The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-15
PREPARE FOR WAR
Leaders Urge Prompt Increase
of e. S. Army.
Protect the Coast Cities and
Strengthen National Guard
ARMY Is PITIFULLY SMALL
Has Only Ammunition for One
Days Battle.
United States Must Rely on
Weak Navy.
(Bv L. william Thavis, State Journal
Correspondent


Correspondent
Washington, D. c., June 15.-The
strained relations of the United States
with Germany and Mexico nave
prompted the leaders of conservative
opinion in congressional and official
life to urge a prompt and effective in
crease in the land forces of the coun-
try, such as could be carried out IN
time to meet any possible Crisis IN
applying the law of efficiency, they
point out that it would be impossible
to build great navy within the snort
time which probably would intervene
if the war cloud breaks, and that IL
would be the part of wisdom to con-
centrate on the army and the coast
defenses.
The urgent duty of congress. it is
pointed out, is to vote war loan OF
least 1.0O0,000,0OO, to be expended
as rapidly as it can be USED with the
hest results These statesmen, VINO
have given the matter deep considera-
ton. advocate immediate measures
to protect the coast cities, to bGlId up
the national guard in every state, ana
call for volunteers in such numbers as
will insure the safety of the country
from any hostile power.
The personnel of the army, the navy
and the marine corps should De re-
cruited to full strength, they mold.
and what is perhaps most vital OF
all. in this world-war, where shop eff
ficiency decides the issue, every avail
able factory in the country should be
set to work turning out small arms
and ammunition in such vast quant1-
ties that millions of men could be
placed in the field as soon as they mad
undergone the necessary training
Preparedness on such a scale, they
feel, would mean victory with mini
mum of bloodshed and possibly fore
stall attack.
The feeling prevails that this gov
eminent should Immediately begin to
build a fleet of dirigibles and aero
planes which would be second 20 none
in the world. Here, where practical
aviation was born, it is pointed out, we
have the skill and resources to give US
undisputed mastery of the air, ana
this branch of the service is especially
important to country OF Sucn area
as the United States.
Want an Extra Session.
The appropriations authorized for
the support of the army and navy at
the last session of congress are avail
able with the beginning of the next
fiscal year, commencing July next.
Those appropriations were maze, OF
course. with a view to spreading them
throughout the entire fiscal year In
the aggregate they amount to consld-
cradle sums of money, meager though
they were compared with magnitude
of the subject dealt with
Instead of extending these appropri-
ations throughout the year, the heads
of the army and navy, with the ap-
prevail of the president, can direct that
all the munitions intended to be made,
all the guns intended to be built and
all the other paraphernalia of war for
which appropriations were granted,
shall be manufactured at once and
every navy yard and arsenal put to
work. day and night, carrying those
orders into effect. Through this plan,
by the time congress met in October,
as now seems certain, the appropria
tions would be exhausted, and con-
gress could appropriate the additional
sums the country is determined shall
be appropriated to put the nation on
a proper defense footing. The exist
ing appropriations, under the plan sug-
gested, would probably keep the fac