Evening journal., 1915-11-22


Union, but not all of these forty eight
ships can be considered as fighting
unit. In round numbers, therefore, we
have built or building sixteen dread
naught battlcships unsupported by al
sufficient force of other naval units tol
defend from attack the longest vulncr
able coast line possessed by any nation.
Il Is certainly obvious to all in view Of
these facts that we should either do
away with what navy we now possess
or else build a sufficient number of ships
TO bring il up TO the required strength
for the services il would be called upon
TO render in case Of conflict.
Touching upon the land forces OF
the country, we have In round NUM-
bers ninety thousand men and officers
in the regular army. or these about
one-haif are located without the United
states on the islands OF Porta Rica.
Hawaii and the Philippines, as well
as in Alaska and the Canal Zone. In
time OF trouble these forces would
have TO be augmented rather than
looked TO FOR means OF defence. OF
the regular troops located In the
United States. approximately twenty
thousand of them are in the coast ar
tillery corps. which troops cannot he
considered as n mobile force TO he
transported from place to place in or
der TO meet the attack Of an invading
army. This leaves approximately
thirty thousand troops within the
United States TO be considered as a
mobile force. Il might be apt TO call
attention TO the fact that about twenty
thousand Of these troops are being
used upon the Mexican border today
in order TO protect the country from
guerrilla bands in time Of peace. The
total number OF the National Guard
throughout the United States in round
number Is one hundred and twenty
thousand men, which added 10 the mo.
bile regular troops only gives the
President about one hundred and fift,
thousand men scattered from the Pa.
cific TO the Atlantic and from the Gull
to Canada. for defensive purposes. In
view OF these facts, It is certainly evi
dent that we should either disbanC
what land forces we possess or els,
have sufficient force either i'm the
regular army or in the National Guar,
or reserve forces.
This country has never needed tn,
lessons taught in the past. We forge
for instance. that within six month";
after certain statesmen bOasted IN thu
public debates in the halls of Con
gress that the country was invincible
that the very building In which the,
uttered their words was captured. TO
gether with the city OF Washington
by a hostile foe and burned to tn,
ground
In this communication, Il has beef
necessary TO refrain from going int
details in order TO elucidate state
ments that ! have made both of fac
and of theory. / will state In closing
that believing as | do, | am cor
vinced that an increase IN the arm
AID navy of the United States Is ei
sential. In this connection. howeve
I am In favor OF a change in the sy
TEN and practice through which on
annual expenditures upon the arm
and navy have been made. The fraI
ers OF our constitution 80 arraug'
+ matters that the army and navy won
be out OF politics. but unfortunate
! they did not foresee a situation n
: has permitted politics TO get into /
e army and navy.
d 81 am in favor of that policy W
Il respect to an increase In the army {
IS navy as is approved by the Gene