Evening journal., 1916-01-20
WOOD DENOUNCES
THE MILITIA SYSTEM
Declares Universal SYSTEM
Alone Can Make COun-
try Secure
ASKS STANDING ARMY
OF MORE THAN 100000

WASHINGTON. Jan 20--Before the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs
yesterday Major General Leonard A.
Wood, former chief of the general
staff of the army and now commander
OF the Department Of the East, ex-
pressed his belief that the country
would not be secure against attack
before a system of universal military
service was adopted. General Wood
was not arguing for such a system
now. He realized that it was politi-
cally impossible But he seemed TO
carry the committee with him in a
plea for a regular army larger than
that advocated by Secretary Of War
Garrison and for a reserve force that
would be wholly Federal in its con-
troll and that would altogether ig-
more the State militias.
While General Woods recommen-
dations differed in important particu-
lars from those made by the Secre-
tary of War there is reason to be-
lieve that he and the Secretary are in
substantial agreement. General Wood
laid little emphasis upon the Secre-
tary's plan for a continental army,
but he did not condemn the plan.
Sharp structures General Wood
passed yesterday upon the efficiency
Of the National Guard for defense
were not far different from what Sec
retary Garrison said on Tuesday.
Both agree that the AS little armies
making up the militia cannot be
welded on short notice into an ade-
quate harmonious organization.
Advocating a standing regular army
of about 100000 men with reserves Of
twice that amount, General Wood
said the nearer the country came to
universal service the heavier could be
the reduction in the standing force.
Il would make all units outside the
United States at 10 per cent. above
war strength" said the general, 80
as to give them their reserves in ad-
vance. and supplies to last them a
year. The defense Of these places
rests ultimately on our control Of the
sea"
General Wood ridiculed the idea
that modern armies could not effect
landings on remote and hostile coasts,
citing the Gallipoli expedition as an
illustration A hostile army larger
than anything the United States was
prepared to meet. he said. could be
landed and the American Navy, which
he said stood in the fourth place,
could not prevent it, He also de-
nounced the suggestion that all Euro
pean belligerent would be exhausted
after the present war. The victor, he
declared would be stronger than ever
Asks New Enlistment Act.
"The chief need in building up a
reserve" he went on, lis a new en-.
listment act. would pay the re.
servist about $50 a year, and that
would help us to keep track of him
But I do not believe we should have
much trouble with that I believe Oul
men would play the game.
81 figure. at a liberal estimate. that
the cost Of these reserves would be-
about SIS or $50 per man per year
That includes their pay and every
other cost to the government. They
would cost only about a sixth or &
tenth as much as a man in the regular
army"
In response to a question from
Chairman Chamberlain, General WOOD
said:
THE Hay bill seems inadequate as
a substitute for a regular establish
ment of real strength Particularly
the recommendations for field artil
lery are inadequate and show a fail
ure to appreciate one of the most vita
lessons of the present war. It is in
sanity not to realize the change il
conditions and act on it, Even befOr,
the war began England had equippe,
her army with 60 guns to thousan,
rifles. We dreamed of having 81
some time in the dim future. Ac
tually we had had about 90.
Danger in Volunteer System.
''We cannot afford to go under tn