The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-12
EXPECT INCREASES
IN APPROPRIATIONS
FOR FEDERAL ARMY
Bill Will Be Reported to House
as Soon as There is Prob
ability Of its Passage. Says
Chairman Hay.
Astonishing Statements as to
Unpreparedness Of United
States for War Made to Com
mittee by Wood and Other
Military Strategists.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The I'M
preparedness of the United States
army for war has been foreibiy
brought TO the attention of congress.
The secretary of war. I.indley M.
Garrison, and the chief OF stan OF
The army. Major General Leonard
Wood. made astounding statements TO
the house committee on military al
fairs during the hearings on the army
appropriation bill. which have just
been completed.
Prediction OF defeat for the Amer
lean army If we have war within four
years is the only conclusion that can
be drawn by military strategists from
their testimony. As a result of the
inquiry. big increase in the size OF
this years approximation for the army
u expected
Report II Soon.
Representative Hay. Of Virginia.
chairman of the military affairs com
mittee. said today that the bill would
be reported to the house just as soon
~ there was probability of its inn
mediate consideration.
Particular emphasis Iii placed upon
this country's responsibility attend
ant on the operation Of the Panama
canal. Both Secretary Garrison and
General Wood center all their recon-
mendations about the canal. and cite
its additional responsibilities as the
reason for our present nnprepared-
ness. either for offensive or defensive
war.
I'm the event Of war a landing party
OF small dimensions could explode a
comparatively small amount of explo
ave where any locks and dams are,
70 that they would completely de-
etroy s2s5. 100000 worth of work that
In a tremendous commercial and miia-
tary asset"
This IL the statement of Secretary
of War Garrison made to the house
military affairs committee, regarding
the military protection Of the 18th
milan waterway He said there should
be more than Owe Thousand troops in
the canal zone today. There are
about 1900. He said that this nation
should have five thousand men In the
Hawaiian islands. There are less than
two thousand soldiers Farrisoned IN
Hawaii Mr. Garrison declared that
II he sent ten thousand men out of
the country. our army remaining a.
home would be far too small for its
necessary work. even In time of peace,
He advocates raising the authorized
strength from S5.eo0 men to 100000.
the secretary said.
Men Needed In Panama
we must send ave thousand men
~t.x.x txnf p
there in time of peace---hefore war
Ii rumored Nowadays nation will
give no notice OF attack, The Japa-
nese gave the Russians NO notice.
While diplomacy Is dealing with in
ternational disputes we must do moth
ing that will Indicate that we expect
amy other than a peaceful conclusion
of those troubles: we could not make
a military movement. If we sent
men to the canal then 1t would be
said we were not acting In good faith,
To hold the zone we must have the
men there all the time. ready for
anything.
THE army is far too small for the
work II is expected tn do. I have
made recommendations for an In
crease In the army. and for great
quantity nf arms and ammunition"
TO send our troops into war as
they are today would be absolute
slaughter" said General Wood. I'VE
have neither sufficient field artillery,
nor ammunition"
We are absolutely upprepared. The
army has been trying to accumulate
l,ase field guns OF various caiibre. hut
today we have less than half that
number II would be suicide to at
tauipt to repe1 an invading army OF
Eve hundred thousand men with less
/ than twelve hundred gums. No ma
fion would invade the United states
unless II had an army OF this size,
Wa need eighteen hundred rounds OF
4 ammunition for each gun. We have
hut half that amount on hand.
'sThe IRE OF modern field artillery
II No deadly that troops cannot ad-
vance within Its range until first hav-
ing siIenced 1t. Field artillery cam
not he easily obtained. In nine days
1 during the Russian Japanese war. the
Russians expended more than 25e.000
rounds of ammunition at Mukden.
No Way 10 supply Them.
.The entire yearly capacity Of ths
United States II hut that amount
working three shifts q day this ma
! t3on can produce bur $50 field guns d
Year We need right now as mini
mum supply three times that mum.
ber.
s'This situation liz the weakest link
In our whole chain OF military defense
In other reapccts We are well pre-
pared.
s.No war with a first class power will
I last a year. IL wa should be driven
into conflict We could not begin Il
mannfacture the things absolutely
4 needed. deld guns and ammunition. nm.
III peace had been declared, We have
1 to-day not suficient strength to givs