The Washington times., 1915-01-17
ARMY IS UNREADY.
GARDNER REPEATS
Congressman Reiterates Charge
That Military Is Not Ready
to Face Strong Foe.

The echoes of another verbal broad
side against the email army" Of the
United states are resounding today, fol-
lowing the issuance of a statement last
night by Congressman Augustus p.
Gardner of Massachusetts, who per-
sists in his campaign for a commission
Investigation Of the alleged unprepared-
ness Of this country f6r warfare.
Mr.. Gardner reiterates q number Of
his former charges concerning the poor
condition Of the national defense, but
advances . now idea In drawing COM
paFlson between conditions as they exist
today and those. existing in 1872 when
the British burned the Capitol. After
taking issue with Chairman Hay, of the
Military Affairs Committee of the
House. concerning Mr.. Hays figures on
the srmy-which Mr.. Gardner says is
short in arms, ammunition. and men
the Massachusetts member turns to the
President and says:
The President says We have always
round means to defend ourselves
against attack, but the President is
quite mistaken. We shall take leave to
be strong upon the seas. in the future
a. in the past says he in his annual
message to Congress. That was the
seme position which President Madison
took at the time of the war Of 1872.
We shall take leave, quoth Madison,
ana take leave he certainly did, Tag
and baggage. militia, statesmen, clerks.
so S1R se %ent ad s The esp
tol and the White House to be burned
BY the victorious British.
Wnrds of nollv Madison
Poor Dolly Madison! She saw it all.
and she wrote her sister Anna these
bitter lines: Alas, l can decry Cnly
groups OF military. wandering in all
directions, as II there was a lack OF
arms or or spirit to fight for their
own fireside.' But these was no lack
of spirit in those militiamen from Mary
land and Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Far from it. They had spirit enough
and arms enough to defend their own
firesides; bot they did not know how to
do 1t, because they had not been nodded
into an army. They were but Of mob
OF citizenry under arms. The sad part
OF it all was that they had had two
years in which to prepare, for these
events did not occur till the summer
Of 1874 But the Administration of that
day had fostered the belief that the
country had been misinformed and that
the Government had not been negligent
or the national defense. Hence It was
that these poor nilitiamen were not
ready when the day OF trial came. A
maddened nation roared for a sacrifice
and sacrifice was vouchsafed unto
them. Armstrong, the Secretary OF
var, r,. was va, made i. the he scapsgoat, Just as
unreadiness to fight Spain. and just as
Garrison would be made the scapeSoet
tomorrow II we were to attempt un-
men Into tie field.' ~ "
Only $4,000 Regulars.
Discussing the shortage of men, arms.
and ammunition in the army. Mr.. Card
nor, who heads his statement What
Ais Our Army" says. in part:
1--WE have only 10000 regulars avail
able for a field army and 10000 militia
men besides SO says the report of the
Secretary of War. In other words, II
every mothers son Of them answers the
call. we shall have 10000 men to de-
fend us while a new army Is beins
made. That means that we could cover
q battle front of thirty miles on the old
civil war reckoning Of 5000 men to A
mile. Thirty miles Is long. long way
from the distances which modern battle
fronts cover.
"How about it, Will all our militia
what will they do when the howitzer
begins to howl? 1t Is the correct thtng
for really patriotic orators to say that
by nishtfall every militiaman will be
on hand bubbling with heroism.
1.-THE fact is that this fiction Of a
trained citizenry rushing head ovel
heels to arms In time of war Is purely
the creature of deft Imagination
I'VE are short 406.oOO. 900 rifle cart
ridges, II, ,OO0,0 900 rounds Of artillery am
munition and 1000 field guns. If Genera
Wotherspoon's judgment Is sound.
''Of course. ! am not an expert II
these matters. but 5SO.09S rounds of fiei'
artillery ammunit .on seems rather made
ouate as a reserve in the light OF Gen
eral Woods testimony that Russia sho
away $4,000 rounds against the Japa
nese in the battle of Mulkden alone. yc
5S0,09e, rounds is all We have on hand.
To Make Munitions.
Last year and this year. the Com
mittee on Military Affairs took up tn
question of the length of time require
to make munitions of war. The follow
ing facts stand out impressivcly: Work
ing three shifts night and day all tn
factories In this country, Government
and private as we'll, can turn out in tn
first six months after war Is declare
but 10000 rounds Of artillery ammuni
tion or only 100000 more rounds tina,
Russia shot away in single battle
They can make about 1000 rounds pc
day or enough to keep eight guns soin
under nm ordinary battle condition @
200 shots per day. In one year n
Government and private factories pu
together can turn out 500 field guns. O
one-quarter of our shortage, ~ Gen
tnS