New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-23
Lodge Presents Table
Showing Few Troops
Sent to Border.
DELAY CHARGED
TO u. S. ARSENAL
Creditable Record on the Whole
Made in Mobilization, De-
clares Wadsworth.
From The Tribune Bureau J

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, July 22.-lntroduction
bv Senator Lodge of table showing
that no Southern state except Virginia
and Louisiana had so far sent any
militia to the border started an acri-
monious discussion in the Senate TO-
dav over the whole question of the re-
sponsibility for slow mobilization.
Southern Senators blamed the Phila-
delphia Arsenal, which, they said, had
not promptly distributed equipment
Senator Penrose and others made sar-
castle rctorts, inquiring why 1t had al
fected some states differently from
others and if the arsenal had been re-
sponsjble for the slowness in recruit
ing in Florida.
Senator Wadsworth, of New York, de-
clared his belief that a creditable rec
ord had been made on the whole and
valuable lessons learned.
IF this mobilization had taken place
in the winter" he said, the delay
would have been enormous. There
would not have been a camp in the en-
tire Northern tier of states which could
have been used. The water would have
frozen and the men could not have
been moved from their armories to
camps save with the utmost difficulty.
take the problem of New York
State. We had to encamp $4,000 men
and 1000 horses and mules IN one
Mace. That number of men and AMI
mails consume as much food and water
as the inhabitants of fair sized city.
The problems which must be met IN
handling and providing for such camp
are enormous. The mere question oil
piping water, or Of drilling wells, is a
serious one. In winter it would be
almost an impossible one.
Need of Permanent Camps Shown:
"This mobilization has shown that
the United States ought TO have
series Of permanent organization camps
all through the country. That is a
phase Of preparedness which IS now
shown to be essential.
81 think the mobilization was per-
formed "a satisfactorily as could have
been expected. 1t is ridiculous to think
that we can mobilize 100000 men in
this country, as France and Germany
can, in as short space of time. That
will never be possible.
"As to the speed with which the
troops were gotten to the border, the
trains could be run at the rate Of only
twenty miles an hour. in many in
stances, due TO the fact that the equip
ment was mixed passenger and freight.
There has been a great deal OF crln-
cism because there were not more
sleepers for the men. There are only
about 600 Pullman tourist sleeping cars
i'm the entire country, and virtually all
of them were west OF the Mississippi.
When the mobilization order came the
government attempted 10 get all Of
those cars to the East, where the bulk
OF the troops were, as speedily as pos
sible. but. of course, many troops had
"The ono mistake which was made, IN
nv opinion. was in the War Depart
ment order that the men should be put
in dav coaches at the rate of three TO
each TWO seats. II the number had
been two TO each two seats, so that the
men could stretch out and rest better
the men would have been in much bet
ter condition when they reached the end
Of their journey.
Hardships of Union Soldiers Cited.
Senator Chamberlain interrupted TO
say that he had ridden TO the Pachc
Coast, three men to two seats, years
ago. and got along very comfortably.
Senator Works. of California, said that
when Union soldier he had often been
glad TO find room on top of a box car
TO sleep.
Senator Wadsworth said the comfort
of the soldiers in the present mobiliza-
ton probably had been greater than IN
any previous war
Senator Lodges table showed that,
with the exception Of 1000 troops from
Virginia and 500 from Louisiana, no
militia from any Southern State had
arrived at the border at all, out of a
total Of 100000 which had reached the
line.
Senator Lee, of Maryland, defended
the militia, saying the slow moblliza-
tion was the fault of the Philadelphia
Arsenal, which had not shipped sup
plies promptly.
81 am not rejecting on the gallantry
Of the militia of either Florida or Mary
/ land" said Senator Penrose, but I
merely want TO observe that the militia
of these and other Southern states are
not prepared they are home guards. l
simply want to find where the weak
link in the chain is The Senator from
Maryland thinks 1t is the Philadelphia
arsenal / would like TO have that in
vestigated. particularly to see if 1t is at
fault for the Florida militia remaining
at home. ! want also to find out if the
Philadelphia arsenal, which is a ma