The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-10
CONGRESS WILL NOT
RESTORE CANTEEN,
SAYS WOTHERSPOON
Major General Discusses the
Army Conditions-Some
thing More Practical
Needed
BY c. e. STEWART

Washington, March Especial. 1--WE
should stop this useless effort to re-
store dhe canteen and give our atten-
ton to something pratieal like efficient
organization and equipment of the army"
remarked Maj. Gen. William W. Wother-
spoon, assistant chief of staff, U. S. A.,
while several men were discussing mill
tary matters. Whatever opinion we may
have about the canteen, the fact remains
that Congress will not restore it, and we
should concentrate our attention upon the
unpreparedness of the army to meet a
sudden emergency requiring good troops
that are we'll trained and officers who
have had experience in handling military
units in practical organization.
In my opinion we have wasted years
and reams of paper writing about the ad-
vantage and necessity for restoring the
canteen at army posts, when we would
have been better engaged in pointing out
the necessity for actual military training,
and for creating an army reserve that
will mean something in time of war, and
which will put us in a position to meet
sudden call to arms. for we all know that
the United States has never been prepared
in any of the wars that we have fought.
Believe Canteens Improvement
I'VE may, and many of us do. believe
that the canteen at army posts would be
an Improvement over the present system,
but it is more practical matter to bend
our energies to obtaining a more efficient
and economical administration of the army
by having 1t concentrated so that its reg
fnents will be assembled, it's brigades
formed, and divisions organized prepara-
tory to war, so that the officers and men
may know the meaning of real military
duty and training and thus be prepared
for the duties for which the army is main
tanned.
Year after year the reports of officers
have much to say about the canteen. And
all this time the recommendations of
commanding officers and secretaries of
war on this subject have been ignored by
Congress, evidently because the sentiment
of the country has been averse to the
canteen, and because there is a belief
among the prohibition advocates that the
canteen was inimical to temperance. We
have, therefore, been getting nowhere
with canteen restoration.
Need Efficient Army
On the other hand l believe that there
is sentiment in this country in favor
of well trained, adequate and efficient
army, not an army in name, scattered far
and wide, without officers of experience
In handling large bodies of troops and
men only partially under drill and discip-
line. The American people do not ask
for large army, but they want the army
we have efficient. There can be no doubt
that they will cheerfully support first
class army organization, just as they
have supported navy.
when I speak of turning attention
from fight to restore the canteen to an
effort toward efficiency and better or
ganization, do not mean that it rests en-
tirely with army officers, but it applies
to the friends of the army In every part
of the country. What I would like to i'm
press upon everybody interested In the
army is that we should turn to the prac-
teal questions and leave the impossible
aIone.''