Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-22
PARTY TO CAUCUS
ON DEFENSE PLAN
Program Backed by President
Will Be Crystallized Into
Administration Bill.
STUBBORN FIGHT EXPECTED
Executive Expresses Confidence
That Country Will Approve
His Purposes.
Especial TO The rimes-pispatch.l

Especial TO The Times Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON. October ol.-Presi-
dent Wilson will have a conference to-
morrow with Senator John w. Kern. OF
Indiana. majority leader of the Senate.
On, Preparedness Early next week he
will have his second conference with
Chairman James Hay. OF the House
Committee on Military Affairs. The OBJ
jcct Of these two important interviews
is TO arrange for party caucuses in
both the Senate and House at which
the administrators national de Tense
plan will be adopted as IA Democratic
policy.
The plan for AN adequate navy and
a measure of increase in the army being
backed by the President and his cahi-
net is 10 be crystalliZcd into an admin
istration bill King Caucus" will he
fnvok cd TO tic the hands Of the opposi-
tion within the party. To those who
arc supporting his program, the prcsi-
dent has outlined the methods by which
he expects 10 put his Legislation
through Congress in the face Of deter
mined opposition.
The President realizes the strength
OF the little navy men and the
snall-army advocates in his own party.
II is his purpose to neutralize that OPP
position by appealing TO their patriot
ism TO country. their loyalty 10 his
leadership. and then place the seal OF
the caucus on the bill and force it
through.
bryan WILL DE BACK
OF CHIEF OPPOSITION
The will Of the caucus in both houses
is supreme. and the President has be. n
Informed by his licutenants that with
a caucus decree and Republican aid his
program will he agreed to In both
houses. but only after a stubborn fight
by some of the most influential Demo
Gratis in both bodies. back of whom will
stand former Secretary Of State Bryan.
Majority Leader Kern. who was at
the White House to-day. said that IN
all its essentials. particularly with re-
spect 10 the navy, he would support
the Presidents national-defense pro-
gram. He declined to go into par
ticulars. This statement was accepted
as an assurance that II was not the
intention OF Senator Kern TO line up
with MI Bryan. Senator Tillmnn.
chairman of the Naval Committee. has
strongly indoiscd the naval plan. and
Chairman Chamberlain. of the senate
Military Committee, has given his
cordial approval to the Garrison plan
for better and stronger army and the
creation of a substantial army reserve
\ big fight is expected by the Presi-
dent. Notwithstanding the approva. of
these leaders. Senator Kern is op-
posed TO any considerable expansion
in the army. and Majority Leader
Claude kitchin. in the House who sue.
ceeds TO Oscar Undcrwood'S mantle, Is
opposing both army and naval expan-
sion The President to-day. however.
showed that he understands the situa
ten, and is preparing for the fight.
His first general engagement with his
opponents will he in caucus.
TECHNICAL EXPERTS
PROCEED WITH PI.ANS
Meanwhile. the technical experts of
the army and navy are proceeding with
their plans. il was disclosed to-day
that the War Department intends to
provide the main coast-dcfense stations
with siNteen-inch guns. in addition TO
those already in commission. These
are TO he placed as follows: boston,
New York. Philadelphia. Fort Hcrry
chesapeake Bay). on the Atlantic,
and San Pedro CHE harbor OF Los
AnGeles). San Francisco and Puget
Sound. on the Pacific
Only one OF these monster guns SO
far has been made II is at Sandy
Hook, where il was tested The car
rage upon which ii is to bc mount ed
Is still in process of manufacture. The
highest powered guns at any of our
coast ports are twelve-inch. Although
OF an old type, they arc still regarded
as effective.
The first siXteen-inch guns will be
sent TO Panama. followed by their in
stallation at New Yorl, and at Fort
Henry. Experts say these new guns.
which will be wire wound and at the
elevation attainable. can send a shell
twenty-one miles, bat their most effec-
tive range will he ten or twelve miles.
To meet the demand for new officers
IN the army. Secretary Garrison will
draw upon the organized militia. Lp-
pointmcnts to be made after technical
examination. The preference is TO be
given to young men who have mastered
the technicalities OF their profession as
citizen soldiers as we'll as TO graduates
OF military academies. In this way the
secretary expects TO find upward OF
1000 fairly we'll equipped young Of
hcers for the reserve army.
HAY WILL DEVOTE TINE
TO FRAMING MILITARY BIII.
Chairman Hay. of the Military Com
mittee, expects TO come 20 Washing OH
immediately and devote al! his time 20
framing the military bill. in accordance
with the Presidents views
Confidence that the country will ap-
prove of the ADMINISTRATORS plans for
strengthening the national dcfenses
was expressed by President Wilson to-
day in addressing a committee from
the Conference on National Deferse
which called at the White House. The
committee presented resolutions urging
adequate and quick" increases In every
department OF the national defenSes
The President said he was certain
the people of the nation wanted the
country adequately prepared for de
fense. although there might be some
differences OF opinion as to Just how
to go about strengthening the army
1s,I