New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-13
Longstreet's Batteries at
Gettysburg Nearly Equal
TO u. S. Stock Now.
OFFICERS ASTOUND
ROCKIES BY FACTS
Nation Must Prepare, Is Slogan
at PlattSburgh-Mayor to
Stay in Camp, He Says.
From, star Correspondent ~ The Tribune ]


Is going to get a jolt from the hundreds
Of business and professional men who
are encamped here with the military in
struction school.
The movement is taking on the com
plexion Of an unofficial inquiry into this
country's preparedness. Every regular
army instructor possessing knowledge
Of the armament situation is cross-eX-
1nined in and out Of school hours
on the methods Of getting men IN emer-
rencies: Of how quickly men and NUM-
tions can be transferred from one point
10 another; Of the number of men quar-
tered at different army camps; OF the
number Of rifles and guns and the
amount Of ammunition that could be
supplied quickly in the event Of war.
Many of the most powerful interests
in the United States are represented
and represented strongly-in this camp.
The theory that big business men have
come up here to learn the duties OF an
army officer is largely erroneous; for
the greater part these men have come
I'D here solely TO learn from expert
enced army officers what they could no:
get from civilian army heads in an in
vestigation. The army officers answer
these questions freely here; IN an IN
vestigation room they would feel uhder
restraint.
raced in instruction work are we'll IN
formed on the situation, and, while they
are not forward IN presenting the facts
TO their classes, readily reply to every
question having 20 do with the sltua-
ton confronting this country.
Il does not require a subtle exam
ination TO bring out the facts that the
prominent men of business in this camp
want. Much of this questioning IS done
under circumstances that insure de-
failing the answer against immediate
publicity. The important matter pro-
duced I'M that way will be used IN
canpairn TO force the establishment of
a body of schooled men who can. 60
prepared into war at short notice II
is not planned TO ask for large stand
ing army because Of the expense
Shortage of Field Pieces.
To-day the regular army oficer-a
lieutenant who was instructing the
field artillery detachment in aiming and
siqbting was asked by some of the
students for figures on our field pieces.
lie gave them this ennghtenlng in
formation:
~ e haye only nine more field pieces
IN this country than Generals Long
stree, and Hi! had at the battle Of
Gettysburg. East OF me mississippi, IN
the regular army, We have only twelve
field pieces
Major General Leonard Wood. whose
talk TO the men last night has
given new impetus TO the work here,
was surprised to-day when he saw that
his remarks were in print. He said he
feared that what he said would be mis-
construed. and that he had no particu-
lar men or nations in mind when he re-
ferred TO other countries.
The unofficial features of the encamp-
ment are rapidly assuming an impor-
lance so much greater than the routine
affairs that lines against publicity are
being drawn rlgIdly. To-day 1t was an
nouncei that between 4 and p. NJ
the only time in which il has been pos
sIble 20 interview the amateur officers
individually visitors would be per
mtted DO the battalion and company
streets. Newspaper men carrying
passes Of authorization. were turned
back along with sghtseers. Sentries
plcketod the battalion streets and
others stood at each end Of the com
pany streets.
Tonight d camp check on all the men
was established, so that II was useless
10 attempt interviewing those away
from their tents on matters that some
were averse 10 discussing IN the pres
ence Of their tent mates.
One Of the regular army officers
sought to explain this ban on reporters
in this way;
This is not a publicity scheme. The
purposes of this camp are known to
every body i'm the Eastern part of this
country There may be some persons in
states like Kansas and Nebraska TO
whom this might be news, but the peo-
pie of the Eastern states know what we
are trying 10 do. We are willing that
the news should be printed, but we
cant see the necessity Of printing any
thing else
Line Drawn on Publicity.
This officer, who holds an important
position in the work under way, held a
view Of news $50 opposite to that in
which Il IS ordinarily interpreted -
particularly by some OF the men he is
irStrUcung that no progress was 20
be made IN discussing the subject fur
Their with MIN
TIE explanation for this situation is
10 le drawn from the publication this
morning Of General Woods talk and
the interviews with such men as Rob
crt Bacon. former Ambassador to
France. who said he was here as pro-
cost against our unpreparaGneSS.
there are many men here whose
thought on this matter is not bit diff
fercnt Charles Elliott Warren. preSi-
doa. Of the Lincoln National Bank Of
New York City. said this afternoon:
What General Wood and Mr. Bacon
said is absolutely right. Hamilton said
that TO country could afford 20 be neu-
trail that had not the strength TO back