New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-28
Pass Resolution Urging
Congress to Provide
Army of $4,000.
MILLS POINTS OUT
NEW works. DANGER
Entire Country, He Declares,
Unprepared to Meet an Enemy
on Land or Sea.

From a STAR Correspondent q TEE Tribune
Albany, March 27-Referring to
William J. Bryan ss "the modern
Phocisn from Nebraska, preaching
the doctrine OF peace and unprepared
ness At the time Of great national
peril" Senator Ogden l.. Mills spoke
tonight in support Of his resolution
urging New York'S representatives in
Congress TO give their support TO a
rational programme OF national de-
fence.
The resolution asks Congress TO in
crease the strength Of the regular army
to $4,000 men and opposes federaliza-
ton Of the state militia. Il was
adopted b. a vote of 80 to 10.
Democrats We'd with Republicans in
rrotestations of loyalty, but when the
vote was taken the Democrats voted in
the negative, two Republicans -Arget-
singer and Lawson-joining them.
Republican Senators urged the neces-
sty Of the resolution to wake the peo-
pie from their lethargy. Both Sena-
tors Brown and Sage declared that II
adoption Of the resolution had this
effect alone, it would have accom-
plished considerable good.
"Thc lesson OF the last two years
should not be overlooked Senator
Mills said, "whcn hardly a month has
gone by in which we have not faced the
possibility of war for the protection Of
the property. tho rights and the liberty
Of our citizens, either with Mexico or
with one or more Of the great Euro
pean powers. Should war come-which
God forbid are We, the American peo-
pie, to-day in position to defend our
country against first class power?
Illuminating as it is. the answer must
be unqualfedly in the negative"
Dir. Mills explained in detail the un-
preparedness OF this country, and
quoted from reports Of naval officers to
show that the navy ranked fourth in
stead of second.
with our navy not only fourth"
said the Senator, but short Of men,
short Of ammunition. without battle
cruisers or fast scouting ships, and de-
fcient in submarines and aeroplanes-
these two branches of the service so
highly valuable in modern warfare
can any one question that IL IL the
solemn duty, not only Of every member
OF the Legislature, but OF every citI-
zen of the state, 20 urge his repre-
sentatives in Congress 20 do all in their
power to place our navy upon basis
adequate for national Defence
New York at Foes Mercy.
Senator Mills declared that the citi-
zens of New York City would be in
terested to know that ships could stand
outside Of Rockaway Beach. fire over
the whole width of Long Island and
Brooklyn and reach New York, and still
be beyond the range Of any guns
mounted in New York's defences.
The garrisons." Senator Mills said,
"for the coast dcfences of Portsmouth,
the Delaware, the Potomac, the Cape
Fear. Charleston. Key West, Tampa,
Mobile, Galveston and the Columbia,
arc greatly below what they should be.
I'm fact, many Of the coast Notifications
have been so stripped Of their per
sonnet that they have been placed in
the hands of caretakers. When our
oversee fortiications are comp etc we
will have only Is per cent of the off.
GERS and So per cent of the enlisted
men necessary for providing a mini.
mum manning body for all mines and
one-half Of the guns and mortars
which it is contemplated shall be
manned by regular troops
Senator Mills said that II the Cham
berlain bill providing for $4,000 men
in time Of peace and a full war
strength of 225,00O men, with an in
creased number Of officers, was passed,
il was probable that the requirements
of the regular army would be met. He
protested, however, against the fcder-
alization Of the National Guard as
supplement 10 the regular army. An
addition of between 100000 and 400.-
600 citizen soldiers was needed, the
Senator declared, 10 work with the
army in times OF war.
III is commended" Senator Mills de
clared. that the requisite number OF
men can be obtained in the militia BY
paving both the rank and file and the
officers, and that the militia can be
made into trained national army by
giving the Federal government some
measure of control over the various
regiments, though still leaving them
under the jurisdiction Of the various
state authorities.
Unsound and Dangerous.
"The plan is not only thoroughly
unsound. but a very dangerous one, be-
cause its adoption will lull the I'M
knowing and needless to say that the
great majority of our people are not
experts in military afairs-into the
belief that national preparedness has
been provided for. whereas nothing OF
the kind will have been accomplished.
Instead Of attempting to create