Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-11


report of the chief of staff, We are
short sic field guns and 1,322,3S4 rounds
of ammunition necessary to equip our
militia in time Of war. Last year, EN-
eraI Wood asked for enough guns and
ammunition to bring the United States
up to the standard of Bulgaria. That
immodest demand was gently but firm
ly rejected.
Lack of Artillery
Il will not say that we have only
enough field artillery ammunition to
last for single days battle II all our
guns were engaged, but will say that
such is the statement which has been
made to me by one of the highest off,
GERS in the United States army. l do
not, however, hesitate to assert that
il war were to break out today it
would be found that our coast de-
lenses have not sufficient ammunition
for an hours fighting. The chief Of
staff tells us that the ammunition for
the coast defense mortars would last
one-half hour. and for the coast de-
Tense guns three-quarters of an hour.
I'm short then, our officers and off,
Gals have told us that We lack men
for our navy. men for our coast de-
Tense, and men for. our army; that we
lack artillery and the ammunition
with which tc charge that artillery;
that we lack great warships to sail the
seas and little scouts to act as their
messengers and their eyes: that we
have a sadly deficient under sea navy
and practically no overhead feet at
all. ss4f-a
II have proposed that an independ-
ent commission be appointed to inves-
tigate all these things, to recommend
to US a definite policy for our future
guidance.
For the first time in the history Of
this country, SO far as I know, COM
mittee of this House has refused a
hearing to one Of the, Houses men,
bers.
carnegie's Triumph
Arbitration! What a grand word !!
All that Carnegie has to show for his
money is an unprepared England and
an unprepared Belgium. Possibly !
ought to accord him one other scalp
to him tomahawk. although that scalp
is made of imitation hair. The pacifists
boast tina. their efforts have at least
made every nation disclaim the re-
sponsibility for the war Had Belgium,
like Switzerland and Holland, put
more confidence in her troops and less
in arbitration and scraps of paper,
she might today be free from the ago.
ny of invasion.
"Yet every scrap of paper to which
America puts her sign manual must be
scrupuiously redeemed. Come what may,
we must fulfill our treay obligations.
even IL every other nation on earth is
false. But suppose that at some future
time we find our path beset by nations
with smaller consciences and larger how
itzers--what then? Shall we defend our
selves with mammoth rolls of Sunday
school signatures, or shall we place our
dependence in Chatauqua lectures?
"No More Burglars"
pending that day should like few
more dogs of war and promise not to
sick them on to the passersby. I can
dream Of a day when society will be so
well organized that there will be no more
burglars"
Representative Gardner issued dra-
matte challenge to Chairman Hay of the
military committee, to summon former
Chief Of the Staff Major Gen. Wither-
spoon and question him about the report
In which he commented on the lack OF
military preparedness Chairman Hay in
reply said it was not usual for the com.
mittee to examine officers no longer con-
nected with the service.
II challenge you to summon him, =
| shouted Representative Gardner. ''Wil
you do it?"
"I'll do 1t IL I think it is necessary, .
replied Chairman Hay quietly, and the
| incident ended.