Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-12-17
SHOULD THE UNITED STATES
INCREASE ARMY And NAVY.
High Officials Give Expert Testimony
ON Subject of Preparedness Of
War. Authorfties Differ.

ON Subject of Preparedness of
War; Authorities Differ.
In his message to congress last
week, President Wilson said:
ct is said in some quarters that we
are not prepared for war. What is
meant by being prepared? Is it
meant that we are not ready upon
brief notice to put nation in the
field, nation of men trained to arms?
Of course we are not ready to do that;
and we shall never be in time of peace,
so long as we retain our present polit-
ical principles and Institutions"
Proc1aiming the people from the
United States, Champions of peace
and concord" the President emphati-
caliy opposed great standing army,
and was again cheered when he as
serted that in time of national peril,
the country must depend upon a
citizenary trained and accustomed to
arms"
q, S. Well Prepared.
Washington, Dec. 9.-The ability OF
the American navy to successfully
meet the war fleet of any nation ex-
cept Great Britain was asserted today
by Rear Admiral Fletcher, command
er-in-chief of the Atlantic fleet, before
the house naval affairs committee.
The possibility of conflict with Great
Britain was so remote, the admiral
said, that he did not believe in naval
policy designed to control the oceans
as against that country.
Examined all Day.
Admiral Fletcher was under exam
ination all day by the committee at
the first public hearing on a naval
appropriation bill held in many years.
He was piled with many questions
about conditions of the navy, judged
by lessons of the European war. Al
though confidently declaring the
American navy was oVermatched only
by that of England, he added, that if
this country continued to build only
two battleships a year, Germany on
basis of her present construction pro-
gram, soon would be far in the lead
The admiral said he had no doubt
in the ability of the United States to
control the seas in a naval conflict
with Japan, but when questioned
specifically he would not say that the
American fleet alone could success
fully defend the Philippines and Ha-
Waii against Japanese expedition.
Ultimate naval success, Admiral
Fletcher contended, must rest with
dreadnoughts. Submarines, he de-
ciared, would not seriously affect the
vital principles of naval warfare. He
admitted, however, that from a for
eign- navy viewpoint it was possibl e
to send submarine across the Atlantic
TO attack warships on the American
coast
In the event of war he said all
American battleships available could
he r1ade ready for action within a
week. #&Ei
Sec. Garrison Wants Increase.
Washington, Dec. 9.-That the Unit
ed States army be Immediately re-
cruited to its full war strength, which
means the addition of $4,000 men and
1000 officers, is urged by Secretary
Garrison, of the war department, in
his annual report presented today to
President Wilson.
Such an increase would give tn :
regular army total of about ~125, 900
Zen, of whom $4,000 would be availa-
BILE as a mobile fighting force in the
continental United States The pres
ent mobile strength of 81 900, the sec
rotary put, soon will be cut in half
by additions to the garrisons in the
canal zone, and the Philippines.
The present full war strength of the
United States is summarized by the
report as follows:
"The organized militia of the vari
GUS states totals 1928 officers and 49,
1sr,4o
required, in order, in order to obtain
the financial aid which congress au-
thorizes the secretary of war to ex-
tend under certain conditions, to at
tend twenty-four drills a year and
Eve days annually in the field If all
Of the national guard could be sum-
moned in the event of war and should
all respond Gan uncomfortable result) ,
and if they all found fairly efficient
in the first line-that is, the troops
who would be expected to immediate
1y take the field-we could summon
force in this country of regulars
and national guard amounting the
9,,818 officers and 148,492 men. (This
would include only regulars of fight
ing force stationed in the United
States proper.)
F4And this is absolutely an. The
other resources would then be volun-
teers, and to equip, organize, train,
and make them ready would take, at
the smallest possible estimate, six
months.
Anyone who, takes the slightest,
trouble to investigate will find that
I'm modern warfare prepared enemy
would progress so far on the way to
success in six months, if his antag.
onist had to wait six months to meet
him that such unprepared antagonist
might as well concede defeat without
contest" -.-,.-,--t
+. OF the efficiency of the present
army Mr.. Garrison says:
while our existing organization is
OF the exceedingly small numbers al
ready mentioned, it is unquestionably
in as excellent condition as any sim
liar number of men in anv other mil