Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-01
GREAT STANDING ARMY
BILLS ARE PREPARED
Fighting Force May BE Increased to
Size Never Before Dreamed or
In Time OF Peace.
CAMPAIGN IN NEW PHASE
House and Senate Committee Have
Bills About Ready for Introduce
tion-Hearings Continued i'm BE-
half OF Bigger Army and Navy.

WASHINGTON, February 29.-The
will enter new phase in Congress
next week when. in all proba bility,
bills providing for increasing the army
to an extent never before contemplated
in time of peace will be introduced in
both the House and Senate. The House
Military Committee will begin ,o-mor-
row its final review OF the measure
tentatively agreed upon last week and
the final vote probably will he taken
OH Thursday.
The Senate committee agreed to-day
to insert only general provision for
liberalization OF the National Guard
in it's regular army reorganization
measure. leaving the task of putting
this legislation in final shape to the
joint conference committee, TO which
the two bills will go By this action
tn" Senate committee made 1t possible
TO bring out it's bill also next week
WANTS EVERY FACILITY
IN COT NTRY EMPLOYED
Before the House Naval Committee,
Rear Admiral knight continued to-
day his recommendations that every
TO hasten construction OF fleet equal
TO those of any two nations except
Great Britain. American policies. such
as the Monroe Doctrine, Asiatic ex-
cfusion. control of the Panama Canal
and the open door in China, he de-
clared, constituted a great and grow
ing threat of war unless adequate
preparation to uphold them are made.
Admiral Knight said he believed il
would take TWO years and half to
make the navy efficient enough to meet
the present German fleet with any
hope Of success. The time limit he
set was the minimum required TO build
nine battle cruisers and eight fast
scouts. He said it would take eigh-
teen months 10 put the ships of the
Atlantic Fleet in full commission in
readiness for war
Not that We would not make Il good
showing against any force in much less
time" he said
COMMITTEE NAMED no
MAKE INVESTIGATION
Representative Farr asked If il would
not be necessary TO begin construction
Immediately in all available govern
mcnt yards II a great number of CAPT.
He called attention to published figures,
stating that III the last ten years Ger
many had built 173 fighting ships Eng
land %. and the United States sixty
four Admiral knight said he under
stood a subcommittee of the navy
would he named later to investigate
the subject Of shipbuilding facilities.
public and private. He advised that
the Boston, New York, PHILADELPHIA.
Norfolk, Mare Island and Puget Sound
yards ne equipped immediately for
Neir maximum output of big ships
Major-Gencral Barnett, commander
OF the Marine Corps, followed Admiral
Knight. urging that $50 officers. ffty-
Two warrant officers and 2.379 men he
added 10 the corps 10 bring IL up TO
the strength advocated by the gcne,al
board and approved by Secretary
Daniels. which is on the basis of one
hith Of the strength of tho navy per
sonnet. He asked also that the one
NTH standard be written in permanent
I'w and said Secretary Daniels APP
proved this proposal, although it was
an increase over what had been
originally asked for by the department
General Barnett said he had prem. ed
and Secretary Daniels would submit
10 Congress AT once legislation de-