The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-04-03
PREPARES FOR WAR
CONGRESS Is OBEYINc THE OLD
ADAGE TO MAKE READY IN
TINE OF PEACE,
EoUIPS THE ARMED SERVICE
needing the Warnings Of Colonel
thompson and General Wood. II
10 Putting the Army on q
Sound Basis.
BY GEORGE CLINTON,

Washington.-Whiles several treatie.
looking to arbitration II not to actual
compacts OF peace between this nation
ana many others are In process OF ne
souation. congress IL putting the Unit
Gu states upon safeguarding" mill
tAry footing. In one of these Wash
inston dispatches recently 1t was said
Inc United States ia pushing to COM
pletion rapidly its Notifications in the
philippines. Hawaii and on the Pacific
coast OF the Panama Canal Zone This
ID the only war scare story which does
not meet with either daily denials or
daily evasion"
recent events show copclusiyely
That army officers must have known
some ume ago that Democratic con-
eioss intended to vote money to
strengthen the armed service by sup
piyinS the war material necessary to
make up known deficiencies. Probably
the army knew also that congress In
Tended to supply means to strengthen
the notifications and to give the army
otner things necessary to meet any
emergency.
IL tnere was any war scare In the
original chapter, it has its supplement
IN the story of the legislative action
OF today Probably, however, there is
no real war scare In the situation. The
case doubtless is simply one OF an
awakening to the necessity of taking
the precautions demanded by common
sense.
Heed Col. Thompson's Warning.
Not long ago the then acting chief
OF ordnance. Col. John T. Thompson,
In an interview let it be known that
while the United States army In many
respects was in proper condition to
meet the demands of warfare, 1t was
lamentably weak in field artillery and
In ammunition. Col. Thompson gave
this Information to the country some
time before congress had taken up the
bills for appropriations. covering for
ufieations and munitions Of war. Now
: the legislators have acted and have
voted q large sum to be used to
strengthen the Notifications, to buy
the coast and field guns which are
necessary, and to purchase ammuni-
ton to make them serviceable.
The debates in congress on the
question Of increased appropriations
for war material were pointed, and as
they were held In the open everything
that was said Is by this time known
In Europe and in Japan. The con-
gressmen did not hesitate to talk
about other countries when they were
discussing the unpreparedness of
their own country to meet an enemy
In the field or on the sea. Taking this
debate In connection with that on the
Asiatic exclusion provision proposed
for the immigration bill, little room for
wonder Is left that the Japanese people
are being kept more or less stirred
up over the doings in America
Before long Gen. Leonard Wood will
be transferred from his post as chief
of staff to some other scene OF COM
mand. Not long before congress turned
its attention to the matter OF mu.
nitions of war, Gen. Wood told the
committee on military affairs of the
deficiency in guns and ammunition. AT
that time 1t was asked pointedly what
kind OF reasoning 1t was that put 1t In
to congressman's head that 1t was
all right to supply money to pay the
men OF six regiments of field artillery
and then to give them nothing to work
with. Congress apparently saw the
point OF the question and has pro-
ceeded to supply the working material.
Now the first time in years the army
of the United States rs to be upon
something like a sound basis.
What Of Senator Rorah?
What Of Borah7 Washington Pro
gressives and Republicans, yes, and
Democrats. too, today are discuss
ing the probable future political at
titude Of Senator William e. Borab |
OF Idaho. The senator. as is known.
is progressive Republican. He has
Just made a speech to the great Re- |
publican club of New York which has |
led to comment and speculation in |
by the members of all the
political parties.
When the Republican national COM
mittee met In Washington last Deem
Der, several progressive Republicans
were invited to address the members.
e. Borah was one of them
He was the only Republican of known
progressive instincts and actions who
declined In any way to mollify the
by inimating that he
knew whatever action they took with
reference to calling an extraordinary
Of the Republican party
would be actuated by high motives.
The senator did not urge the calling