Evening star., 1916-02-03
Former Militia officer Says
0nIy Opposition Comes
From War Department.
SAYS CONTINENTAL ARMY
is TOTALLY IMPRACTICAL
Former Adjt. Gen. Pearson Believes
Militiamen Will Make Good Sol
diers if Properly Led.

Former Adjt. Gen. Pearson OF
the Massachusetts National Guard
told the House military commit
tee today that the only opposition
to liberalization OF the National
Guard has come from the War
Department. and not from the
militia.
1T has come" he added, from the
amateur lawyers of the professional
soldiers who are trying to tell the pro-
fessional lawyers of the amateur SOL
diers that it can't be done
Gen. Pearson viewed the continental
army plan as a hopeless failure before
it started.
IF the militia. as has been stated,
won't respond to call in time of war;"
said he, what hope is there til this
continental army would respond in
time of peace"
Il don't mean to argue that the mill
tia always have been found good SOL
diers. They haven't. They have run
way in good shape: but properly led
they have time and again proved them
selves good soldiers"
Personally Favors CONSUMPTION.
Gen. Pearson said he personally IA
vored conscription, on the theory that
behind every ballot should be bull
let" There are just three solutions to
the national army problem. he added
first and most effective. conscription;
second, a paid National Guard, and
third, the continental army, which is
totally impractical" he said.
Efforts to build up the National Guard
on basis of patriotism, he said, had
been failure. Militia pay. he feared.
would produce too many recruits.
AdJt- Gen. Tillson of the Vermont Ma
tional Guard argued that the guards
men had vested right in any national
army that might be formed. and he de-
ciared II was no answer to say that
they could go into the continentals, for
they would not do so.
BEFORE the naval committee Rear Ad-
miral Strauss continued his explanation
OF details of the naval appropriation
Dill relating to ordnance.
Want Place in First Line.
Prominent national guardsmen yes
terday continued their opposition to
any army Increase plan tNat would not
include state troops in She first line
while Admiral Strauss, chief of ord
nance, L. S. A. gave expert and tech
nfcal testimony regarding ordnance
material. mines, guns, torpedoes. etc
Adjt. Gen. Critchfield of Ohio told the
House military affairs committee there
is no sentiment in the National Guard
in favor of the continental army" as
proposed.
He argued that Congress should ma
tionalize" the organized militia, and
that the defects complained OF by army
ofiicers could be remedied. The chief
needs, he said. are greater field train
ing. definite understanding of the
Presidents authority over the National
Guard and the administration of Ma
tional Guard affairs in the War Depart
ment by officers in sympathy with the
National Guard organization.
Admiral Strauss said that the navy's
latest fourteen-inch guns are the
equal of any foreign fl,een-incn guhs
whether the new bs.ttleships asked for
this year would be equipped with ten
sixteen-inch rifles or twelve fourteen
inch rifles He discussed the Hammond
radio controlled torpedo and gave his
opinion that it is not suitable for use
in the navy. On the subject of mines
he said the Norfolk navy yard is turn
ing out supply CT the newest type,
used by the English navy. A system of
firing broadside of torpedoes from
destroyers is being worked out, he
said. and a defense against torpedoes
in the shape of an impenetrable net is
being tried ont