The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-16
LODGE SHOWS WEAKNESS
OF NATIONAL DEFENCE
Senator in Speech Declares That the Army and Navy
Have Many Deficiencies Panama Canal
Not Adequately Guarded.

England and France have 500 and 900
ton submarines, and we know what work
they have done. The truth Is We are sadly
deficient In submarines we have scarcely
any really effective ones, none large
enough for present conditions.
Scout Cruisers Needed.
"our worse deficiency, however. even
worse than in the case OF submarines, Is
IN scout cruisers In the table which |
nave given the number of cruisers Ia nut
at fourteen, but that includes vessels OF
different types and as a matter OF fact |
believe we have only three scout cruisers.
as against seventy-tour In England, forty
one IN Germany and thirteen In Japan.
The scout cruisers which we have were
authorized in 1904.
We have three scout cruisers therefore
10 protect and give warning OF the ap-
proach OF a hostile fleet for 5000 miles OF
coast on tho Atlantic and Pacific. II they
were all concentrated on the Atlantic coast
they would have to cover 900 miles A
Jay TO patrol tho coast, and they are SLOW
ships. They ought to be of the highest
possible speed-thrty TO thirty-one knots
per hour.
I'm sea strength. both in vessels built
and building or authorized, We occupy
third place among the nations but when
we come to tonnage. which Is the great
tN'f SDN WIN ObSfINt ny tlt tables NntCn
print that we have dropped to fourth
place among the world navies, counting
the vessels now building We have moi
only dropped to fourth place In tonnage
but we have come dangerously near to
Japan. which occupies NTH place"
senator Lodge complained OF the lack OF
aircraft.
I'm the army we have at this moment
thirteen aeroplancs and no Zeppelins or
dirigible airships. We have no arnored
aeroplanes and no guns suitable for aero
planes. In view OF what We have all
learned from the war i'm Europe IL seems
TO me that this Is a deplorable condition,
no matter TO what cause Il is due In the
navy we have twelve acroplanes and no
Heppelins or dlrigible alrships. according
to the report of the General Board
NO matter what the reasons may be
Tor our lack of aeroplanes In both ser
vices, the deficiency oaght to be supplied
II the manufacturers cannot make them.
then we should make them ourselves.
our no .onal defence Is not only i'm.
perfect and unbalanced, but has grave
and In some instances fatal deficiencies.
Council OF Defence.
I'VE should also have general stan
both in the army and navy who can
furnish tho council of national defence
and Congress with the expert knowledge
necessary to reach right conclusions
Generally speaking. II is clear to my mind
that the regular army. whether large or
small. should be properly balanced and
proportIoned as well as thoroughly
equipped.
"Our army to-day is neither properly
balanced, properly proportioned nor prop
erly equipped. No matter how small the
military machine may be. and I am far
from desiring a large one, II should be as
nearly as possible a perfect machine. Ours
Is not. II IA also clear that we have no
reserves to draw upon for the support OF
the regular army In case of war These
reserves should be created.
II want an adequate national defence.
and speaking broadly care little what IL
costs II We can obtain II. Were IL possible
in the present state OF human nature In
the United States We could obtain this
adequate national defence without addi-
tional expenditure.
cut OH our needless amy posts. cut
on our needless navy yards and stations
Lay aside for few years appropriations
for public buildings and river and harbor
improvements where they are not needed
by the public at large and you will have
money enough to provide for a sufficient
army and an adequate navy without add
ing to the burden OF taxation"