Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-10
WILSON ''BOGY NAN
OF straw AAY[L
GARDNER DECLARES UNITED
STATES HAS AMMUNITION FOR
HOURS FIGHT.
SHOWS LACK OF INTEREST
AMONG "cITIzENRY" TROOPS
Country Sadly in Need Of More Men
and Equipment, According to Mill
tary Expsrts-coast Dsfenses Pre-.
pared For One Day II All Guns Ar.
u.ed-Rsspeets to Carnegie.


tive Gardner addressed the house to-
day on his resolution for the investiga-
ION Of the nations preparedness for
war. He prefaced his remarks by the
announcement that he had introduced
a bill to increase the United States
army to it's full war strength.
He devoted much time to an analy
sis Of President Wilson's references to
national defense in his annual address
to congress.
He declared the president had set
up "a bogy man of straw" and that
If war were to break out today II
would be found our coast defenses
have not sufficient ammunition for an
hours fighting.
We must depend in sine Of ma
tional peril on citizenry trained and
accustomed to arms says the presi-
dent" said Representative Gardner.
but how are we to get enough citi-
there are only 10000 militiamen In
this whole nation? Does he under
stand that $4,000 Of them did not show
up idSI year 4OI dHluul Inspection.
Does he know that $1,000 did not ap-
pear at the annual encampment? Is
ne aware that $4,000, or nearly half of
this citizenry never appeared at the
rifle range during the whole course of
last year? Where is this citizenry to
get the weapons of war? According to
the last report of the chief Of staff we
are short SIG field guns and l.322,3Sl
rounds OF ammunition necessary to
equip our militia in time of war.
Equipped For One Day.
Last year General Wood asked for
enough guns and ammunition to bring
the United States. up to the ystaridar I'd
Of Bulgaria. This modest demand was
rejected.
Il will not say that we have only
enough field ammunition to last for a
single days battle If all our guns were
engaged, but l will say such a state
ment was made to me by one of the
highest officer in our army. II war
should 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 NOR
tars would last half an hour and for
the coast defense guns three quarters
of an hour.
In short then, our officers and Off
cials have told us we lack men for our
navy, men for our coast defense, and
men Tor our army; that we lack artil :
iery and ammunition; that we lack
great warships to sail the seas. and
little scouts to act as their messengers
and their eyes; that we have a sadly
deficient undersea navy, and prac-
tically no overhead feet at all.
II have proposed that an independ-
ent commission be appointed to in
vestigate and recommend to us a
policy for our future guidance.
For the first time that I know OF
committee Of this house has re-
fused a hearing to one of It's members
What Arbitration Has Done.
Arbitration! What a grand word
All that Carnegie has to show for his
money Is an unprepared England and
an unprepared Belgium. Possibly ]
should accord him another scalp to his
tomahawk, altho that scalp is made OF
imitation hair. The pacificists boas,
that their efforts have at least made
every nation disclaim the responsible
i'y 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
invasion.
Yet. every scrap of paper to which
America puts her sign manual must BIZ
scrupously redeemed. Come what may
we must fulfill our treaty obligations
even If every other nation on eartf
is false But. suppose, at some future
time, we find our path beset by nations
with smaller consciences and large,
howitzers-what then? Shall we defend
ourself with mammouth rolls Of Sun.
day school signatures, or shall we
place our dependence in chautauqua
lectures2
Pending that day should like few
more dogs Of war, and promise no.
to sic them on the passerby. l car
dream Of q day when society will bt
20 well organized that there will be nc
| more burglars"