The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-21
hay OPENLY FIGHTS
Big ARMY INCREASE
Uousc Chairman Would Double
Field Artillery Force and
Pay Guardsmen.
FOR 4 CITIZEN SOLDIERY

w,sriSGroS. Sept. 2o.-In declaring
to-day nat ihc question OF national de-
fence will he one of the most important
eibfc.'s to he considered by the next
Congress Representative James Hay of
Virginia. chairman OF the Committee on
military Affairs. who has been quoted
recently as being opposed to a material
Increase IN the army and navy, suggested
that the field artillery force should he
doubled and that every national guards
nan should he paid $50 a year from the
Treasury.
Chairman Hay consented to be inter
viewed by a representative of the Ma
toua. Security League. He said that he
had been hesitating about making a
statement because Secretary Garrison's
plans have not been definitely announced
and because the personnel of the new
Committee on Military Affairs will not
Be- known until after Congress meets.
The chairman declared that there were
many conflicting opinions in regard to
national defence and that the next House
would have liO new members whose
vows ON preparedness are not generally
known
Chairman Hay has very definite
opinions on national defence. He does
not believe that Congress will look with
favor ON leg station for compulsory mill
tar, service. He says there is a limit
% 'ls size of the regular army owing
10 'hr difficulty of getting recruits.
ir e'es the opinions of army officers,
experienced in recruiting, that 10000
&, the highest possible figure tina can
h. attained by enlistments. and he refers
A. additional proof to the fact that the
I'c,rn, authorized strength of the army
& 5000 short. due to the inability to get
men.
Nj Hays idea of increasing the army
is 60 develop a ation guard into a
elective force. He declined TO commen
On the coast artillery strength. because
t., j. 4 matter which falls within the
inrsd.atou of the Fortifcations Com
ru,',c. Among other hings Mr.. Hay
So.
our present standing army is allowed
asrcuSth OF 100000 men. About 81, O00
are ..tudlly enlisted. The army now
COT, as 100000. goo a year. The full
sr,a-'h Of an army of 10000. in addi-
ton to pay given the National Guard,
N'ls.h A'NA IL Eif'sNNNt'NV. IL we ntu
iin.ruu men, which is said to be as many
Is tu be- enlisted owing to the demands
f. I.Igstr.al service, We would have to
sp,.d $3.50, 600. 900.
III we had an army OF 500. 900 men,
nh..a some people advocate. 1t would
cos, Us $500. 900. 600. ! do not believe
that the people would want that burden
or that they would expect Congress
80 impose it upon them. Neither do |
believe that the American people van
compulsory military service.
"l heartily agree with the President
that our citizen soldiery should be given
rore attention. II might be o
fr Instance. TO ~encouratN enlistment
in the National Guard by paying its
Members % per cent. of the amount
pad 90 regular soldiers. which would
BE- $50 a year and which would proba-
BY cost US $4,000 600 additional to
the present army cost for the first
year.
1T may be wise also to increase the
field artillery, now consisting Of six
regiments, to twice that number. as the
war Ia Europe has demonstrated tina
this Is the most potent arm Of the ser
vice.
81 do not care to go further into de-
tails 40 his time. / feel that the ques-
ton Is too important to assume an
individual attitude because my own
views Will he subject to the views of
III, President. the member of my com
m'tnr and the members of Congress
who. after all, have the principal part
to play IN the solution Of the question"
Ir Hays statement indicates that
The advocates Of adequate prepared
g'.- wll probably get an Increase of
10000 90 the regular army, which is
'n Squire named in "A letter recently
written 200 the National Security League
by Senator Chamberlain Of Oregon,
,.| rntu = the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs.