The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1914-12-17
PREPAREDNESS NOT A PARTY, BUT
NATIONAL QUESTION.

Senator Lodge has come to the sup
port of Representative Gardeners move
ment for an Inquiry into our national
defenses, and announces his reason in
the following statement:
Eyes, / intend to introduce in the
Senate a resolution similar to tina Of
fered by MIR. Gardner in the house, CALI
ing for a commission to investigate and
report upon the condition of our nation
al d~fenses.
This does not commit us to any
expenditures OF any kind or to any
policy. 1t is merely resolution of
inquiry which, l think, ought to be
adopted by both houses and app owed
by the president 1t seems to me that
the country oughs to know just what
the condition Of the national defence is.
We are at peace with all the nations
of the world, and | fully believe we
shall remain at peace with them all.
Our policy is simply of maintaining
strict and honest neutrality. But the
great nations of the earth are at war
and we are living in the midst of an
armed and fighting world. Under these
circumstances 1t Is well to now what
the state Of our defenses is.
we hear it said that from our regu
could not at this moment get together
900 men for our defenses. 1t has
been publicly stated that we have not
sufficient ammunition even for such
troops as we have; that the fortifica-
lions for oui great cities are very in
sufficient; that we have few if any
guns OF greater range than those on
battleships; that such troops as We
have, instead of being concentrated at
the points where they are needed, are
scattered through the country in posi-
lions where there Is no need Of troops.
lit Is said that we have nothing
resembling reserves, either Of men or
ammunition, and that no sufficient arr
rangements have been made for pro-
viding mines to protect our harbors. l
should like to know, and l think the
American people would like to know,
whether there is truth in these state
ments.
"If we turn to the navy we can read
statements of similar character. l
know that we are short OF scout cruis-
ers. having only three. A proper num-
Der of scout cruisers Is essential to the
efficiency of the fleet. We are insult
ficientiy supplied with aeroplanes and
hydroplanes, which are so essential in
modern warfare. We have a large
number of submarines-not enough in
proportion to our fleet-but 1t is stated
that many of those, of early types. are
not up to recent standards. 1t is said
that we have only one torpedo to each
torpedo tube. i should be glad to
know whether this is true or false.
4 have seen 1t stated, although 1t
seems to me hardly credible. that we
have had no fleet maneuvers for two
years and no divisional drills for, one
year. We certainly ought to know
whether this Is true or false. There
is a widespread belief that our navy
has lately been declining in efficiency
and on this we ought to be informed
and the department cleared from such
charges IT, as / hope and believe. they
are unjust.
II merely mention the e few points
which have been widely circulated
through the press to show why | think
that we ought 10 have the inquiry
which viii ~, asked for in my resolu-
ton / cannot believe that the state
ments In the press that the adaninis-
tmtion is opposed to this inquiry can
possibly be well founded. for there is
nobody who has 50 earnestly advocated
publicity as the president in HRS inter-
esting book. THE New Freedom. We
ought to have the truth about these
things, and then 1t Is for the Amer
lean people and nobody else to decide
what they intend shall be done. But Lei
the people of the country know the
facts.
1T is not party question in any
lsense, and the national defense ought
never to be a party question. We are
spending some $25O,OoOOoO year OF
our army and navy. and we ought L
know what we are getting for oui
money and whether for that money We
are securing the highest possible eff
cheney OF result. 1t Is never well II
this country and under our system o
government to have secrets from tn,
people. Let us know the TRUTH"