New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-16
M'LACHLAN RESENTFUL
Says Chaffee Gave Him Informa
tion About Unpreparedness.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau. !

fFrom The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Dec. 15.-Representative Nc
Lachlan. who introduced the resolution
which brought about the controversy over
the War Departments reports, was dis
pleased this afternoon when he learned that
it had been decided at the White House
conference to make no reply whatever TO
the House resolution.
Il am unable TO see how it is incom
patible with the public interest to furnish
the people of the United States with infor-
nation relative TO our preparedness, or,
rather. unpreparedness, for war;" he said.
II shall await the official reply Of the Sec
rotary of War declining TO give the country
and the House the information he yester-
day offered in confidence,
In order to acquaint the public with the
true state of affairs L may decide to make
a speech on the floor of the House, in which
] shall review those things in the Secre-
tary's report which the country should
know. / can say frankly that the people
of the Pacific Coast are uneasy. We know
the weakness of the national defence: we
know that every nation on earth knows of
own inability TO repel invasion better
than do the people of the United States. I
am no aiarnlist: no man can accuse me of
being 3 lingo.
My speech advocating the passage of.
this resolution. delivered last May, was
conservative utterance. 1t merely asked
for facts The Secretary of War prepared
the facts, and now they have been with
held. Those who have withheld them have,
taken advantage of a ioophole afforded by.
that clause Of the resolution which read
If rot incompatible with the public inter
est
Chairman Tavney of the Appropriations.
Committee has the wrong viewpoint on
this matter of expenditures for the national,
defence. This Congress can afford to make
no appropriations not backed by public sem
timent- If the contents of Secretary Dick
inson's report are made generally known.
the people of the United States will de-.
mand an army adequate defend both
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
Mr. McLachlan ridiculed the idea of a
conspiracy. saying; I'm tell you how I
came TO introduce the resolution. 7 was
chatting with General Adna f. Chaffee in:
Los Angeles, and was absolutely astonished-
when he turned 70 me and said: The Unit,
ed States is absolutely helpless against at
rack or invasion. The japanese could land
an army on the Pacific coast practically
without opposition hold the passes of the
ikocky Mountains and occupy the entire
Jerrttory west Of that range What is more:
I doubt If they could ever ne driven out
again
IF I hadn't known General Chaffee as
a level headed. conservative; citizen" said
Mr.. Nci.achian, 81 would have considered
him crank on the basis of that one state
ment alone. But later | asked Admiral
Evans for his views and found he went
even further than Chaffee. Since then l
have studied the subject and I, too, am
convinced
Mr. RicLacblan declares that the War
College has thoroughly Investigated the
DossibILtX- of fhe invasion, of the Pacific
Atlantic coast by a foreign foe, and that
such astounding revelations were dis
closed that the officers OF that college did
not dare to make their conclusions known.
There documents at the college now,
NcI,achlan says, that VIII conclusively
show that a foreign foe can enter the
United States by way of California or
Mexico and that the armies of the United
States could not dislodge them in years.
He further declares that the Japanese, or
the people Of any other nation, have only
70 obtain control of five Western trunk line
railroads in order to hold complete do
minion over the entire western portion Of
tla init Tar