New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-25
LITTLE NAVY" MEN
UNDAUNTED BY WAR
Two Battleship Plan Opposed by
Several Speakers in the
House.
fErnrn Thu Trihune Bureau. !

Washington. April 2-Despite the part
the navy is playing in Mexico. the House
listened to-day 10 two little navy
speeches, Representatives Witherspoon. OF
Mississippi. and Saunders. Of Virginia,
opposing the two battleship appropriation
in the naval appropriation bill.
Mr.. Saunders assailed the "accursed
war spirit and deprecated the extrava-
CANT laudation of everybody and every
thing pertaining to war" He criticised
the general board of the navy, asserting
that 't pushes into further extravagance
the construction favored by the naval
committees OF Congress"
"Ohicers and men OF the army and
navy would be ingrates II they did not
do their duty" he said. we sent TO our
academies many men who would have had
no opportunity at home. l remember Ad-
miral Bob Evans. who came from a
little mountain town in my district. II
he had not gotten the appointment TO the
Naval Academy he probably might have
become postmaster OF the little town Of
Floyd
Continuing his criticism Of the naval
strategy board and officers OF the navy
and army in general, Mr.. Saunders de-
clarcd that their obligations were no
more sacred than those OF members Of
Congress, "or policemen and firemen, who
sometimes go to death under circum-
stances Of greater heroism than men on
the battlefield"
Judge Witherspoon's effort was a con-
tlnuation OF his speech OF Tuesday, where
in he argued that the United States navy
was ample for all purposes Of offence and
defence
The House voted unanimously to-day to
make available Immediately an appropria-
ton Of 500, 900 for the New Orleans Navy
Yard The bill, which subsequently passed
the Senate. IS to allow the New Orleans
yard to make repairs to United States
vessels now in Gulf waters. Repairs at
New Orleans will obviate the necessity or
vessels returning TO the Atlantic coast
yards.
Representative Garner, OF Texas, COM
municated to the War Department to-day
border that there might be a Mexican in
vasion Mr.. Garner told the Secretary or
War that from thirty thousand to forty
thousand mer were standing in line IN
Texas towns awaiting an opportunity 10
purchase guns and ammunition. lie re-
ceived kilograms appealing for protection
from citizens in the towns OF Eagle Pass.
Mission, San Benito, Mercedes, Arlington
and Brackettsvile.
War Department officials informed MI
Garner of orders placing troops under the
command Of General Bliss, who has au-
thority TO assign them TO danger zones
and the Texas member was treasured.
Answering inquiries from Representa-
tives Moore and Ware, OF Pennsylvania
the War Department said today that the
bodies Of American soldiers and sailors
killed in Mexico would be brought homo
at government expense, but that the
brrials would have TO be at the expense
of their families. The two members con-
ferred with the department In the interest
Of the mother OF Charles Smith. or Phl!a-
delphia. Young Smith was killed at Vera
Cruz. The Pension Bureau advised the
two Pennsylvania members that no Con-
gresslonal action would be necessary to
obtain a pension for the mother Of the
slain boy.
Representative Kahn, ranking minority
member of the Military Affairs Commit
tee. estimates that the first call for vol
unteers under the bill passed to-day would
be for three hundred thousand men.
Il can see only long drawn out war
with Mexico" said Mr.. Kahn and
eventually we will have large army IN
the field. expect that the first call for
volunteers. including the state militia
will provide about three hundred thou
sand men. OF course, the green men
must be kept I'm this country for couple
Of months for training, but we can put
formidable, seasoned army In the field
at short notice"