Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-19
TO URGE ARM0RY
FOR LOCAL MILITIA
Representative Dyer Says Ma
tionaI Guard Should Have
Adequate Building.
WILL INTRODUCE BILL
FOR ITS CONSTRUCTION
Also Declares for Greater Army and
Navy for the Country's
Defense.

"oeioH capital. the way to set TINS
example is to provide a modern. ade.
quate. military-looking armory for the
National Guard" This is the sentiment
of Representative L. c. Over of St
Louis. recently commander in chief OF
the United Spanish War Veterans, and
author of bills for the erection of a
proper armory here.
Further, l intend to introduce an
other bill for the armory at the
coming session." continued Mr.. Dyer
and l confidently believe that this
time 1T will be enacted. The spirit OF
the people of the United States de-
mands that in this great National Cap
ital there should be a real armory, not
hired hall. The National G0ard of
the District of Columbia would increase
It's ehciency beyond description il it
had proper place for drill. assembly
study and athletics. 1t would be the
greatest gathering place for the best
young men of the city"
Advocates Greater Army and Navy.
In addition to planning a personal
campaign for the armory, Representa-
tive Dyer is in the city discussing with
the United Spanish War Veterans a
campaign by which the entire organi-
cation will get behind the plans for
preparedness. a greater army and a
greater navy. Mr.. Dyer said today he
had not studied the details of the pro-
posed continental army" but he was
constitutionally in favor of a defensive
strength far greater than we possess
today.
The regular army. $685. he said
includes both standing and line: 4S,42s
of these within the states, 17,947 in
mobile troops. We have. of militia
$4,000 on paper. men and officers: so. .00G
of these ready for service, 10000 in
Guiding army and militia. Total Off
GERS in the regular army, 4.572.
Quotes Figures From Report.
Figures from the report of the chief
of staff. United States Army. for the
period, April %. 1914, to November IL,
1914. show:
Actual strength of the United States
Army. exclusive of the Philippine
scouts. is 4.572 officers and ss.444 men.
The authorized strength is 4,726 officers
and 95.977 men. Hence the shortage
is 154 officers and 1888 men.
"Of the total enlisted strength, $3.50
per cent. including recruits and re-
cruiting parties. belong to the nom
combatant and non-effective class, and
are not with the colors; 1915 per cent
are in that branch whose special func-
ton is coast defense.
Mobile army. engineers. cavalry,
field artillery and infantry. is 58.O5 per
cent of actual strength. and comprises
2,73S officers and 51.344 men.
''Omitting cooks. musicians. scouts,
etc, the mobile strength is 2,738 off,
GERS and 45.s6S enlisted men.
Ammunition Required.
LAS to ammunition. we need 11.79O.s5
artillery rounds. We have on hand
and being manufactured $4,000 artil-
lery rounds. We need 646,O0O.o0o rifle
cartridges. We have on hand and being
manufactured 241,000,o00 rife cart
ridges. We need a supply of nine and
one-half twelve and one-half and six
teen and one-half inch howitzers. We
have only thirty-two six-inch how
itzers and smaller pieces. none larger.
Our militia includes, in total enlist
ed men. 1l9.0S1, of which only 52.56
per cent have had any rifle practice,
and only 33.43 per cent have qualified
as second-class marksmen or better.
From the report of the chief Of staff
for the year ending June 30, 1914, we
learn that out of our 10000 militiamen
%, 900 failed to present themselves for
the annual inspection. $1,000 absented
themselves from the annual encamp
ment, and $4,000 never appeared on the
rifle range from one years end to the
other.
we have only thirty-three battle
ships less than twenty years old. eleven
of which belong to the second class
line; four are building and authorized
making a total of thirty-seven. sixty
eight destroyers: enlisted naval per
sonnel, $4,000; short $4,000 men needed
TO man the fleet: shortage 1000 re-
uuirad for the fighting ships: ZOO mer
in our naval militia: no naval reserve
We should have at least 200 suoma
rines: We have only fifty-eight. includ
ing all authorized to be built. with
some obsolete. We have one mine layer
and need at least hve more. and 1885,
mines Germany had 10000 when the
war started. We need fuel ships; We
need scout ships. We have three. Ger.
many, fourteen, and Great Britain
thirty-one.
Would Add 100000 Men.
IT have advocated in Congress thai
the United States Army be increased
another 100. 900. If we got into troubl.
or Germany, we could not spend a veal
| or a year and a half preparing for it
There have been more officers killed il
one battle of the present war In Eu
trope than we have in our ARM Lin.
coin stated, as also did Washington
that the duty of the American people ,I
time of peace is to prepare Il defens.
Ito protect our lives and property IN
time of war
! Another thing l have advocated II
Congress is that the public schools
high schools and colleges have a par
| of their curriculum devoted to IN,
itraining of boys to be soldiers. so tha
lthey will be equipped not only men
tally, but with a knowledge of the du
ties of a soldier. Switzerland has don,
this and the result is that il has tb,
most efficitn men from a view Doin
of militarism.
IF we had had to fight a frst-clas
power during the war of 1898. inste.,
of the poorly equipped army Spain had
we would have lost thousands befor,
we would have been successful. We Ia,
no equipment. and IL takes at least :
year to properly train volunteers.
The United States, considering IL
hsize and wealth, is the most unpre
ipared to fight or defend itself CT an,
,giye their congressman support and in
sist that money be appropriated to in
crease the army and navy to provid,
1 for the education and training OF NOR,
linen at West Point and Annapolis