The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-12-18
Lid il Ripped or.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-Ma]or
General Hugh l.. Scott, chief of stan
OF tie United States army today rip
ped the lid off the pot Of opinion which
army staff and line men brought over
border duty of the national guard.
General Scott also voiced the army
mems verdict on the system of ma
tional defense now in vogue in this
country.
Going into some of the secret work
ings Of the army war college plan Tor
adequate defense, Scott told the SUB
committee Of the Chamberlain senate
military committee that where 1t was
once believed 100000 men would be
available at the outset of any hostil-
tiles in which this nation engaged
would be sufficient "as a starter" les
sons learned from the European war
led staff officials to decide this initial
force should be not less than l,5Oo,-
900 equipped, seasoned, perfectly
trained troops.
1.-THE general staff, at the outset OF
the European war" said General
Scott, gave as its opinion that our
system should be able to furnish $780,
900 fully trained and organized mobile
troops at the outbreak OF war and
10 nave az ACdot OoV,OVo
able within ninety days thereafter.
I'm its report, the general STAN
pointed out that two hostile exl1ed1-
tons alone would provide force large
enough to cope with our one million
mobile troops and that we must at the
outset provide q system to raise and
train. in addition, Ave hundred thous.
and troops to replace the losses and
wastage in personnel incident to-the
war.
However, in view of the changes
that have taken place since the out
break of the European war, the ques'
ton has been restudied. We al
agree that our system now sho'ld be
able to furnish in round Numbers
500, 900 trained and organized trooTs
at the outset and 100000 additional
within ninety days thereafter.
This is partly due to the fact that
one of the powers involved in the war
and whose territory extends the whole
length of our northern frontier, has
increased its army from relatively
small force to strength Approximate
ing that of the other great European
powers"
Scott emphasized that the navy OF
this neland-controls the
sea absolutely and that its merchant
is sufficient ito transport with
out delay" over one million soldiers
with necessary equipment.
"Due to the fact that OUT Northern
neighbor Is an island empire, a great
portion Of any trained force it may
possess can be spared for use In dis
tant theatre because, being an island
empire, the control of the sea gives it
practical immunity from invasion.
at should be pointed out, also, that
our northern neiehbor is in II lance
with a powerful oriental 5latlon-an-
other island empire-and f1r the same
reason, when acting in alliance with
a power which has control of the sea,
has ability to send its army CT two and
a quarter million fighting men to any
part of the world without danger of
invasion.
II think . mere statement o. these
facts makes it clear that we are prac.
tically defenseless before the veteran
armies of our northern neighbor and
could easily be crushed TT the exist
Ing coalition of these island emrires.'
In discussing the national Pu7rd
and the national guard system Scott
the distinction between
the individuals composing the per
sonnet and the militia system as ma
tionaI policy. He highly praised the
spirit "and willingness to Lean that
imbues the majority Of the members
of this force and the personal sacr.-
fees made by many.