Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-17
FIGHT for Preparedness on
Floor Of Lower House to Be
Led by Military and Naval
Chairmen,
SUBMARINES STILL
UNDER DISCUSSION
Admiral Grant Insists After
Construction Of t83 Sub-
mersibIes, England Could
Land on Coast

fHy soHsira tourHbt sprcitt ttsntp WIS
Washington, Feb if--Committco
bille 10 increase the regular army o.
between 10000 ana 209,000 men nud
proposing definite scheme FOR fed
cfallzation Of the national guard nn-
der military pay act probably VIII
pc before both houses of congress
within three wceks A building pro-
gram for the navy. however. win not
he ready before May although Chair.
man padgeu. Of the house committee,
urged the members today to speed up
examination Of witnesses.
Work on Militia Bill
The house military committee VIII
begin work tomorrow on the militia
liberalization PHI and il strong
measure "a produced, influential
members Of the scnatc committee Ray
II viii be accepted by the senate, The
senate committee continued work to-
day on lis bill for The regular army
increase. Major General Garter, re-
tired. ana Officers from the war col
legc ~ the army are aiding in draft
ing the measure.
The house ways ana means com
mlttcc 10 which win be allotted the
task Of finding money to meet IN
creased military ana naval expcndi-
lures has taken no steps as yet
The Fight Leaders.
II IL now understood TINT the lead
crshup IN the preparedness fight In
the house will rest With the two com
mittee chatrmcn. Representative Hay
of the military committee. and Rep
rcscntntive Padgett. Of the navy com
mittce. There has been some talk
since Speaker clark has como out
strongly fer preparedness that he
would engineer the whole matter It
was stated positively tonight. how
ever that while the speakers ala was
counted upon, the committee chiefs
would lead their own forces
The suljmcrsiblc Problem.
The naval committee struggled
again today with the problem Of sub
morslblea Rear Admiral Grant out
lined further his plan 70 establish
submarine shore bases along the
coasts aud repeated his statement that
1S3 underwater boats With thirty re-
serve craft were needed He said
American submarine builders public
and private. coud produce forty-eight
OF the S00-ton boats he recommended
within twelve months
Representative galloway questioned
the admiral as 10 the relative strength
OF the American navy among those of
the world. Admiral Grant said he
believed the German as well ns the
British navy, was considerably
stronger,
England Not Feared.
There H. today" he snid, zone
power that has enough navy 20 land
on our coast, even " we mad 1888 sub
sI ftgRt -
And only one" interjeeted Repre-
sentative Kelly.
- mink only one agreed Admiral
Grant
And YOU think It would be neces-
sary to build navy AZ large as that
nowcr9" asked Representative Caila-
way.
The admiral assented and To Rep
rcscntativo Calaway's demand to
know why he Thought 50. said,
Tho relation between the coun-
tries VI pretty close My personal im-
preston is there never viii be a war
between this country and The power
| have IN mind
Bigger Fleet fur Offensc.
Admiral Grant declared any enemy
/ fleet must he considerably larger than
a defending fleet To force a landing
eve played that very problem on
the game hoard this summer al the
war college and | was beaten. h'
! said.
Every manouNor OF board Bamt
the department had wofh Il out, Adj
mral Grant said, hnd shown the nee,
Of battle cruisers aud scouting craft
! Il was FOR that reason. the admire
added. that while he believed tn
droadnaueht 10 be- the basic fighunt
lunit OF any fleet attention should h'
( concentrated ON his battle cruisers
land scout ships IN addition 10 sub
marines before more hattleships were
I authorized
Hattlcshin~ Important.
Representative Galway sought e
show that hattloship WIS a useless
/ clement Of a fleet IN water Whorc suh
marines lurkod hut the witness die
\ not agree
Experiments with aeroplancs 60 de
ft,et submarines while submerged ha'
shown disappointing results, Admifa
Grant said. because at greater drptl
than twenty feet aircraft could no
follow thu movements at the suhma
rincs except under most taNorahl'
weather conditions