The sun., 1916-12-19

ton went to the border fiied up with
green men.
IT'S been a tragedy" he said. "but
worth all It cost II we only profit by II.
u was not the fault Of the officers or
men. but Of a defective system"
What should We do with the National
Guard. Generai?" Senator Brady asked.
ut Should be replaced as rapidly as
possible with men trained under a unit
Ncrsal service system" Gen. Wood re-
piled. when tho system has been we'll
started I would drop the National
Guard entirely from any scheme Of ma
tlonal defence. although We want every
officer and man OF 1t In the new plan.
But II must be a straight out Federal
force" .
Favors state Constabulary.
yet the States must maintain the
National Guard or some other force"
Senator Brady suggested. II believe a
~constabulary should be maintained by
nc state, not a military force cx-
planned the General. THE police are
trained to control. while troops are
trained 10 kill. There Is less resentment
when men are handled by police than
when troops arc called out. The people
feet It Is tho policcman's business"
senator Thomas asked what the Gen
eral thought Of the feeling Of the nation
toward universal service proposals.
II believe tho people will indorsc II
to-day Gen. Wood answered. Labor
Ii with you when you make II absolutely
certain that all men. rich or poor. will
share alike in military service"
Need 3,OOs, 900. says Gen. scott.
Gen. Sco.t's statement that 5000. 900
fully equipped and ready troops should
be available In the United States within
ninety days after the outbreak Of any
war between his country and a Euro
pean Power. or coalition of Powers. has
the Endorsement OF tho Army War Col
lego n virtually all the military ex-
perts of The regular army. 1t Is based
on the lessons of the European war.
The General stan had previously esti-
mated that In the event Of a war with a
first class Power the United states
should have 500. 900 fully equipped troops
ready at the outbreak and 500, 900 more
should be available in ninety days.
| Army experts now say these numbers
should be trcblcd.
This is DUE said Major-Gen. Scott.
"to the fact that one of The Powers In
volved In the war and whose territory
extends the whole length Of our northern
frontier has increased it's army from u
relatively small force to a strength s.p-
proximating that OF h other great
European Powers.
Immunity Frsn Invasion.
Due to the fact that our northern
%neighbor Is largely al island empire a
great portion of any trained forces II
| r,ay. nneaoaa rap ho uraA for ,,an In q
distant theatre of operations because
being an island empire. the control OF
the sea gives II practical immunity
from invasion where troops have to be
transported across the sea.
1T should be pointed out ais that ouI
northern neighbor Is in alliance with q
powerful Oriental n~ation-another island
empirc-and for the same eason wher
acting In alliance with a Power which
has control Of the sea has ability &c
send Its army Of ?.225.00O men to an,
part Of the world without danger Of in.
vasion."
The foregoing statement. togethei
with other matters discussed by thu
Chief Of STAR. was made withou,
thought Of it's diplomatic or confidential
character. In the course OF the hearing
Major-Gen. Scot divulged much In,
~ Il hCIctokoIC UCCI
held strictly confidential.
Volunteer system . Failure.
He called a spade q SPADE n EN-.
phasized the general idea that unles.
this country places itself In a position
Of real preparedness It will be In q posi-,
ton of absolute hclplessness before
countries which have highly trained vet
eran armies
The volunteer system. Gen. Scott said
has proved a failure. Despite the Mex
ic u crisis and the ideal opportunities
for the volunteer system to prove III
value the National Guard organization,
In many cases failed to recruit up 4
even minimum peace strength. The vol
un,eer system was characterized as ex
travagant. inefficient and dangerous.
THE time has come" said the Gen
eral. when this country. unless 1t in
tends to avoid war al any cost. mus
resort 10 universal liability to militar,
training and service"
Wilson Reserves Decision.
Coincident with the appearance o
Gen. Scott before the committee. II wa
learned on good authority that Presi
dent Wilson Is reserving his decision OF
the general question OF universal mil
,itary training. TIT President does no
regard the Chamberlain bill as havinI
solved the problem and he wants to se
specifically Just what the proposed plal
Is before he reaches a decision.