The Washington herald., 1916-01-17
BY l.. b, JOHNS.

Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood. former
Chief of Staff. now commander of the
Department of the East, will be the
star witness before the House Com
mittee on Military Affairs one day this
week. Gen. Wood has been summoned
number of members of Congress, who
are interested in hearing his views on
the question of preparedness.
1t was Gen. Wood who suggested
that the educational institutions which
maintained military departments
| should be used to secure reserve off,
GERS for volunteer army and any
other force that is called into the field
in the event of war. He also origin
ated the students training camps and
business mems military training
camps which were so popular through
out the country last summer.
These institutions for military train
ing have been conducted largely un-
der the direction of Gen. Wood. The
Secretary of War authorized and in
dorsed them, but turned them over to
Gen. Wood and the other departmental
commanders.
Aside from questioning Gen. Wood
upon the bills that are before 1.-THE
committee, he will be asked to make
! some suggestions for legislation to en-
/
| mems camps.
Evidently fearing that its publication
would reveal some of the secrets of the
navy, Senator Lodge Immediately upon
the receipt of the report of Admiral
Fletcher upon the needs of the Atlantic
| fleet. moved that II be made a con-
| fidential report to the Senate. The re-
port was made to the Senate upon a
| resolution introduced by Senator Lodge
who had been charging that Secretary
Daniels had been suppressing some of
the facts with regard to the shortage of
submarines and other types of ships
1t is understood that the Secretary
| sent the report of Admiral Fletcher to
the Senate without dotting an 'i'' or
crossing a Ct 1t not only shows what
are the deficiencies Of the feet, but what
had been done to strengthen it. 1t is
assumed that the Senator objected more
seriously to the publication of the
nature of the improvements to the
ships and other new features of its de-
the shortage of ships. At least the
Senator when he looked over the re-
port reached the conclusion that il would
be unwise to publish it and this view
was concurred in by Chairman Tillman,
of the Senate Committee on Military
| Affairs.
While Representative A. P. Gardner
has been opposing about everything that
the administration has proposed in the
way of preparedness and has been Charg-
| ing both Secretaries with many sins OF
commission, 1t is understood that he will
| support the continental army scheme.
| He has held several conferences with Sec
retary Garrison which have resulted in
the conversion of Mr. Gardner to the
continental army program.
IL he adheres to this view Mr.. Gard
ner will probably be the only aggressive
champion Of the proposed continental
| army. Chairman Hay and many of
the Democrats will support the conti-
mental army largely on account of its
| Endorsement by the administration. They
ing to give IL a test
Mr.. Gardner is not confident that # viii,
be success. but he believes that II L
a step in the right direction. He Is con.
vinced that the trained citizen soldiers
should be Federal force. A commission
appointed by the governor Of Massachu.
setts has recommended that the orsani.
zed militia be turned over to the Federal
government and MIR. Gardner holds simi.
lar views.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels has grant.
ed to Serg. George Warrell United States
Marine Corps. retired, one years leave
of absence to remain in Japan where
for sixteen years. WarreIl served as mai
orderly at the United States Naval Hos.
pital. Yokeuaa Twsnty-ssven years 81