The Washington times., 1910-12-16
Iowa Representative Dis
cusSes Military Weakness
of United States.
SUPPLY OF TRAINED
MEN is INADEQUATE
Lack of Field Artillery and Re-
serve Ammunition Is
Pointe1 Out.

ApropOs Of the discussion that baa
been stirred up over the uupreparedness
Of the country for war, Representative
Hull. chairman Of the House Committee
on Ways and Means, was asked TODAY
what view he took Of our alleged unpre-
paredness.
Chairman Hull admitted the un7eadi-
ness OF the United States for war. he
declared the greatest weakness was rhe
iack OF held artillery and also the lack
OF q supply OF reserve ammunition for
the field artillery.
II war should come" declared
Chairman HUI. "oEr stIppIv of z-,-,7777,-
ton for the field artillery would be g.
naUsted IN one engagement
i consider our lack or TaId ar+fr1e,v
tne greatest weakness OF the country
S,t- ItCh ,Lespect 70 It's preparedness for W..
We nave about so field guns. We
ought 70 have 900 for an ARM ~ ca -
men But that would nor ba --,---51 - -
q g edI war II ever a great war comes
We VIII need many more than 81 ~
men aI51 our system cOntempIates four
nave seven. mans
As To Small Arms
We are well equipped with small
s-rIns- We have about $1,000 Of the new
-ilas game rifles, saying nothing Of abo7yr
oOo'0'o oI Ihe hrag-JOrgerson rifles The.
iatter are good weapons. though re
would not want to use tl1ern 77T-fss- =.
had To- on account Of the fact that 4bav
Sse a oiIerent caIber Of arDu7urfrfo-,
from the new rife We have aU e-,--,I-
reserve supply OF ammunition for sT-1sTI
aLnlS- S- N L Ct our supply OF small 80
ammunition Is sufficient to a1sT,I. a - -
ms year 70 ut 500. 600 OF the s-S-----
1-5l-lil-t,or ll'n tor th'-t purpose
..-a--L1-- = aIIl-l Jung Sie lack Of an adequate
Hull said II % esel-AtlFe
OF course, we are lacking in t-ss,s5
IltlSL. buJ that condition ne vriII sIvE-aS-s
nave with US II is q comma a. +f--s1--
easy thing 10 train men for ezl-[-i-e -
Lt Is a long process 70 rnanufacr-T-s -
ClLleIy ana build Up q reserve SUNNY oF
@ at-iIl ullIlOn Tor the guns II I hsd ny
way would Strengthen the r0fff4fa -
oetallIng q regular army 0fffce- as ~
stEOctor with every militia Orra1fzs4so-,
would provide an active onicer- not a
= - -. 81 one me national guard objects
20 Deing put under the Instruction Of
retired Officers
Military Reserve.
an for military reserve on prtn-
ciDle. providing q satisfactory n7ar -,
be arranged. General Woods idea fs 4Js+
We shorten the term Of enlistment 10
Two years and not allow re-enIf=rn,an+
That Is. he would re-enIist only the nor
commissioned officers and provide thar
the men who have served in the army
should belong to the reserve I tI7fr1t
that more pay viii eventually be al
loved the militia and that Il viii an
proach more nearly being a part OF f1a
regular army.
7 believe II would be wise 70 cut OF
number OF allowances now made fba
army Tor clothing and the Ike allow
aLceS Wnlch are greater than needed
and use the money fOr the manufactures
Of field aTIfllery. and sruru170frf0r T0- A.
Ihe coast cefenses are in good shane
That IS. the defenses IN themselves s-e
n good COndiuOn and would give q good
account o. themselves providing YOU
could get q hostile army 10 come up IN
IN front OF them No enemy. OF course
would attack the defenses in that fash
lon A strong force IS needed 70 act as
support for the coast artilIerv- h.
Eeve, however, that the n1ilitfa Of the
coast states viii 70 a large extent fur
nish that