The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-03-27

put upon OURS
These facts have been divulged de-
spite a censorship more rigid than
has ever been attempted here before.
What the full report will show no
man dares to foreteIl. VIII It reveal
that transportation was inadequate,
the commissariat unequal to its task,
the quartermaster's supplies of Inn
proper character and insufficient In
amount, the medical stores unsuited
in kind and deficient in quantity? The
answers to these questions will be
given when Pershing returns to the
United States; the history OF the not
remote past supplies suggestion that
must be rejected until it is officially
confirmed.
If the army had dirigible balloons,
they should be with Pershing, for the
practical aid they could give and for
the training their crews could gain
from exercise in the field. But the
army has no diriglbles, or II 1t pos
sesses them they are hidden away
sionally we see photograph of a
gas bag in shed. with descriptive
matter assigning 1t to the army, but
that 1t has ever left the builders
hands is not recorded. The country
does know that the army aeronauti-
cal school has been savagely attacked
in the senate. and that no pretense OF
defense has been made for it.
Man for man" the army equals
any Of its size in the world. But how
many men does 1t count to regi-
ment? What is the number Of SOL
diers, recorded as individuals and not
by organizations, under Pershing's
command? How many bayonets, not
companies or regiments, are in Pana-
ma? How many organizations can
today put their nominal peace
strength in the field? We hear of
a regiment and set 1t down for a
thousand men; II marches off, full
strength, with 6S5 rifles behind its
colonel. During all the recent talk
OF war from men highly placed, the
necessity Of preparedness, the terrific
dangers OF the nations foreign re-
lattons. the army has been far below
its authorized peace strength, and
no person in authority has moved to
bring it up to the number provided
by law.
An army of untitled regiments,
daylight machine guns. aeroplanes
that keep to the ground; a wireless
that Is either non-exIstent or fit only
to be the toy OF n child: are there
more disclosures like these to be
made?
The navy, ship for ship" the peer
OF any? With not battle cruiser
resigned, building or organized: with
the admiral of one fleet established
In tender as his flagship; with TN
dersea boats that must be towed,
that cannot submerge reach the bot
tom and stay there until the wreckers
have crossed a continent and lifted
them to tire surface with chains and
tackle; with submarines equipped
with electric batteries giving off dan
gerous explosive gases. and no venti-
lltors provided to clear the air: with
battleships doing the work OF cruls-
ers; with evolutions and target prae-
tice neglected.: with It's enlisted mon
undergoing literary training in the
hours that should be devoted to sea-
manshIp. recreation or rest: with
dreadnoughts OF probiematical value
in competition with the modern yes
sells OF other powers; bedlam In its
civil direction. digust among its
professional commanders, and unrest
among its enlisted men?
The fatal defect OF the defense sys-
TEN Of the nation is not shrouded IN
mystery. It springs from political
control OF technical subjects. The
educated and Informed men. the spe-
cialists whose advice deserves re-
spect. are subordinated to the ignor-
ant politician. the clown in office. A
Daniels pushes aside Dewey. and
muzzles u Fiske. and public opinion
is directed not by the facts. but by
the special appetites and the job
seeking ambitions parochlal lead
ers" harbor. Where a general stan
is needed to harmonic and co-ordi-
nate two complementary services, a
volunteer band Of civilians Is intro
duced. inevitably breeding discord
and jealousy. complIcatLng still
further situation Of extreme deli
.cacy, and offering fertile field for
chickering's and distrust. A system
incapable OF any results except n
continuation Of prodigious waste
without fruit. incompetence and
failure Is fastened on us; and until
1T srecognized that without coher-
ent, responsible. expert guidance
progress is impossible. we shall
blunder on in the costly and futile
course in which our feet are now
l.set