Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-09-25

power our army and navy would have
been destroyed
The Scientific American Of Febru-
airy is, 1915, says.
We have in the hands of troops,
or stored. ga completed guns. We
have under manufacture or contract
226. These guns probably will not be
completed for at least q year and
half In other words the number of
completed guns is little less than
half the total number deemed ueces-
sary for the held force of 100000 men.
and provides no guns whatever for the
coastguard troops OF new volunteer
organizations which will be required
in addition to the 500, GOO field force.
OF ammunition, we have, made and IN
der contract, approximately 50 per
cent for the entire project Of guns,
1922 Half of this is under manufac-
ture or contract, so that there is no
more than Il per cent actually com
pleted. For the guns on hand and un-
der manufacture we have. OF ammuui-
ton on hand, and under manufacture.
about Al per cent. actually on hand,
approximately POS per cent. For the
guns actually made. 634. we have q
per cent Of the ammunition necessary.
For the guns now in the hands of the
regular army and militia we have
about "A per cent Of the ammunition
necessary. 1t should be remembered,
however. that the guns in the hands
OF The regular army and militia a the
present time are less than half the
gums required for these forces when
properly equipped with guns, even un-
der our scheme for the assignment of
guns and ammunition, which is in both
instances far lower than in any of the
great armies today and the present
war has indicated, in the case of one
great power at least. that the con
sumption of ammunition has exceeded
twice their maximum estimates, and
that the proportion OF artillery will, in
future. be increased.
" At the rate of even last years ap-
propriauons, which were The largest
made fer field artillery guns and am
munitiou. if will take between eight
and nine wears to complete our pres
ent modest estimate for guns and am
munition, and the necessary equip
ment ia the way Of ammunition trains
and other accessories
Advocates Increase Facilities.
Il have advocated in congress that
the United States army be increased
another 100. zoe. If We got into trouble
with a first-class nation such as Japan
OF Germany. we could not spend a year
or year and half preparing for il.
There have been more officers killed in
one battle of the present war in Eu-
rope than we have in our army. Lin
coin has stated and so has Washing
ron, that the duty Of the American
people in time of peace is 70 prepare
defense to protect our lives and prop
erty in time of war.
Another thing I have advocated in
congress is that the public schools,
nigh schools and colleges have a part
Of their curriculum devoted 10 the
training Of boys TO be soldiers, so that
they will be equipped not only ment-
ally but with a knowledge of the
duties Of a soldier. Switzerland has
done this and the result is that it has
the most efficient men from view
point OF militarism
If we had had 10 fight a frst-class
power during the war Of 1898 instead
of a WORKOUT. starving army as Spain
had. we would have lost thousands
before we would have been successful
We had not equipment and it takes at
least a year to properly train volun-
teers
The United States, considering its
size and wealth, is the most unpre-
pared to fight or defend itself of any
nation on the globe. The people should
give their congressman support and
insist that money be appropriated to
increase the army and navy and to
provide for the education and training
of more men az West Point and Annap-
oils
Congressman Dyer spent the latter
portion OF his address on the great
ness and vaIor OF the United States
soldiers and sailors, whether regular
or volunteer, He said that although
the government has neglected the de-