war material - most Kinds want.
ing. bat therr are only regular troops md militia
H'rcient Ia form the harrst skeleton ~ field
army In the Arinl> nsli army districts
- the present regular army AMI nr-ani,ci
n .!ua NJ WAY strength were called 70 arms Ia
day th~rr would he = shortage o'oycr ~ p-r cent
IN the ncld artiilery 80 equip tn~ru - this force
s'uId only represent portion - tho force Gale
a. 10 ease ~ war with hr>t ass Power
the gravity II the situation becomes Al once
apparent
In view NJ the small size u the regular army
,ni Is- small number ~ instructed militia II
Is imperauvely necessary ina, steps should h-
taken Ia organize \ proper r-~~r,c from which
the regular and militia ORGANIZATIONS rar ~
promptly "n-,! ~ St'h Instructed men ~ war
strength and from wa.-l new organizations can :
be formed
This report of the Chief OF staff had
a wide circulation. but Il caused no
excitement IN Congress Mr. T,wNEY
was not shorked or even disturbed ON
"Wednesday. when the Dickinson repor,
was suppressed hIt go, out, General
WooD. the Chief of staff, appeared
before the House Commute" on Military
Affairs IN secret session and told tho ,
members in plain terms what tho 'nitnd
states must do TO bc prepared 81 rcpel
INV aslon on tn" Atlantic or Pacif"
coast That Is 10 saw. hs told them |
wha, the General stats of all the other /
great Powers already knew
The hv~trrid of such patriots a. Mr. /
NCLACHLtN II California = native II I
Nr-.yil-hir" by tho way who -..~ .Iapa-
me-. ran'hE-n IN the san Joaquin Val |
Icy c"s"rtIy drawing mars 81 m. rnun- ,
Try ,u sunday for their Government,
l. I,r,iI,ru,r- but Mr. T,wNFy DECLARING ,
thi' ~" Dickinson report -sh",IlI not ,
have seen ~" light ~ day and holding ,
up hi hands in agony because he -rIs-
poets - wicked d,-i-n - raid H." tr.,u--
ury i no NOR" t. b" admired than the |
uiIrIghf"d Nr NCIACmLAN
tn" truth about ~" unpr"parndn~s.
Of tn" country - defend itself against !
lny3.-,ru .houl hav" the sober attention
Of tUu.-r o..
Mr. Mann - - ~pcIi"r.
Tn" Ron JAMES ROBFLT Mass " !
Chicago take, IN a'riy. and Intelligent /
par, IA aLrUt every d!-,tI-SIon ~ m. .
iIDt.-s, of Representatives Tus-,Ily Ia. .