Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-16
A Sensational War Report.

ing over his millions to the trustees
OF his selection the National House is
said to have been returning to the
War Department secret report so
sensational that the 1aw-making body
could not receive it. This report is
rumored to have presented a startling
unfitncss for war on the part Of the
United States-that it Is inadequately
protected against invasion from for
eign governments; that there Is
woeful inadequacy Of men, of guns.
and Of ammunition: that the army
should be reorganized. and that a
council Of national defence should be
created by Congress.
In the midst of peace the great phil
anthropist would prepare for perHla-
nent peace, but those who have been
educated in the arts of war would
prepare against the other fellows
treachery. The House could not re-
ceive the secretary's secret document
because with SOL members in that
body, "the report would stand a
chance of leaking OUT
Oh. my. How terrible! If the peo-
pie should discover these things what
q profound impression it might make
at home, and then. like enough, some
indiscreet person of our more than SO
millions might allow a foreign gov
eminent to learn Of our predicament.
The report Of Gen. Wood, which
was marked confidential" dealt with
these matters and gave official adrnis-
sion to matters that are OF more or
less common knowledge among army
and navy experts in this country and
abroad. In fact, the real significance
Of the document is that it makes Off
cial admission of conditions already
we'll known among army and navy Of
ficers. Gen. Wood, testifying before
the House military committee Wednes-
day furnished some of the most inter-
esting information ever given that
body. He discussed the whole subject
Of national defences, told where the
weak points lay, and put particular
emphasis on the possibility Of attack
from the Orient. He did not give vent
to any alarmist views as to the dan
ger Of any Immediate invasion. but
talked confdentially of the need OF
Congress, as \. prudent and effective
act, to take immediate action to guard
against any possible trouble from
Japan or China.
And what does Congress think of it?
Do not the law makers believe the
warnings Of the experts they have
educated for the purpose? If. having
eyes. they see not and having ears
they hear not. may not the nation
drift on toward calamity?
Representative McLachlin Of Cali
fnrnia, the author Of the resolution
which brought about the official cx-
position Of the weakness of the mill
tary dcfcnces, said Wednesday,: "a
foreign country could land 100000
troops en- the Pacific coast in 90 days
and the only intimation Of trouble
would be their blowing up of the
mountain passes. thus preventing any
communication with the East. In
California. Oregon and Washington
We have 5000 regular troops and 5000
state military men. The best military
authorities say that it would take
years to dislodge foreign troops if they
ever secured a foothold under these
conditions, and that it would cost the
United States 100000.
California fears for its safety yet it
goes on throwing insults at n sensitive
people. Every day we read Of idiotic
performances on tho part of people
who call themselves Americans that
arouse the hatred Of the little brown
war men.
While waiting for the Carnegie
leaven it might be we'll to heed the
warning of cooks and thus keep our
dough from souring.