The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-09
MILITARY AND NAVAL PROGRAM
FOR THE UNITED STATES.


Except in few quarters, there is no
"crying demand" for converting Amer
ica into an armed camp" but within
the past few months there has been
marked picking ~ II the sentiment
for a strong practical program OF ma
rional defense. While the United
States has no ambition to become A
-'militsristic nation. the growing feel
ing IS that we should be better pre-.
pared to protect ourselves in case OF
attack by the peoples that are afflict-
ed with the war bug.
Recognizing the need for effective
preparedness" and responding to what
appears to be the consensus of public
opinion, che president and his advis.
ers are working out program which
viii be submitted to congress- at the
coming session According to the
Washington correspondent of the New
York World. II is planned to increase
the army to about 100000 men, includ.
ing 10000 regulars and 270,000 militia
under the direction Of the general staff
of the war department. Equipment
would be provided for an army Of l.
100000 men. Other features of the
military program are as follows:
a. Five rifles for every man ex.
pected to be put into action.
"2. Twelve machine guns for every
1000 OF infantrymen and cavalrymen
in action. an increase of nearly 4 to
brought about by the lessons OF the
present war
'.3. Six fields guns and howitzers
for every 1000 infantrymen and caval-
rymen, an Increase of nearly 100 per
cent.
a, Increases OF nearly 500 per cent
in the amount of ammunition per gun
to be stored ready for use"
The proposed program also calls for
general Improvement of coast defenses
and the enlargement of the navy as
follows.
81. The construction of at least four
uper.dreadnaughts and probably two
battle cruisers of the British Queen
Elizabeth type. The United States
navy at the beginning OF this year was
ten first line ships behind the number
required by the policy laid down by
the navy general board in 1913
'2. 'rhe construction Of large
number of destroyers The navy, on
the basis OF its present number of big
ships, built and building. was ninety
two destroyers short of the compile
ment determined upon by the general
board Of four destroyers TO each bat
tseship The navy now has forty Dat.
tleships of all types and only sixty
eight destroyers.
''33. The construction of upward u
100 submarines. furnishing compile
ment of fifty for each coast
"a. The construction in the aero
nautical base at Pensacola. Florida, OF
plant for the construction of hydro
aeroplanes.
'S. Increase in enlistment autnori-
cations tc brins the enlisted personnel
immcdiately up to full strength OF all
ships. Quilt and building. which might
be utilized in time OF war-an increase
OF about 18,o00 men.
&c. Enlargement Of the capacity OF
the naval academy at Annapolis with
view OF overcoming at the earliest pos
sible moment the existing shortage OF
goo officers. on the basis of the ships
built and being built. TO say nothing of
the needed increases through extern
sions in the aeronautical and sub
snersibIe branches
Authorization for the expenditure
uf larfe lump sum at the direction
Of the secretary of the navy with z
x;ew OF taking advantage of improve
ments and desirable innovations imme
diately upon their discovery
emma