Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-01-29
GENERAL WOOD
URGES PREPAREDNESS

WASHINGTON. Jan. 27.-The po-
sition Of the United States in war
torn world was aescrDed to the house
military committee today by General
Wood, as like "a ship at sea with ty-
phoon signals coming from many d.
rections."
I'VE are living in an era OF war;"
he said. land gradually we are accu-
mulating most Of the troubles Of the
world"
Larger Army 10 Needed.
General Wood who appeared at the
committees hearings on the army In
crease bills, repeated in the main, the
testimony he previously had given be.
fore the senate military committee.
He said 1t would take an army of a
million and half to hold a line from
Boston south. Should conditions at
the close of the war in Europe invite
attack. he declared, the more powerful
Of the beligerents could land 100000
men on American soil in less than
thirty days.
Need Two Million Reserves.
a regular army OF 100000 fully
trained and always under arms with
at least two million reserves behind
them, should be provided. ne urged.
to meet this situation.
The United States navy he classed
as fourth in fighting efficiency and de-
| clared II could not maintain control of
the sea or defend the coast.
U. S. Submarines Superior.
Admiral r. s. Griffin, chief engineer
of the navy, told the house naval COM
mittee he believed no foreign power
was outstripping the United States In
naval design, and that type for type,
/ American craft were as efficient as
any afloat. To show the condition of
American submarines he read a report
stating that they each had done from
1000 to 1000 miles of surface cruising
and several hundred miles submerged
last year. Their engines were avail.
able for duty approximately 300 days
of the year, he added.
May Test New Systems.
Members of the committee asked for
details about the new system of pro-
pulsion which does away with the
explosion by the use of oil engines
both on the surface and submerged
The department has asked for $500.
900 to test the system. Admiral Grit
fin said two objections urged against
1t were that the noise OF the motor
might reveal a submersible to enemy
ships equipped for underwater signal
ing and that the engine exhaust might
create a wake OF bubbles, making dis
covery easy.
The inventor, however, claims to
have overcome these difficulties and
Admiral Griffin thought it would be
wise to try the system out
Unable to Reslst Invasion.
Colonel Edward l.. Glenn, chief OF
staff Of the department of the east
told the senate committee that the
United States would be practically
powerless to resist an invasion of any
first class enemy. He pictured al
enemy landing on the seast coast any
where north Of Chesapeake bay, es
tablishing line through to Erie
through Washington and Pittsburl
and securing the northeast section Of
the United States, including all the
more important ammunition factories
of the country. Such an invasion, he
said, had been outlined In detail by
German war experts.
Land Four Million Men.
II am not of those who believe we
are in no danger from Great Britain
Colonel Glenn said. Great Britain
with 100000 trained men at the END
Of the war, could make such an attack
as successfully as Germany.
1.-THE greatest weakness in the army
at present Is It's lack OF organization
he asserted. The smallest independ
ent unit should be a division