Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-07-30
NATIONAL DEFENSE
FIGHT IS BREWING
Greater Army and Navy Advocates
to Meet Old Opposition in
Congress.
APPROPRIATION NECESSARY
Bills to Augment Military Resources
introduced at Last Session But
Were Pigeonhold.

IL is one thing to declare in favor of
a greater army and navy and another
thing TO get Congress to appropriate
for them. This is the viewthat the
old stagers who have watched the rise
and fall of popular clamor for or
against bigger armies and greater ma
vies. The fact that White House state
mepts have announced that the Pres
ident is going TO consult with Secre-
taries Daniels and Garrison on quest
ton of preparedness has given great
impetus TO the already powerful move
mcnt to increase the national defense.
But il is also to be remembered that
the state of preparedness is something
that army and navy experts have at
their fingers ends all the time. and
the consultation between the heads of
the nations defenders are not likely to
produce any large amount of new in
formation. However, those in public
life who are in Washington and who
have given thought TO the situation be-
lieve that the administration is going
to put little more steel into its back
bone on the navy, and army question,
ard that many of the petty economies
which have resulted from the attitude
of certain members of Congress are
going to be eliminated in the next
Congress.
1t is believed that Secretary Garri-
sons reserve army and big coast artil-
cry corps ideas will be laid down in
front Of Congress with instructions to
ffI fIs, e,s,. fn1t
were treated with rare and painful
disdain at the last Congress. Men who
have an eye on the political effect of
such clamorous uprisings as the pres
ent bigger army and navy" move
ment, say that the Representatives and
senators VINO are presidential posi-.
bilities will also adopt the larger pro-
paganda as the popular thing to adj
here TO. The few senators who have
passed through Washington recently
have all reiterated their desire to go
on record as friends of big army and
big navy, and, If the indications
amount to anything, there will be more
noise than ever in the big navy camp.
However, there are several members
of the next Congress who are sworn to
small navy, and small army pro-
paganda, and they will adhere to it to
the bitter end, it is assumed There
are middle westerners and southern
ers, like Representatives Witherspoon.
of Mississippi. Cox, of Indiana, and
Heusley. Of MissOuri,whO will not take
instructions, hints, pleadings or any
thing else when it comes to the big
army and navy question. They do not
believe in big or little armies and
want navies of the very cheapest ana
smallest variety. and have made that
part of their political religion for
years On the other hand, Senator
Weews, of Massachusetts, and Sena-
tor Hoke Smith, of Georgia. are ready
to make the fights of their lives for
big armament.
In the Naval Affairs Committee Of
the House, where the naval aopropri-
ations must start there will be q merry
how de-do if any four battleship pro
gram is launched there. Unless the
personnel of the committee is changed
there will be tight squeeze for any
larger appropriations than heretofore.
Chairman Padgett is a straight out
and-out administration man, n,ready and
willing to take hard knocks in support
of any program that the administra-
ton wants, but he has had a skittish
team to captain in the last two years.
With Representatives Tribble. Wither-
spon, and Hensley pulling for no bat
tleships at all. and nearly all Repub-
licans chipping in for more battle
ships, made men, more guns and more
everything else. the chairman Of the
Naval Affairs Committee of the House
i is a troublesome job.