The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-21
LEONARD WOOD AND
PLANS FOR ARMY
Wants Americans to Become
Acquainted With Army
OPPOSED BY OFFICERS
Breaks Away From All Precedents of
Army In Offering Secrets to the
PubIic-Taft Is Said to
Favor Plan
By JONATHAN WINFIELD

will be the ranking officer of the regu-
lars until 1924, is desrious that the
ninety odd millions of people in the
country become intimately acquainted
with the army establishment.
In fact he has appointed himself to the
task of introducing the citizens of the
United States to the army. Whatever
General Wood makes up his mind to
do, experience shows he has done, and
we'll That the army shall be as we'll and
popularity known as the navy Is his
DESIRE
In hts self appointed mission, one that
President Taft is said to favor, the gen
eral will have opposed to him all the
past traditions of the army. for a num-
Der of high officers believe in mystery
and not in publicity.
A month has not yet elapse since Cen
eral Wood, fresh from his mission tc
Argentina as the personal representative
of President Taft at the Centennial cele-
bration of the South American republic
returned here and assumed the duties OF
chief of staff. In that time he has broken
all precedents as to secrecy. Unlike
MS predecessors anu eNlueHtly I1uCn tU
the discomfort of some high ranking
officers who have bureau berths in the
war department, he Immediately took the
Newspaper correspondents and press as
ISOLATION reporters into his confidence.
Twice a day excepting Sunday no army
business is of too great Importance to
vacate the standing invitation, and re-
porters are given an interview. General
Wood has keen nose for news" and in
that respect is like his friend and hacker
Colonel Roosevelt.
ct want the people OF the country to
know the army better. 1t will be of
great benefit to the army and to the
militia organization to have them pop
uiarly known. The navy advertises. 1t
has splendid Ships General Wood de-
clared. "hut the army is no less attract
I've. It's engineers. calvary, signal corps
and infantry all have attractions. There
are sham battles and practice marches,
rifle range matches and military tourna-
ments. In fact, there are many induce
ments for men, without other prospects
IN life, in an army career, and there Is
reward for the man who Is faithful in
higher office and better pay"
Army officers were recently discussing
General Woods efforts to popularize the
establishment. One made reference to the
hostility the efforts of the new chief of
staff would undoubtedly have to meet
from several of the bureau heads, espe-
cially General Ainsworth, who is the
adjutant general 1t Is General Aims
worths duty to keep the records of the
war department. and he has nothing to
do with the active management of the
nrny, its officers or men.
General Ainsworth is as uncommuni-
cative as any official could possibly be-
An example of his reticence was clearly
shown when a big gun accident recently
caused the loss of II soldiers at Fortress
Monroe General Ainsworth was the
ranking officer on duty. General Wood
was In New York city. The newspape
men went to General Ainsworth and ask
ed for a list of the killed and injured
and the name of the place from which
they enlisted. He refused point blank to
give out the information, declaring that
''he was too busy and besides 1t Is no.
body's business"
Baked, but not discouraged. the news
paper men went to Acting Secretary of
War Oliver, explaining the situation and
asked that he help them out He did
not have the information, but the next
best thing which was to execute an
official order directing the adJutant gen
eral to make public the names and place
of enlistment of the men dead and In
jured General Ainsworth complied. but
it took practically three hours for his
bureau to furnish the list, which COM
prised less than 20 names.
Congress Is to be asked to authorize a
substantial increase in the number of
army officers. Six hundred is the num-
Der said to be needed. The way the in
crease is to be submitted will make 1t
pretty hard for the representatives and
senators to frown 1t down. The increase Is
aimed to benefit the militia organizations,
one officer being provided for each reg-
ment or part of regiment in each state
Organization. Regular army officers are
badly needed there. Their presence as
Instructors, 1t Is declared will work won
ders in bringing citizen soldiers up to
the highest standard The militia organ
izations are behind the proposition and
not only is Congress to be bombarded
here by the war department officials, but
there will be a strong pressure brought
from the guardsmen in the states to
have the measure go through.
The regular army is short Of officers.
For that reason the militia organizations
are not receiving proper attention. 1t is
a vital matter, army officers say, and the
remedy lies with Congress.
Despite the loud procamations of GER
an officer of the United States signal
corps today, "the airship is not yet an
engine of war that should cause any
government uneasiness AS 1t is at pres
ent there Is not an airship that is re-
liable Whether the machines will fly
or not is problematical in the majority
of cases the operators have to walt for
favorable weather. Then again, yau can
hear them, their buzzing and clanlxing
is a -give-away and thing that
makes them useless for night attacks.
Should an airship hover over a hostile
vessel the dropping of bomb on the
deck would result in no danger at all.
Guns are not needed. Good old fashioned
fireworks, the sky rocket that used to
be known before the safe and sane Fourth
of July celebration came into being, will
afford ample protection.
'should dirigibles threaten to attack a
feet or an encampment. skyrockets,
which when they reach their height in
the air would explode and throw off burn
ing guncotton and other inflammables will
be sure protectors
'If there be dirigibles overhead. the
chance Of instant death to the dirigible
operator and crew, If any, are excellent.
If the enemy is using heavier than air
machines a skyrocket exploding near
It would cause such concussion in the
air as to destroy the equilibrium of the
craft while the explosion would injure.
II not blind, the operator and crew,
and q quick tumble would be the end.
"Skyroekets are cheap. They will make
an effective defense against airships of
all kinds in warfare. War will surely
try out their effectiveness.
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