Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-19
General Scott Tells Senate
Committee Hope Was
to Awe Mexicans.
BELITTLES ABILITY
OF STATE TROOPS
Says They We're Unframed and un-
fitted For Military Service in Mex.
leo and That Year Of Intensive
Schooling Would Be Necessary
Scott Declares Volunteer System Al
>. way. Has Failed in Time Of Need.

washington, Lee. lS.-Ine. Ndlioiioi
Guard force mobilized on the Mexican
boarder would have required nearly a
year of intensive training to prepare
it to meet trained troops, Maj. Gen.
Hugh L. Scott, chief of staff, to-day de-
clared in urging a universal military
training system before senate sub,
committee
Fortunately the Mexicans were un-
trained troops" he added, and our
purpose to protect the border was ac-
complished by the mere presence of our
men on the border without firing a
shot. We never contemplated sending
the National Guard over the border un-
til they had been trained, altho ! sat
up until, 2 or o'clock every morning
at the war department expecting 3
message that the fight was on.
1--WE felt that the National Guard
troops would have destroyed them
selves in marching had they been sent
thru that hard country.
General Pershing' $ troops made phe-
nomenal marches. There was not .
National Guard organization that could
have done 1t. 1t would have killed
both men and horses.
Sending Of Guard : Bluff.
General Scott said there were 10000
Carranza troops around the Pershing
expedition and 10000 more opposite
Douglas, where great American inter-
ests are located. These were the points
where he looked for attack. I;
I'VE sent the National Guard down
because it was all we had, and we
wanted the Mexicans to see that sol-
diers were coming" he said We sent
some units almost unequipped."
"Do you think this mobilization was
beneficial for our country?" asked Sem,
ator Brady
II do" answered General Scott. 1T
was very beneficial. 1t prevented an
attack and gave protection to American
lives and property on the border for the
first time in five years"
Disagrees With Wood.
General Scott disagreed with Cen.
eral Woods statement yesterday that
ak months intensive training would
prepare soldiers for. passage into the
reserve. The general staff. he said, ba-
lieves years intensive training to be
the absolute minimum.
He submitted the report OF the Ma
tional Guard mobilization compiled by
forty regular army inspectors to show
the hopelessness or that system of
military preparation from the army
point Of view.
1T is the volunteer system that y
oI.
ways failed US. It is undemocratic, un-
reliable, inefficient and expensive"
Asked If double pay Of privates would
improve the present system, General
Scott said:
III you increase the pay to point
where 1t would produce a force Of the
size we must have you would bankrupt
the nation
Baker in Doubt.
Secretary Baker told the house milf
tary committee today that he had not
yet made up his mind whether univer-
sal compulsory military service or
system Of selective conscription was
tho best method OF preparation for
defense. He discussed diffi-
culties met with in mobilization of the
National Guard and various questions
connected with the border service.
Appropriation For Guard Families.
An appropriation Of $4.2b0 900 for the
dependent families of the militiamoli
on the Mexican border Is Included in
the urgent deficiency bill reported today
in the house. Provision is also made
for 100000 for the Philadelphia mint,
in need Of money to continue
the making OF small denomination
coins, now SO greatly In demand