Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-21
GENERAL WOOD POINTS
OUT NEED FOR ARMY
OF 100000 MEN

eSsSsOOSs6s0cOeI 0StsI.I.T:H: S:S:H:5sAs'
Washington. Jan. 21.-Maj. Gen.
Leonard Wood told the senate military
committee the coast line of the uniteu
States was open to attack by any wen
organized foreign army, despite It's
equipment of forts, mines and supmar-
ines, and that the oceans formed nc
serious barrier to invasion. He MAIN
tanned that in the country's present
state of utter appropriateness for war
a trained force of 100000 men couio
intiict incalculable damage before an
army could be assembled to meet ii.
Events of the European war demon
S:::-s.:>1 Clearly, the general SAID, that
the sea was the best medium Tor me
movement of troops, and he pointeu
out that a force of 10000 men. full
equipped. had been landed at Gailipoti
from a single expedition OF ninety
eight ships against submarines, mines
and an underwater screen OF parbeo
wire which fringed every available
landing place. Emphasizing his con-
viction that troops can not be impro-
vised to meet regulars, General
Wood said the fundamental basis or
any policy of adequate national defense
must be the principle that with sur
frage goes an obligation for military
service. Such policy was advocated
by George Washington, he said, and If
il had been adopted Canada would
have become part of the United tSates
in the war of 1872.
World Strong; U. S. Weak.
Only once in our history have we
been prepared for war he added That
was Immediately after the civil war.
when We had 100000 trained soldiers,
Our diplomatic correspondence With
France at that time concerning Mex
leo was very brief. 1t required only
one note because OF our preparedness.
France was told to get out of Mexico
and she got out.
There is not going to be any weak
ness abroad after this war is over. You
will find that more male children VIII
have been born than have been k!lled
or injured
You will have all the gold. perhaps,
bu: ii will not do you much good un-
less you stiffen ii wi,r iron"
What Is Needed at Once.
AS TO the immediate needs OF the
regular army. General Wood expressed
the opinion that the force of regulars
with The coiors should be maintained at
21r, 600. OF these. he said. 10000.
equipped anS.suppiied for a years time.
should he kept in the Philippines: an
other 2o,o9G in Hawaii, and 1900 at
Panama He urged that the regulars
should have a reserve system. under
which in a six years enlistment, men
would be transferred into a reserve
whenever their company commanders
reported them efficient, TO be definitely
assigned 20 war stations. Equipment
fo- members OF the reserve wouiat be
kept at their stations and once eevry
two years they would be required TO
join the colors for ten days training, TO
keep them up 10 date.
General Wood said that if universal
military service was not TO be obtained.
he favored a continental army scheme.
substantially as proposed by the war
department, provided 1t is absolutely
divorced from the organized militia"
The increases for the regular army,
proposed BY Secretary Garrison, how
ever. he characterized as '.absurdly in
adequate and indicating a failure to
appreciate the lessons of The European
war" particularly as to the proportion
the proportion of! field guns be fixed
at FIVE 20 every 1909 rifles or 9abers.
The present army standard IS SO per
1909, altho. in actual equipment. the
regulars are nearer per 1900 The
board. recently created in the war de-
partment. has fixed 80 peri. 900 ss the
number nece ssary.
Can't Raise 100000 Men.
rit,Cy 1f-fr Of yra
country TO face.!war with first class
power the general said the United
States was utterlye' unprepared am
knew nothing Of the problem it wound
have to meet. At least, 1000, 900 men
would be needed. he asserted, and they
could be obtained. ne believed, only by
compulsicn.
At present there are but s 900 modern
rifles and 300, 900 old model weapons
in government arsenals, he sa'i, ard.
up to five days ago, the capacity Of al
American plants TO produce rifles was
only $4,000 a day. England alone. he
said. wanted 5000 a day, while France
called for two rifles in reserve for
every man in the field
/ General Wood was positive in assert
ing that the national guard was COM
poSEu Oh d me pSESOIifltl CHfEef4 W
a hopeless system. Unless * could De
taken over by the government and
severed from any connection with the
states, he said it should be abandoned
to the states entirely and not a dollar
OF government money wasted upon Il
General Wood asked Senator
Chamberlain, AN unframed army
never could have resisted Germany on
the French frontier. could itZ"
They never would have known wha,
| hit EN- General Wood answered.
Need Many Officers.
A vital factor in the presen. situa-
| ton, he told the committee, was the
necessity for building up an efficient
| reserve corps. With 1900 students II
the land grant colleges under militarJ
| training and every frnportan. higher
| educational institution, Organizing Of
| fcers, training units. he thought II
! would be an easy thing 70 build up {
AM