The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-18
ARMY PROBLEM
HASPROVED TOO
BIG FOR WILSON
Inefficient in Handling Border
Forces and Unable to Get
Adequate Legislation.


WASHINGTON. oct. IS.-The opcr-
atoms of the regular army and the
national guard on the Mexican border
in the last year have demonstrated
not only The wocful shortcomings ~
the nations land dcicnsc but the in
efficiency Of the administration in man
aging military affairs anu the made
quacy Of the recent army Legislation.
The national guard went to the hur-
der Ill equipped and practically IN
trained. The southern guardsmen were
absolutely unfit for service, according
to the administration itself. which thus
explained why northern regiments
were sent to the front and southern
regiments kept at home.
The new army Legislation provides
Iittic Improvement upon the old system
OF equippins and training the national
guard. Ind experience already has
proved that, in recruiting the strength
OF TIE citizen regiments, as well as the
regular army. ii IS a failure.
Failure of villn Pursuit.
Ihc ineillcicncy Of the administration
was disclosed 10y the pursuit Of villa.
II had refused to adopt the general
stan commentator To mass trnons
At selected points fully equipped 10
pursue invaders, such as Villas band.
when the Columbus massacre took
place il required week to mass the
troops and equip them in the manner
previously proposed by the general
stafI.
The regular army had only seven
motor trucks within 100 miles NJ Col
unDus. The expedition could not move
until trucks had been ordered sup
piled. and transported to the border.
together with drivers taken from civil
ian life. The administration was forced
10 bug motor trucks in units OF twenty
seven 10 company. Had they been on
hand at Tic start villa might have
Deen captured.
The army had only eight aeroplaueS.
everv one Of which cni pscd few
days after the first and only aero
squadron 81 the regular army had
flown, ridden, or walked to Join per-
shing. Months were required TO pro-
vide the minimum number of service
able planes necessary TO scouting, and
II was the lack Of such euuiumcut
which compelled Pershing to send out
Boyd's scouting party which was
massacred at Carriza!.
.,,., nnSt9n'S Demand.
was dfsnatrba5 acras ai', ~, eApeu, y
Funston informed the White House
that tine government must supply him
with many more troops lie wanted
| $1,000 more II the pursuit Of VILLA was
idert ,,.ae ,o,,,I,. y - - 'Nt prs.
Funston wanted no c5ro,,,ii,. w, ,,',, MI
out mans ~ ito General ,, 800 w ~
lowed Thasa nIans natis - ~ w ~ w iu ,
mon ''' ''''u 'o' -'V'"''
An yvitsor ro,uo,,.,
moro rcrm,nrs !" n.y. w S'halll
strinnr5 TX" -. uoraet He
mars ~, ,,., """ia .uuHti! % MS reg
mo no wa. I'd, ".'.'i'H III ~ so 40.
rnoetors H. 49,, """s Ing ohiS drlll
~ snrolv roas nn".a nau VINO would
.,,.r.I IA '' 1870. - 'Ialh tue national
4, Io,r,,, '1 ~,
,,,,,,.,. -, ~ SupPlS y regular in
ras ovh -. s','"1.S dnu heid artillery
dcmand M, ilS'Sn maze another
-,,a.Sa- ~ tto"lS ala urged that the
It, e." 49, Usil,.u 70 "sSelhnieu Tor training
,bo con rs" > .SsIonse was 10 order 10
=, 30 ,out,.iS company alter COM
P"N' " .o','S at'iileFyn'en.
fOrls stripped OF Men.
There was on file Il rcport snoU,i,,c
that already the ports OF tho count,
were in sorry condition fordefenso 49,
officers and men being far beInw ~,
minimum requirements. The rono my
was ignored and the dcnln,od ro TI
mnnds were stripped 10 inc hon" ~ a. or.
der TIA. more regulars might ~ ~
! tanned and no cali 10 tho cuard issnaS
Men who were trained for coas, ~
tense we're TRANSFORMED INFO ins M, ~
men and made TO do border n ,,,
work. The ports thew bnd gtIar ara
we're left almost defenscgess
The call for more nnd more man -,
came insistent The Convention e., oa, -,
u