The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-03-03
PREPARING FOR UNEXPECTED.

| Washington &c. Times: Although
handicapped by strenuous efforts of
the administration to soft pedal" all
talk in official circles of the possibility
of armed conflict between the United
States and any of THE belligerant pow
ers growing out of the war zone haz-
ards to American shipping, and the de-
sire in official circles to avoid even
the appearance of anticipating such a
contingency. officers of the army and
navy are, nevertheless, proceeding sys-
dramatically with preparations for the
unexpected.
the militia are Studiusly avoiding any
comment. No confirmation may be
obtained from them as to the reports
of this preparatory work.
officeAs Silent.
1t is almost asSdifficult to get the in
formation from subordinate officers Of
the two branches of the service, for re-
ton, orders have gone forward which
make it extremely dangerous for Off
GERS to even SO much as breate in
formation.
| With the recognition of the fact that
participation by this country in war,
should war unexpectedly develop,
would largely fall on the navy, more
activity is apparent at the navy yards
and in the navy arsenals than at the
army posts, but even the army is not.
idle.
The situation that confronts the
country has given impetus to the sys-
tenn inaugurated originally by Maj.
Gen. Leonard Wood, when chief OF
staff, to keep the war department in
close touch with the class of men from
which, in case of war, commissioned
and noncommissioned officers would
have to be drawn to command in the
volunteer ranks.
Found Out Veterans.
For this reason, circulars lately have
been sent out by the adjutant gen
erals office to veterans of the Span.
ish-American, and even Of the civli-
war, to find out which of these might
be available in case of need.
The department already has on file
namessof sufficient number of avail
able men to command volunteer
army of $4,000 men. Many of these
names were presented last spring,
when the occupation Of Vera Cruz
made it seem. Ntsly that the United
States would have war with Mexico.
Officers of the war department,
moreover, may be said to heartily ap-
prove If they did not inspire the ed
itorial appearing in the latest issue OF
the Army and Navy Journal, urging
the president to avail himself OF the
unemployment situation to issue call
for 100000 volunteers, not to engage
in war, but, by showing the powers
abroad that this country is prepared
for any emergency to3ayoid war.
1t is suggested that this force, kept
under intensified training for six
months, could be sent back to civil life
at the end of that period, able later to
respond as an efficient trained army.
Army Araenais Busy.
| It can also be stated authoritatively
that the army arsenals, not because of
the present situation, but because of
the need long felt of replenishing the
SLOck Oh artillery auu weapons anu diH-
munition, are working three shifts OF
men.
At the navy yards, in addition to the
manufacture of ammunition and shells
preparations are being made for the
rapid overhaul Of the ships of the At
lantic fleet as soon as they return next
month from winter maneuvers at
Guantanamo.
All contracts for ammunition au-
thorized by the latest congressional
appropriations are already under way.
At the Brooklyn navy yard employees
are working rapidly putting the final
touches on the Texas, and it is planned
if possible, to have the new dread
naughts Nevada and Oklahoma COM
pleted ahead of schedule time.
Work has already started in the pri-
vate yards holding the contracts for
the eight new submarines. one Of
which, of the sea-going type, will be
the most powerful ever constructed.