Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-22
GENERAL SCOTT SHOWS
INEFFICIENCY OF MILITIA
1uardsmen Would Have De-
Stroyed Themselves in
Marching in Mexico
CBy Associated Prsss.l

E~4a~-ee~-
WASHINGTON. Dec. 1s.-Mator Cen
uaI Hugh l. Scott. chief OF stan
Of the army. went today before
The senate subcommittee considering
The Chamberlain universal training bill.
with a detailed report on the recent ma
donaI guard mobilization. 20 support ms
attitude that the present system Is IN
E1ficient and compulsory training is
necessary.
Testtfyfng before the committee yes
terday both General Scott and Major
General Leonard Wood. commander OF
tne eastern department. recommended
abandonment OF the volunteer system
General Wood asserted that II the ma
tIonal guard had met hrst-class enemy
troops on the border. 1T would have
been n scene Of carnage" for the guards
men He recommended that eVentualIy ),
guard organizations be abolished and
that each state maintain a constabulary
force for riot duty
YEAR OF TRAINING.
The national guard force Modified
an tia Mexican border would have re-
suired nearly a year OF intensive train
ing 70 prepare IL TO meet trained troops,
General Scott declared before the SEN
ate subcommittee
fortunately. the Mexicans were IN
trained troops" he added, "and our pur-
panied BY the mere presence OF our men
IN the. border without firing a shot.
we never contemplated sending the
-rsfioual guard over the border until
,hey had been trained. although l sat
% until or o'clock every morning
a the war department fully expecting
n message saying that the dght was on.
that Pershings' force or the border
guard had been attacked
I'VE felt that the national guard
troops would have destroyed them
selves In marching had they been sent
through that hard country.
General Pershing's troops made phe-
nomenal marches There was not a
national guard organization that could
have done II. II would have killed both
men and horses"
General Scott said there were 10000
-arranZa troops around the Pershing ex-
petition and $4,000 more opposite Doug
las, where great American interests are
located There were the points where
he looked for attack
WAS ALL WE HAD.
we sent the national guard down be-
cause IL was all we had and We wanted
the Mexicans TO see that soldiers were
coming" said General Scott
I'VE sent some units almost unequip-
ped"
do you think this mobilization was
beneficial for our country?' asked Sen
ator Brady.
II do" answered General Scott "It
was very beneficial. II prevented an at
tack and gave protection to American
lives and property on the border for the
first time In FIVE years"
General Scott disagreed with General
Woods statement yesterday that sir
months intensive training would pre-
pare soldiers for passage into q federal
reserve The general stan believed. hS
said, a year OF intensive training to be
the absolute minimum
Asked r. double the pay ofSprivates
would improve the present system
General Scott said:
IF you increase the pay OF the army
to a point where II would produce q
force OF the size we must have. you will
bankrupt the nation"
Secretary Baker told the house mil
ftary committee today that he had not
yet made up his mind whether uni
versal compulsory military service, or &
system. OF selective CONSUMPTION was the
best method OF preparation for national
defense He discussed difficulties me-
with in mobilization OF the national
guard and various questions connected
with the border service