The Washington times., 1915-01-05
TO
ALLAY WAR FEARS
Garrison, BurIeson, and Chair.
men Of Committees will Pre-.
pare Statement.

Aroused to the fact that the asita-
ton for better military and naval pre-
parcdness il widespread throughout the
country. Administration officials, with
the approval OF President Wilson, are
preparing to make the position Of the
Government plain before Congress. Due
partly to the Presidents indefinite
language in his annual message re-
garding improvements in the army and
navy and partly to the extremely mod
est requirements set forth in the an
nunl report of the Secretary OF the
Navy. the Administration has been put
in the position of ignoring the demands
for greater preparedness.
To correct this impression. Secretary
Of War Garrison. who has pronounced
views regarding the present weakness
Of the army. has called an important
conference on national defense to be
held at his home this evening. Those
who will attend will be the Secretary
Of War Secretary Of the Navy. and
chairmcn of the House and Senate Com
mittecs on Military and Naval Affairs.
Scott Was Unprepared.
Considerable criticism has been
aroused as a result OF the efforts of
Chairman Hay. Of the Military Affairs
Committee, to 'muffle" all testimony
on the part Of army officers tending
to emphasize the lack Of preparedness
on the part of the army. This. ten
dcncy was sisnally emphasized in con-
Gen. Hugh l.: Scott, chief Of stafr. be-
fore Mr.. Hays committee. New to the
duties which he had only recently taken
up: army officers say that General
scott was informed one night at II
O'Clock by telephone to appear before
the committee the following morning
at 8 to testify.
without the time 10 prepare himself,
the general went before the committee
with only general ideas concerning
Asked whether the army was in good
condition: he replied that what there
was Of it was in better shape than
eyer before. When he attempted to
add that there should be more Of it, he
was "choked OFF, by Mr.. Hay, accord
Ing to army officers. on the ground
That he had given the committee all
that II was necessary for that BODY to
know.
Riddles Little Army" Men.
Congressman Augustus p Gardner OF
Massachusetts. who started the pres
ent agitation, is continuing to hammer
the House Military Affairs Committee
with facts and figures tending to show
mat the United states army stands
Ike corporals guard to defend this
country from possible invasion from
abroad. He is daily riddiinp tho theory
OF the little army men that in case
or war. the country could be adequate.
" defended by unframed volunteers.
something .! a sensation has been
caused In Congressional circles by the
statement of Capt. NJ. r. hanna, &.
r. a yefirad
general stan. that the United states
with her available land forces canno,
prevent foreign invader from land.
ing on the east coast Of the United
states. and marching up and down the
coast at will. While this conclusion
he stated. was based on the assump.
tion that the United States navy could
not prevent TIE landing from being
effected. ne declared that 1t is not q
practicable policy for the United States
TO attempt to support n navy powerful
enough to meet all possible Combina-
tions against il.