Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-21
CONFUSION PRECEDING SPANISH
AMERICAN TROUBLE TO De DU.
PLlcATED MANY FOLD.
NAVY WOULD BEAR eRUNT
III OF HARD CAMPAIGNING
Army Might Not Be Called Upon to
Leave United States, But Would Have
to esFormed For Defensive contin.
genciss-lmmense Task to clothe
and Equip Army Of Half Million.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, May 21.-Array Officers.
who are being compelled to ponder
deeply on what they would have to do
in case Of war with first-lass power.
foresee reign Of confusion and chaos
even worse than the one that obtained
when war with Spain was declared.
War with Germany will probably be
avoided. If it should come, as every
body hopes it will not, the United
States would be in the fortunate stu
alton of not being obliged to take part
in extensive land operations, at least
for time. The navy would feel the
brunt Of duty at the outset and per-
haps for the entire war.
Nevertheless, il would be incumbent
on the government to provide a great
army. 1t might be an army OF a hall
million men. 1t might be an army OF
a million. Congress, no doubt, would
insist on this being done as precau-
tionary measure, even if it turned out
not single American soldier got into
the actual fighting. If the American
army were to be called on to take any
considerable part in the fighting in Eu-
rope, which is improbable, but is still
possibility, it might be necessary to
organize more than million troops.
Six Months to Organize.
Army officers say there is no doubt
that if the government attempts to or
ganize force Of million men, or half
that, it will take six months to do it.
Belgium's experience shows that
he IN,
than that.
"A tremendous problem in organiza-
ton will face the war department If
there Is a clash with Germany. Con-
gress will provide the money. That
will be appropriated lavishly. Men can
be had without question. But money
and unframed men do not make an
army in these days when military sci-
ence has developed to point never
before reached.
Here Ia what would confront the war
department.: From the regular army
and the national guard it would be able
to muster on comparatively short no
tice 10000 mobile troops or, possibly.
$4,000; aside from these forces. 1t
would have to organize hundreds Of
thousa ntik OF volunteers, since it Is not.
to, be supposed the government, at
least for a time, would resort to con-
scription.
Not as State Volunteers.
Strong efforts would be made by
army officers to have the volunteers
organized as federal volunteers and
not as state volunteers, and to have
enlistments for the war. The expert
ence Of the army with the United
States volunteer regiments in the
Philippines showed the great superior
ity Of this method Of organization.
In the Spanish war, there were about
275OOO volunteers called into service.
Multiply the confusion of that PEI
Rod by two or three and you will have
an approximation to the situation
which will result If we have to organ
ize a great army in short time" said
high officer Of the army today. Il
Some months ago, when there was.
likelihood Of invading Mexico, the war
department was thrown high into the
air. It found itself in no shape for wal.
even with Mexico. Supplies Of all sorts
were lacking. Power and war muni-
tons in adequate supply were wanting.
OF course, the government could
raise and equip small army much
more readily than it could in 1888. The
of the Spanish and Philip
pine campaigning was Of much value.
One thing Of value would be the recent
legislation for organization of the vol
unteer forces.
Equipment Problem Greatest.
But the real problems would center
about food. clothing, rifles, artillery,
ammunition. wagons. horses. aero
planes, as well as the actual drilling
into shape for the field Of the regiments