East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-12-17
(By Burton X. Standish. Written for
the United Press.)


(By Burton X. Standish. Written FOR
the United Press)
WASHINGTON. Dec. 17.-"Are we
prepared to fight" This question
with interest stirred in II by the war
abroad. promises TO develop into one
OF the biggest issues before the coun-
try during the next year The atten-
tion OF congress during the present
session viii be centered on Il much
OF the time.
While the. advocates of a bigger
and better army and navy are equip
ping themselves with heavy supplies
OF data TO show that the United States
would be hopelessly weak II attacked
by one OF the world powers, the anti
militarists are arming themselves with
Information TO back up their conten-
tion that further preparedness for
war would be undesirable and un-
necessary.
The pacificlsts will admit that our
preparedness is not TO he compared
with that OF other great nations but
they will argue that with the rest OF
the world embroiled In the greatest
war OF history all our rivals will be
so exhausted by fighting that they
would not dare to attack us for years
to come. This fact, along with the
natural defense constituted by our
geographical isolation. gives us ample
protection, the peace men will con-
tend.
The case Of the militarists was voic-
ed in detail by General w. W. Woth-
erspoon, ex-chief OF staff OF the ar
my. in his annual report just issued.
He summarized our military situation
thus: We could not defend the Pan
anna canal We could not defend the
Philippies,. or Alaska, or Hawaii,
or any other OF our insular possess
slons Our coast defenses are la
mentally inadequate We could not
concentrate a sufficient force to re-
pei an invasion by a first class fight
ing power
Here is the remedy: Raise the reg
ular or standing army from its pres
ent strength OF $4,000 men to 2O5,-
900 men. Create a first line OF re-
serves of 500. 900. thoroughly equip
ped and trained Establish a second
reserve OF 800 900 men.
General Wotherspoon does not go
to the length Of advocating compul-
sorry military service but he says this;
'In any scheme to create such a force
OF mobile troops. We cannot do bet
ter than to follow the example OF the
master minds in military organization
for national defense. The policies
developed in this direction all in
clude. among others, the primary
plan OF using the standing army as
a school for training men who. on
from that school. pass in
10 the reserve and constitute the real
national military strength"
Many anti-militarists, however. VIII
agree with General Wotherspoon that
there is urgent need for re-organiza-
ton of the state militia. Agitation
has been long under way for change
in the laws governing the militia
which will bring greater reliance up
on and an increased control by the
national government. Until this Is
done authorities declare. the militia
cannot be regarded as a dependable
branch OF our military strength.
The modification OF the law pro-
posed Is to place the militia under
pay of the national government ana
under binding obligation to serve az
its call. This. 1t is thought, would
n,oduce a state OF affairs where the
militia would be much more NOR
oughly trained than under existing
laws and to that extent can be more
depended upon.
The actual number Of men aVall-
able in our coast defenses artillery Is
"a. 600. or 10000 less than the num-
her estimated TO be necessary to man
the defenses. 1t is contended thst
the offenses are so few and far apart
as 10 offer an invading army a large
choice OF landing places along our
Experts are now assertihs
that the latest type OF super dread
naught with its armament OF htteen
inch guns could stand off at sea and
batter our coast lOINS " b'S
the shells from our fourteen lnch
defenses guns would fall harmlessly
in the water 1000 yards short OF their
mark.
We have Jagged far behind all our
rivals in military aeronautics. 1t Is al
50 pointed out. The army has no
armored autos. and no motor tractors
for artillery. It is charged. All these
things will be thoroughly threshed
out II the congressional inquiry, ad-
yocated by Congressman Gardner. OF
Massachusetts is ordered.
To the charge OF weakness Of our
navy II will be answered that we have
built. building OF authorized, fifteen
dreadnaughts, with at least two more
likely TO be authorized at the pres
ont session Of congress. The last
four dreadnaughts authorized will be
the largest in the world. The small
navy members OF congress will point
out that our program is ample enough
while the nayies OF Germany and
Great Britain, the only two larger
than our own. are engaged in Destroy
Ing each other.