The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-10
SHOULD PREPARE
FOR POSSIBLE WAR

Richmond militiamen, all OF whom
are watching with the greatest inter-
est the progress Of the bill in Con-
gress providing Federal pay for off,
GERS and men of the National Guard.
are following closely the arguments
OF General Leonard Wood, chief OF
staff OF the army. before the House
Woods remarks has been received
Hc seems to have laid emphasis on
Americas luck in her wars, and to
nave attempted TO show that great
loss of life resulted unnecessarily be.
cause the United States armies were
unpreparcd for war.
we have never met well prepared
regular force" declared General Wood.
He said that the wars with England
were fought when that country's at
iention was conferred on troubles on
the Continent OF Europe. In 1872
america put a tremendous number OF
men in the field, against a very small
force of Englishmen. Yet America lost
every land battle fought save Lundy's
Lane and New Orleans, the latter hap
pening after the war had ended A
force half as large as the defenders
captured Washington. and tho Ameri-
cans gave up the city with a loss of
only 100 men. They were brave. but
unprepared and unframed. says Gem
eral Wood. He calls this BADLY
managed war"
Were Unframed.
Coming to the Mexican War, the
chief of sian calls attention to the
proposition that the Mexicans were
even less prepared than the Ameri-
cans, while in tho War between the
who knew nothing about war meet
ing each other and fighting until they
learned something.
In the Spanish War zoo volunteers
were killed and 1000 died of disease,
a horrible fact which he attributes to
ignorance of camp life and lack of
knowledge on the part OF the troops as
to how to take care OF themselves. to-
gcther with small equipment and In
adequate medical corps.
Tho cost of preparation. he said
pointedly. Is not per cent. of the cost
of war made without preparation.
TO this end he urges tho passage OF
the Federal pay bill. to stimulate in
terest among tho officers and mon OF
the National Guard. Under this sys-
tom he would evolve Il gradual policy
OF having the War Department ap-
prove The commissions of officers, they
heing required to conform to certain
standards with a view 10 improving
their military qualihcatlons.
Create Reserve Force.
In addition. General Wood would
keep in touch with those men who do
not re-enlist after serving a term In
the National Guard. These leave the
service at the rate of 10000 a year He
would encourage them to take an oath
of service In case of war and would
have them attend camps of instruction.
receiving regular pay for this. II
necessary, he would pay them, say. 81
per month for their trouble in keeping
in touch with the organization. In ten
years, he argues, there would be re-
serve force OF 100000 partly trained
men available for national defense.
Il is interesting to note that General
Wood favors a change OF name from
National Guard to United States Re-
serves. II is further interesting to re-
member that Virginia has never ac-
ceptcd officially the name of National
Guard. although her troops arc SO
Known to the War Department, and
they still go in this state under the
name OF Virginia Volunteers.