Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-12
MORE DRASTIC MEASURES
FOR NATIONAL. DEFENSE
New Agitation Expected to Result
From Matters Brought to At
tcntiOn OF Congress.
AFFECT BOTH ARMY AND NAVY
Daniels Would Compel Private Con.
Germs To Give Preference to Gov
ernment Ortlers-f'resh Argument
for Universal Military Training.

WASHINGToN, December II. - The
attention of Congress was directed
sharply to-day TO matters relating tn
both the army and navy which arc
expected to be productive 90 agitation
for even more drastic measures Of ma
tinual defense than have yet been Sc
riously considered
Secretary Daniels. before tht House
Naval Committee, advocated legislation
which would compel steel companies
and other private concerns to give
preference to government orders for
military supplies. lie viii submit a
new section for. the pending naval APP
preparation bill for this purpose. In
order to hasten 5attleship construc-
ton. which he declares WAS being de-
laycd by commercial work in the yards
OF private builders and in the steel
plants.
Secretary Baker wrote Speaker Clark.
in response 10 Il House resolution. that
Il,S3t out OF the grand total Of $4,000
national Suardsmen taken into the
Federal service UP To August - were
without previous military training lie
jectIons OF enrolled Guardsmcn for va
rious causes operated later To increase
the number OF raw recruits TO appr"Ni-
mntely 90 per cent OF the force.
Volt NTEEH POLICY CAUSE
OF ENGIIsH CABINET CRISIS
In this connection, also army officers
charged with the duty Of studying
events of the European war. both po-
!itical and military, made prcparation
to contend before the Congressional
Military Committee that tho funda-
mental reason for the Cabinet crisis
in England Was the volunteer military
policy there prior TO the passage OF
the CONSUMPTION act. The experience
Of Great Britain is viewed by these
officers as the strongest OF arguments
Co.. 80. L. li,I,, I
military training in the United States
AZ urged in the report Of Maior-Gcn-
eral Scott. chief OF staff. and to which
the entire American general STAFF is
committed.
Another aspect Of the National Guard
situation came from Quurtcrmastcr-
General sharp, who told OF "a 81. 900. 600
deficiency incurred by the War Depart
ment To equip and pay State troops now
in the Federal service. lf an average
OF 1000 men are retained on the Dor
der until June so, he said. the deficiency
Will he s1o.0o0,00o The universal train
ing advocates arc expected to use these
:igures III contendng that prohibitivc
cost would he the result OF the present
system. If the nation needed - great
army.
Secretary Daniels explained :" The
Naval Committee statement in his
annual report as - the delays on
countorcd in getting the building nro-
gram authorized By tao last session
under construction He pointed out
that no satisfactory bids have been
received for the battle cruisers or IL"
1917 program. nor any bias a; al FOR
three OF the four scout cruisers. They
we're new types. out vitality necessary
in tho opinion Of the general board,
the secretary aid. and he added.
Every time we make a chang. and
announcement tho shipbuilders wan' TO
stick to the old plans"