Evening star., 1914-12-01
GARDNER WAR QUIZ
MEETS OPPOSITION
Regular Committees Likely to
Conduct Any Inquiry
Decided Upon.
WILSON IS SET AGAINST
SENSATIONAL AGITATION
Man Fears President
will Lay Cold Hand of Death
Upon Whole Movement"

Upon Whole Movement
| President Wilson's attitude toward
the rapidly spreading agitation for
thorough investigation of the prepared
ness of the United States to meet a
foreign foe has not been made officially
known, but today the signs pointed
toward opposition by democratic lead
ers in House and Senate, aided by the
President, toward a formal investiga-
ton. The tentative program appears
to be one of permitting Representative
Gardner and those who think like him
to have all the opportunity they want
of disclosing the information they
have on the floor of the House ana
elsewhere and having answer made TO
accusations by Representative Sherley.
chairman of the House committee on
fortifications; Representative Hay,
chairman of the military affairs COM
mittee of the House. and other mem
bers of that body who are in touch
with the military affairs of the country.
The President, in a letter few DAYS
ago to Mr. Gardner dictated wnlie IN
Williamstown. Mass, declared that ne
was not indifferent to the views OF
the Massachusetts member and ex-
pressed the wish to talk with Mr.. Gard
ner about the whole matter MI GaIo-
ner calling at the White House To-Day
to arrange for the time of his confer
ence with the President, expressed the
belief that the White House was pre-
pairing to LAY the cold hand OF death
on the whole movement.
President Against Sensations.
Those who know the President and
his earnest hope that this country Will
remain fervently neutral as between
the warning powers of Europe; VINO
realize his adherence of any agltatlon
that might lead to ill feeling here ana
to hints of animosity to any nation.
believe that he will stand stanchly
against any display of. passions ana OF
sensational revelations that might give
erroneous Impressions to the people OIL
the country.
TODAY that Mr. Gardner will have sup
port from many democrats In the
House unless the President is able
to Law a soporific hand on these men.
There is vast dlnerenee OF antan opanton
between Mr.. Gardner and Representa-
tive Sher1ey, who was also at tns
White House today, on the subject OF
the preparedness of this country to
stand off an attack by water.
Mr.. Sherley is known to feel that
there is no foreign enemy in the world
who could make entrance into the
United States through demolition OF any
of the great fortiflcations OF the coun-
try, and his views and that OF the
committee of the House, of which he
is the head, will stand out in the bill
that he will introduce at this session
dealing with appropriations Tor foru-
fications Mr.. Sherley will fortify him
self with great array of facts and
figures and will be ready to answer
any and all questions put to him
from the floor of the House.
Regular Committees Will Act.
whatever Investigation there is will
be privately conducted by Mr.. Sherley's
committee so far as Notifications are
concerned, it was believed today, and
by Mr.. Hays committee concerning the
size and needs of the army. The suS-
gestion of a formal investigation by
special committee, at which alleged ex-
perts and theorists from all directions
will in open session present their more
or less sensational opinions and facts.
is discountenanced by we'll informed
persons today. although 1t is canoioIy
admitted by these that the final out
come will be determined to large
extent by public opinion and desire.
Mr.. Sherley- was some time ago quoted
as saying that there Is not an instance
in history where naval vessels have been
able to take land fortifcation, but Mr..
Gardners answer to this is that not until
recently have naval guns been manufac-
tured that shoot accurately for a distance
of twenty-five miles and are far ahead
of the guns that are mounted on fortifi-
cations in the United States
Mr.. Gardner stated today that he has
invited former Secretaries OF War Dick
inson and Stimson. former Secretary Of
the Navy B0naparte and the editor OF
the Scientific American to prepare state
ments on the subject of the inadeQuacy
of American Notifications and armament
generally to read at any investigation.
and that these gentlemen are now pre-
pairing their statements. Messrs. Bona
parte and Stimson are republicans and
Mr.. Dickinson democrat
Mr.. Gardner left the White House
without definite date for his confer
ence. The Presidents program for this
week is full, and Mr.. Gardner is going
west to make some addresses. He will
| return to Washington at the end Of the
week.
Sherley at White House.
Mr.. Sherley went from the White
House to the War Department and then
to the Capitol. where he will begin
work upon the Notifications bill. 1t
was hinted today that Mr.. Sherley will
| conduct hearings and some investiga-
tion, if he deems it advisable, but there
Will De ilO open UedTiHbSs ~ ~ 90 PoAhS~
| ed out that the sort of a hearing pro-
posed by Mr.. Gardner would take many
| months and would extend far beyond
the coming session of Congress-. 1t
| could not possibly be finished in time
for action at this session, and no rem
edy could be applied even II the al
legations made by Mr.. Gardner ana
others are discovered to be true.
| Another important point suggested
| by those who will oppose formal IN
| vestigation is that Congress and the
| country can afford to postpone investi-
| CATION pending the revelations that
| will be gathered by experts OF the
| army abroad as to just what develop
| ment has taken place in new guns,
| both naval and land. The facts Will
| be obtained by army and navy officers
| abroad and then the country Will be
| prepared, if wakeful and vigilant. to
| replace old Notifications with new
| ones up to date.
| The disputes as to whether modern
| mortars are deadly at ranges far
| greater than American fortihcations
| guns will go on. it was declared today.
| until actual facts are revealed.
The letter of President Wilson to Mr..
Gardner, dated November 26. is as fol-
| lows:
"Mr. Dear Mr.. Gardner: l have your
| letter of November 23. for which l
| thank you You may be sure that ]
do not have an attitude of Indifference
| TO the great subject you broach, but
| should like very much to have a con-
| ference with you before the resolu-