The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-03
LARGER ARMY BADLY
MISREPRESENTATION
Would Double Strength of
Cavalry and Infantry
80 MORE REGIMENTS
Members of Senate Committee on
Military Affairs Makes Startling
Proposition-Is Picturesque
Character-a Republican
BY G. f.. STEWART.

Washington, September 2.-(Special)
"The United States army should be
strengthened by doubling the number Of
infantry regiments, doubling the number
of cavalry regiments and increasing the
field artillery So declared Senator
Thomas b. Catron of New Mexico, a
member of the committee on military af-
fairs, and who represents one of the new
est states in the union, and who at one
time was a delegate from the Oldest ter
ritory in the country.
Senator Catron has had remarkable
career and, with the late Senator Stephen
/. Elkins, long before Elkins left New
Mexico and went to West Virginia, had
experiences In the southwest which make
hair raising stories, and which remind
one that it was not SO long ago that the
west which is passing. once really ex-
listed. Senator Catron is the only repub-
lican confederate soldier in the United
States Senate. With the exception OF
William Malone of Virginia, Id is prob
ably the only confederate republican who
ever sat in the Senate, and it may be said
that Mahones republicanism was not deep
enough to cause him pain, while Catron
is such a republican as gladdens the
hearts of standpatters.
The proposition for such an army in
crease as suggested by Senator Catron is
startling, as army officers, and others
who are interested in the army, have
never hoped for more than five additional
regiments of infantry and regiment OF
field artillery at this time.
"Our army is entirely inadequate to
meet present necessities" explained SEN
ator Catron Before the Spanish war we
had 25 regiments of infantry and 10 regi-
meits of cavalry, all stationed within the
continental limits of the United States.
Now, besides allowing for the large in
crease of population in the past 10 years.
we have to have troops stationed In the
Philippines, in Hawaii, in Panama and
Alaska, and the increase made in the IN
fantry and cavalry arms since the Span
ish war have been but five regiments to
each. We ought to have 30 additional
regiments of infantry and 15 more regi-
ments of cavalr1 and such increase In
the field artillery as will round out the
organization of an adequate army
I'VE need a larger army for service for
training officers and men. and to meet
emergencies that are constantly arising.
just such as we are now facing IN Mex
leo and may have to face almost any
time with another country. We ought
to be prepared for war and we can't be
prepared with an army only half large
enough.
1T is plain that we need more infantry
and we need more cavalry, for only with
a good force of cavalry can we operate
successfully in Mexico If we are hnaily
forced to go into that country. In those
long reaches of table lands, mountainous
and wooded country, cavalry is absolute
ly necessary. l believe we Will hnd II
necessary to mount the infantry in pur-
suing the bands of guerillas who will hide
in the wild regions of Mexico.
I'm time of peace we could MAINTAIN
regiments to train and fit men for service.
We could create reserve and IN case
of sudden war fill up the regiments 70
war strength