The Washington times., 1914-11-05
EXPECT COMMISSION
TO HEAR ROOSEVELT
Proposed Probe of United
States Preparedness for
= War in Short Session.

Col. Theodore Roosevelt will in all
probability be one of the first persons
called to testify before the proposed
commission to investigate the question
OF the military and naval preparedness
OF the United States, If such a commits
sion is named by Congress the coming
winter. Congressman Gardner of Mas
Bachusetts has introduced a resolution
for such a commission and will press II,
with strong backing at the short seS-
sion.
Not only is it we'll known that Colonel
Roosevelt has given a great deal of
study to this question, but in view of
his recent statement to the students Of
4'rln ceton that ne had seen plans OF
two nations TO take San Francisco and
New York and hold them for ransom,
there is a demand in some quarters that
ne should give details. The colonel has
said that after election he may take the
subject up further, so that ii is possible
he will elucidate the subject without
waiting for any commission.
No Doubt of His Views.
However, there is no doubt in army
circles what the colonel is talking
about. German plans to seize Atlantic
coast cities and hold them have been
frankly discussed More or less has
been published about them. 1t may be
that Colonel Roosevelt knows a good
deal more about them than has been
disclosed. They have not aroused in
the army either excitement or resent
ment, because they are supposed to be
In sense academic, just as the gen.
eral staff Of the American army has de-
Nised plans for various campaigns
which IL hopes never to have to make.
\ AS to seizure of San Francisco. the
Japanese at one time had plans for
doing that and the plans came into
the possession of the War College
here. with the result that the War
College in turn went to work to de-
wise plans to meet such an attack.
The War College found, however, that
II was one thing to prepare the plans
end another to devise the ways and
~means of carrying out the plans.
Furthermore, in some of the official
reports. especially in a report some
years ago on the need for fortifying
Los Angeles. there was an extremely
frank discussion Of what might be
done by an enemy invading the Pa
cific coast and overrunning the Pacific
coast region as far eastward as the
mountain passes.
Roosevelt Well Posted.
Colonel Roosevelt. while in the
White House, conferred a great deal
with army men and navy men about
the army and the naval forces. He
knew the inside of things in that re-
spect probably more fully than any
other President of this generation.
1ie is a student of military and naval
matters. has seen army service, be-
lieVes young men should be trained
10 familiarity with arms, and is in
favor of system that will give the
United States, not q big standing
army. but a trained reserve of men
who can be called into service If
needed
Army men do not look on plans by
Germans or Japanese or other ma
tions for operations against this
country as anything to be alarmed
about or as evincing hostile inten-
uons, though there has been a dis
position in some newspapers to lake
that view of it. To the army officers,
such plans are accepted rather as
demonstrating what might be done
rather than anything else and as in
dicating what view foreign military
officers take as to where Americas s
weak spots lie in strategic sense.
Opposition Is Expected.
IT is too early to tell whether Con-
gTess will adopt the Gardner resolution
or anything of the sort. The Admins
tration influence will be against II and
30 will that of Secretary Bryan. Never
theless, there will be strong support for
IL Many evidences are given of a
growing interest in the subject of how
far America is capable of defending
herself
Army and navy officers know we'll
what the situation is. But they are
pretty we'll barred from talking about
II freely. One of the objects aimed at
by Congressman Gardner is to have a
commission of Congress named which
'uld give officers who have studied the
Object most deeply a chance to make
ybublic statements concerning things
They talk about frankly in private.
What Is Really Needed.
IL there is any real overhauling Of
the military system it will undoubtedly
aim at finding some way to make the
country better prepared without ex-
penditures larger than the present large
expenditures. The army bills now are
enormous, and the result is small As
some OF the more prog ressive army men |
Eiew IL, what is needed is more atten- !
ton to training men and providing rifles