The Washington herald., 1916-12-10
Army and Navy News
Beat service CoIumn in City.

Widespread dissatisfaction exists among
army officers at the War Department
over what Is regarded as a wsek-kneed
failure on the part OF Secretary of War
Baker in his annual report to disclose
the utter collapse Of the National Guard
system under the test of the recent mob
ilization on the Mexican border.
After discussing how the militia was
mobilized and sent to the border" said
a prominent army officer last night "all
that Mr.. Baker appears to have regarded
as worth while by way Of recommended
tons for the future is that some way
should be found to give the militiamen
profitable and edifying forms Of amuse-
ment during their idle hours in camp.
In marked contrast Is the report Of
Maj. Gen. Hugh l. Scott, Chief of Stan
OF the army. made public on Friday. No
words are spared by this doughty old
indian fighter In condemning the militia
system as utterly worthless and in urg-
ing the immediate adoption of the uni
Versal military training system as the
only sensible, democratic method Of solv-
Ing the problem of national defense.
Army officers who will be summoned
before the Military Affairs Committees of
Congress to testify on various features OF
the forthcoming army appropriations bill
are expected to take Gen. Scotts report
as the keynote for whatever they will
have to say
There is every indication, too that their
examination by the committees will bring
out all the features of the confidential
report of the showing of the militia in
the recent mobilization, which Secretary
Baker has thus far declined to make pub
lie.
Army and navy officers are interested
In the recommendation OF DR.. Charles d.
Walcott, chairman Of the National Ad-
visory Committee for Aeronautics, to the
House Naval Affairs Committee that
airshtps of the Zeppelin type be con-
structed by the Federal government. He
SAID that they are necessary in modern
warfare
he development of a suitable engine
Is the most important problem in pro-
noting aircraft" DR.. Walcott stated
The European war has caused its speedy
Improvement but in America, we are
working on 1t gradually and sanely, and
Will have the best that can be evolved.
without doubt aircraft will come TO be of
commercial value"
Army and navy oficers generally look
with disfavor on the purchase of Zep-
pelins for the United States service. They
point out that they are enormously ex-
pensive. that they require unusually large
ana expensive hangers, and that the
range Of their use is limited
One of the most interesting statements
in the annual report OF Secretary OF the
Navy Daniels is that during the past fiscal
year the Navy Department has expert
enced the largest expansion in times of
peace and the greatest efficiency since its
organization in 1875
The naval appropriation act for the
hscal year 1871" says the report. stands
out beyond all precedent In the entire
history Of the United States navy. The
total appropriation of $313, ,3S4. .212 is more
than twice as large as the amount car
ried by any previous appropriation bill.
THE department will be able, as q re-
suit Of this act to place the ammunition
reserves OF the navy for the first time on
basis OF that full mea asure Of prepared
ness which the present war has shown to
be SO important
Of discussion at a recent meeting OF the
City.
Frederic R. Coudert. one OF the principal
speakers dwelt upon the dangers that
await the United States, both from with
out and from within.
III We want to go on living In this
country as We are. doing, in a state OF
unpreparedness." he said, I'VE must pay
the price and we must pay dearly.
TT may bring prosperity tempora rily,
but It cannot bring us lasting prosperity
nor lasting peace. honorable or dishon-
orable. Had we but one army motor
truck available when Villa made a raid
on Columbus and murdered its citizens,
our troops would have captured Villa"