Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-12
DEFENSE ISSUE
BEFORE S0L0NS
Volunteer System Sharply
Criticized by Secretaries
Daniels and Baker.
BLAMED FOR ENGLISH CRISIS
Huge Deficiency Will Result II
Troops Are Kept on Bor-
der, Is Claim.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE at
tention OF congress was direc'eu
sharply today to matters relatihs to
our army and navy which are eN-
pected to be productive OF agita'ioi
for even more drastic measures Oh
national defense than have yet been
seriously considered.
Secretary Daniels. before the mouse
naval committee advocated ieslsiasio,,
which would compel steei coihp"n,oa
and other private concerns 10 GIVE
nreference to government orders Tor
military supplies. Battleship con-
struction. he declared, was being ue-
layed by comemrcial work.
Bakers Statistics.
SECRETARY Baker wrote Speaker
Clark in response to n house resoiu
ZION that 71.S34 out of the grand totai
of I63.SOO national guardsmen taken
into the federal service up 10 Ausus.
n we're without previous mih,ai
trimming. Reflections OF ehroi.e.
euardsmen for various causes oPeI".c"
later to increase the number OF re-.
cruits to approximately oo per cent Vi
the force. .,,oor.
In this connection also army oriicers
charged with the duty OF studying
events of the European war, botn po-
l,ticnl and military, made preparations
To contend before the consressioi,a'
military committee that the Iunua-
mental reason for the cabinet Crisis III
England was the volunteer mliitaIy
policy there prior to the passage VI
Tho conscription act. The experience
90 Crcat Rritain is viewed by these
or,icors nc the strongest OF arguments
for tho establishment OF universal
military training in the United states
ms urged in the report OF MAJ. zen.
Hugh l.. Scott, chief of STALL ana W
which the entire American generai
staff is committed.
Regarding Deficiencies.
Another aspect of the national
guard situation came from Quarter
master General Sharp, VINO toia Oh
s95 900 600 deficiency incurred by the
war department to equip ana pay
state troops now in the federal serv-
ice If an average of 75.OO0 men are
retained on the border until June 3o'
he said, the deficiency Will be soV'-
10000.
Tho universal training advocates
ore expected To use these figures IN
contending that prohibitiVe cos,
would be the result of the preseh,
system II the nation needed a grea'
"
army. 80 &c nm
Secretary Daniels will ask s6'ooo,-
600 n wear for the equipment OF gov
eminent yards to build ships. He IN
serted statement in the committee
record showing his approval OF th'
general boards recommendations ioi
12-gun 23-knot 42.00O-ton battieship'
in the 1918 program at propapi,
cost for hull and machinery alone o,
s15.OOO.OO0 each The ships VII
carry l6-inch 50-caliber guns, TN,
most powerful weapons ever designed
for naval use. mounted three to
turret ,,,
Daniels Praises Hill.
Mr. Daniels praised the services o
Roatswain Hill, commanding th'
prison ship Southory, and approved
suggestion by Representative Roperu
that he be made commander IN th'
navy by act OF congress.
Extension OF facilities for eniiste'
men to enter the naval academy wa
urged by the secretary, but he DIS
approved the suggestion for carr
graduation Of midshipmen to MI va
cancies in the service. He intimate'
that he might ask later that the pa
of all enlisted men on first enlistmeh
be raised to encourage recruiting. pu
did not go into details