New-York tribune., 1916-01-28
Invaders Could Cut
off East and Hold
Nation at Bay.
lines SHORTER
THAN IN FRANCE
Germans Cali Attack Easy
Saws Col. Glenn-2,OOO,-
600 Men Needed.

Wellington. Jan. 27.-The position
-, =. United States in war-torn
.,-I5 was described to the House Mill
..~ Committee to-day by Major Cen
=, =, Leonard Wood as like that Of "a
-. ~, :, sea. with typhoOn signals COM
~ from, many directions
". are living in an era Of war he
-, ~.nd gradually are accumulating
~.,. II the troubles Of the world
General Wood. who appeared at the
.,--i..ee's hearings on the army IN
,,.,.. bills. repeated in the main the
,.,.i-onv he previously had given be-
~. .be Senate Military Committee.
:. said II would take an army OF
$4,000 70 hold line from Boston
10Th Should conditions at the close
-. way in Europe invite attack ne
5.,,,-.s anv Of the more powerful Of
:. be,l;rerents could land 100000 men
., american soil II less than thirty
Gays
4 regular army Of 100000, fully
trained and always under arms, with
8, lsss. 100000 reserves behind It,
should be provided. he urged, TO meet
III, situation. The United States navy
:, clsssed as fourth in Aghting efh-
a.,cv and declared it could not main
u,n control Of the sea or defend the
coasts
Army Less than Half Strength.
Th. army is so short Of officers and
men. General Wood told the committee
la. we're it ordered TO invade Mexico
u .As present time infantry, cavalry
and artillery would take the field at
less than half their full strength. BE
fore q reserve is enrolled" General
Wood said, "the army should be
brought up 70 its full strength"
Powerful invading forces, he con-
snusd, would find it easy 10 land on
1.-THE, the Atlantic or Pacific coasts.
e. urged the adoption of enlistment
terms which would attract a higher
Ersde Of men 20 the army, and said if
ee United States became involved IN
va with first class nation it would
tays 70 put in the field 100000 men.
DO you regard the Philippine ISL
tnts as a source Of military weakness
10. this country" asked Chairman Hay.
Yes and no. II depends on the
Hsagth Of the navy. Without a strong
.a'y We might lose our garrison forces
General Wood opposed the conti-
isr,sl army.
can't see anything but disaster in
.~5lng new force 20 stand around
ne military foreground struggling
~ money he said "The continental
ny is merely stop gap and a make
I You can play with the conti-
s'.m I'm for the continental army
Nl drop Federal assistance TO the
n.',al guard. But why build up a
=. iorce? Give US the national guard,
wy and soul. without shadow Of
'. 'ss control; it would be an efficient
my nucleus"
|. 5. Easy TO Invade.
sensral Wood repeated his declara-
,,.,at - NAY u was nonsense to say ~
;, - De ditfcult for an enemy to SEND
overseas expedition against the
seo states, because such an expedl-
.s au,s was the easiest Of all.
/. "nom are We preparing to fight 7
sv..0u knows." replied the general
~, =. AR are menaced on many sides. We
tre IKE ship at sea, with typhoon
~" coming from many directions.
S,- only can tell you, and He will
s.s.. ume. Ano preparation IS like e
insurance"
,,.. a'e sea control was lost, ne said,
ioFnsuons d, would have TO be made
aeH on the area TO which the
noe. NOE" oi the invading force would be
soris sSp' 10 be directed, which, he said,
e.. oe the war munitions manu-
ana =. area on the Atlantic seaboard
II. can francisco and Puget Sound.
10 ,r. vnorts probably would be, he said,
t.ps; 0n New England from the de-
buT forces, so as 10 strike at the
IA Vi americas national wealth and
Ia, .Ih 81. and munitions factories and
Yo,L ue effort would be TO hold New
% shd exact tribute.
w,ta' ~ Wv we are driven out Of this area
IN ~ East, he said, 1--WE will be back
lie ne me- POSITION Of prehistoric man"
,ov' urged that Congress deal literally
" ,ha 10 munitions manufacturing west
tr,;se AlleghSnies as u safeguard
C"s' C.n' mat possibility.
inr ss'ai ,na Wood said he favored hav-
s,b b"O sslhes tlhes Tor every man put in the
tad oIeqsate mobile artillery, up to
including l4-inch guns, mounted
continued on page G, column
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