Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-04
REPORT ON WEAKNESS
OF NATIONAL DEFENSES
(Continued From First Pare.1

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cavalry. which aggregates 1910 om-
GERS and enlisted men.
THE deficiency In horses for the
field artillery 10, even greater than
that OF the cavalry. There are no
animals for the signal or sanitary
troops.
AS regards wagon transportation
the militia, as now organized. Is def
cient 1884 wagons. Should the mill
tin be assembled into divisions and
separate brigades. the deficit would
be $685. wagons. There are no draft
animals available. These deficiencies
In material are very important, mas
much as they must be supplied before
the organized militia forces can be
made available for field operations
THAT we cannot, with our present
strength. rapidly assemble n sufficient
force, fully equipped for field opera
might be dispa tched against our shores
is evident" declares General Wother-
spoon.
REPORT TO DIE TEXTBOOK
OF CONGRESSMAN GARDNER
In this report. which will be made
the textbook of Congressman Gardner
and others who are seeking an inves-
tigation which will bring out the full
truth OF the condition OF the national
defenses. General Wotherspoon, follow
ing the example of other chiefs OF stafr,
recommends mobile army fully
equipped OF 100000 as adequate to the
needs, and necessary for the proper de-
tense OF the nation. And on the all
important question OF arms and am
munition for this force he says: "One
illustration will be sufficient, and that
VIII be taken In the munitions most
necessary for war as rifles and field
artillery. The proper proportion Of
rifles In force Of this character, in
Guiding the navy. which is armed with
the rifle. would be 642,54l.
The minimum accumulated supply
of rifle ammunition, based on 900
rounds per rifle. should be $4,000, 900
rounds. The proper proportion for
field and heavy guns of the mobile
type and exclusive of the gigantic en-
gines Of war of more recent introduce
ton. drawn by tractors no types of
which have as yet been developed in
this country. would be 2.s43. The am
munition for this type of gun, based
upon a supply of 5000 rounds per light
field gun, with corresponding pro-
portion for the heavier field guns. a
conservative estimate, IL we regard the
examples of the great military nations
would be 11,790.S50 rounds.
ut Is sufficient to point out that at
being manufactured 6s8.374 United
states rifles and 241,000,000 rounds OF
ammunition for these rifles; $50 field
guns and 5S0,09S rounds OF ammuni-
tion for these guns
"As the factories and works In this
country are exceedingly limited, 1t is
evident that n full supply Of this type
OF material must RESTORED and ready
for usc before war is undertaken"
concluded General Wctherspoon.
WOOD ALSO Calls
ATTENTION TO SHORTAGE
General Wood, in n report which he
submitted on the day he retired as
chief OF STAFF six months ago, said:
IN addition to the shortage of the
field artillery organizations for The
regular army, attention Is again in
vited to the very alarming shortage
of field artillery, guns and ammuni-
tion fro the militia and volunteers, and
to tho fact that this class of material
cannot be mado quickly. but must be
prepared In tim OF pcace. No am 5unt
of money or effort will serve to over
come this shortage without the ex-
pcnditurc Of such time as might he
+ fatal to our chances in time of war.
In my opinion, every effort should be
Z made and continued TO augment the
supply OF this material as rapidly as
I possible