Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-21
"SCOFFSAT WAR TALK
Gen. Wood RidicuIes Prospect
of Early HostiIities.
DENOUNCES SCARE AS SILLY
Discusses Suppressed Answer to Nc.
Lachlan Resolution.
TELLS WHAT 1T CONTAINED
Interesting Revelations by the Chief
of Staff at Burnside Post An
nual Banquet.
DENOUNCES SCARE AS SILLY
TELLS WHAT IT CONTAINED

nual Banquet.
Nearly 80 veterans of the civil war
members of their families and guests
made the big banquet hall Of the New
Ebbitt House ring with applause last
night at the twentyfourth annual BAN
quet of Burnside Post, No. s, G. A. R..
when Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, chief of
stan of the army, characterized as silly
the so-called war scare. Gen. Wood in
timated that had the much-discussed an
sWer to the McLachlan resolution been
made public in it's entirety it would have
been better understood and less blamed
for the war scare" The speaker blamed
the newspapers Of the country for the
agitation.
"All this talk of immediate war; said
Gen. Wood, ''is silly. and the stories about
plans of other nations to bring such
war to pass may be answered by one
word OF three letters which I will not
onend you by repeating. The army isn't
AFRAID or war. nor is 1t filed with the
valor of It's own Ignorance
We hear much talk, from one side of
tne military question, of the tremendous
military resources Of this country. True,
they are tremendous. But they are un-
developed They are very valuable If
the other fellow will give us time to
develop them, but we are afraid he won't
always give us that time.
instruction of the Militia.
"The principal work now sis in develop
ing those military resources through or
gan1zing and instructing the militia. 1t
was with view to extending this work
that we have asked for about 900 addi-
tional officers for the army. or this num-
Der about one-half will be detailed to the
militia. SO that every regiment or sepafate
battalion will have a regular army officer
of active standing for its Instruction.
Gen. Wood said the instruction would be
as valuable to the army as to the militia
as the officers. after four-year tours of
duty, would return to the army bringing
with them the civilian viewpoint, a knowl-
edge that would stand the regular organi-
cation in good stead when the necessity
OF utilizing the militia for war purposes
arose.
What Was Desired.
Returning to the discussion of the an
swer to the McLachlan resolution, which,
he said. had been drawn up by the gen.
eral staff of the army, Gen. Wood said 1t
asked for no increase or additional troops,
but merely suggested that Congress desig-
nate committee, of which the chairmen
of the military committees of the House
and Senate, the secretaries of War and
Navy and the chiefs of staff of the army
general military plans. This" he said,
lis all that was asked for in that much
discussed and little understood answer to
the resolution
A Memorable Occasion.
The annual banquet of Burnside Post is
always a notable affair in Grand Army
circles. but last night the prominence of
the speakers and the timeliness of their
remarks contributed to make it a men,
orable event. Following the reception to
members and guests, the guests were con-
Quoted to the big dining hall.
Following the blessing by Rev. DR..
Henry M. Couden. chaplain of the House
or Representatives. the guests attacked
the array of viands in a businesslike man
ner that quickly left its impression. After
the courses had been disposed of in or
der the guests spent several minutes Wis
iting among themselves before Elphonzo
Youngs called them once more to order
on his cornet with the Assembly" "AuId
Lang Syne. with cornet and piano ac-
compartment. was sung by the entire as
semblage, after which TOastmaster NJ. l..
Leonard. commander of Burnside Post,
gave brief resume of the history of the
post before introducing Gen. Wood.
The Best Hope of Peace.
Following Gen. Woods talk. Comrade
F. P. B. Sands, u. S. NJ, responded to a
toast. Our Navy Scoring the idea
that wars in the future could be entirely
prevented by international arbitration,
Comrade Sands said the best hope for
peace lay in being fully prepared for
war. "Our country" he said, lis a COM
mercial country, the safety of the Union
and the prosperity of the nation depend
ing upon the growth of its commerce,
and these may be secured through naval
protection.
Representative Washington Gardner Of
of the Republic" recounted interesting
and amusing bits of civil war history. w.
E. Andrews responded briefly to the
toast Our Country and Rev. Samuel
h woGasow spoke 4set ea ou Of
TAIN by Col. John Tweedale, u. S. A,
retired, was enthusiastically applauded.
as were a number Of other features of
the entertainment program. Music was
performed by Miss Grille L. Corey, Miss
Ruth +. Brock. Mrs. Stuart c. johnson
and ElphonZo Youngs. The affair was
brought to a close by the singing of
America in which the assemblage
joined.
The Banquet Committee.
The committee in charge of the BAN
quet consisted of Commander NJ l.. Leon
ard. chairman; Adjt Chris Storm, sec
rotary; +. B. Gregg. ]. H. Blodgett,
George T. Carter. ]. F. Johnson, A. S.
Perham, ]. w. Andrews, J. r. Oursler
d. Weaver. A. w. Barber. D. Knelly, w.
D. Ritner. A. J. Huntoon. l. Wander
hoef, George c. Ross. III. J. De Pue. j.
f. Hart. w. Hilton, William Emerson. T.
H. Sypherd, D. NJ Goodacre. w. F. Hal
leck and r. +. Hill
COURT-MARTIAL TO TRY
MAJ. DAVIS OF MARINES