Evening star., 1914-12-10
Declares Nation Utterly Unpre
pared to Defend Itself
Against Invasion.
WOULD ENACT INTO LAW
PROGRAM OF GARRISON
Asks President Wilson to Locate the
''Citizenry" Trained to the
Work of War.

| Representative Gardner addressed
| the House today on his resolution for
investigation of the preparedness of
the nation for war. He prefaced his
remarks by announcing that he had
introduced a bill to enact into law
Secretary Garrison's recommendation,
in his annual report published today.
to recruit the United States Army to
its full war strength.
A large portion of his speech Mr..
! Gardner devoted to an analysis of
President Wilson's references to ma
| tional defense in his annual address to
Congress Tuesday. He declared the
President had set up "a bogey man of
| straw" and that eff war were to break
out today it would be found our coast
defenses have not sufficient ammuni-
tion for an hours fighting"
Defects of the Militia.
I've must depend in every time of
national peril upon citizenry trained
and accustomed to arms says the
President" said Representative Card
ner. But. how are We to get enough
citizenry. as he calls us ordinary peo-
pie? Does the President realize that
there are only 10000 militiamen in
this whole nation? Does he understand
that $4,000 of them did not even show
up last year for annual inspection? ?
Does he know that $1,000 did not ap-
pear at the annual encampment? Is he
aware that $1,000, or nearly half Of
this citizenry. never appeared at the
rifle range during the whole course Of
the last year?
Where is the citizenry to get the
weapons of war? According to the
last report of the chief of stan we are
snort 316 field guns and 1922 3S4 rounds
OF ammunition necessary to equip our
militia in time of war. Last year Gen,
Wood asked for enough guns and am
munition to bring the United States
up to the standard of Bulgaria. That
immodest demand was gently but
firmly rejected.
Shortage of Ammunition.
'I will not say that we have only
enough field artillery ammunition to
last for a single days battle If all
our guns were engaged, but / will say
that such is the statement which has
been made to me by one of the highest
officers in the United States Army.
Il do not, however, hesitate to assert
that II war were to break out today it
would be found that our coast defenses
have not sufficient ammunition for an
hours lighting. The chief of staff tells
US that the ammunition for the coast
defense mortars would last one-haH
hour, and for the coast defense guns
three-quarters of an hour.
In short, then. our officers and Off
Gals have told us that we lack men
for our navy, men for our coast de-
fense and men for our army; that we
lack artillery and the ammunition with
winch to charge that artillery: that we
lack great warships to sail the seas
and little scouts to act as their mes
sengers and their eyes: that we have
sadly dehcient undersea navy and prac-
tically no overhead fleet at all
Il have proposed that an independent
commission be appointed to Investigate
all these things. to recommend to us
definite policy for our future guid-
ance.
For the first time in the history of
this country. SO far as I know, a com
mlttee of this House has refused a
hearing to one of the Houses members.
Fruits of Arbitration.
"Arbitration. What a grand word,
All that Carnegie has to show for his
money is an unprepared England and
an unprepared Belgium. Possibly l
ought to accord him one other scalp to
his tomahawk, although that scalp is
made of imitation hair. The pacifists
boast that their efforts have at least
made every nation disclaim the respon-
sibility for the war Had Belgium. like
Switzerland and Holland, put more
confidence in her troops and less in ar
bitration and scraps of paper. she
might today be free from the agony of
investment.
yet. scrap of paper to which
America puts her sign manual must
be scrupulously redeemed. Come what
may, we must fulfill our treaty obli-
cations. even If every other nation on
earth Is false. But suppose that at
some future time we find our path be-
set by nations with smaller consciences
and larger howitzers-what then?
Shall we defend ourselves with man.
moth rolls of Sunday school signatures
or shall we place our dependence in
Chautauqua lectures?
Pending that day. I should like a
few more dogs of war, and 1 promise
not to sick them onto the passersby.
l can dream of a day when society will
be so well organized that there will be
no more burglars
Challenge to Chairman Hay.
speech with a dramatic challenge to
Chairman Hay of the military affairs
committee to summon the former chief
of staff OF the army. Maj. Gen. Wother-
spoon. before his committee and ques-
tion him about the report in which the
former chief of staff commented on the
lack of military preparation. Chairman
Hay, in reply. said that it was not usual
for the committee to examine officers
no longer connected with the service.
Il challenge you to summon him.
shouted Representative Gardner. "Will
you do it?"
I'll do it if / think that it is neces-
sary." replied Chairman Hay, quietly.