The Washington herald., 1916-03-14
SAY j. 5. IS NOT
READY FOR WAR
Senators Declare Country Is
Wholly Unprepared for
Clash with Mexico.
ONLY 10000 SOLDIERS
Senator Smoot Declares Southern Re-
public Has More Field Guns and
Ammunition Than u. S.

The Mexican situation was the subject
OF a prolonged and acrimonious debate
In the Senate yesterday. For several
hours the condition of the army was at
| tackled and defended.
senator Chamberlain, chairman of the
MIitary Affairs Committee, declared
that at present the United States has
but 10000 soldiers in this country and
that only half of them are available for
duty in Mexico
venture to say that If we think we
can go down into Mexico and whip
them into order in a few weeks, this
country will be disappointed" he said.
senator Borah, of idaho, Republican,
| sounded grave warning
NO one can measure the proba bilities
which may arise from the fact that we
are now invading Mexico although for the
| purpose of arresting and Furnishing those
who have taken the lives of American
citizens and that alone, he said. THE
difficulty Is that We may have started
train of events over which we cannot
| exercise control. and whatever the con-
sequences may be we are under the most
solemn obligations to be prepared to meet
them.
From the press dispatches as they
come to us this morning it would look as
| II the authorities. which we have reCog-
nized in a technical way, would not be
friendly to our entry into Mexico even
for the purposes which we proclaim in
regard to our entrance. II that be true,
how are we going to meet the situation
when the military experts tell US it will
take $1,000 men in Mexico and 10000 men
on the border to take care of the situa-
tom
IF our army is OF such a character
that it cannot be depended upon for our
purpose in Mexico we might as well not
provide any army and navy, for it would
not be worth anything when we got IL,
replied Senator Myers. OF Montana We
were at war with Mexico once and the
South American countries did not rally to
the aid Of Mexico. | have no fear Of
anything of that kind occurring now"
Are Wholly Unprepared.
II don't know all the facts in possession
OF the President with reference to foreign
affairs" replied Mr.. Borah, but | know
enough to know that we delude ourselves
If We suppose We are dwelling here in the
utmost security. l know enough to know
we are wholly unprepared to take care
OF any situation which might arise with
reference to our foreign affairs, II it
should pass beyond the stage where
diplomacy would take care of it."
Does the Senator mean in Mexico?"
asked Senator Myers.
1 TeIer not only 10 MEXICO, said Sena-
tor Borah, but to other conditions which
1t is neither proper nor desirable at this
time to discuss. But certainly the Chief
Executive would not go out to the coun-
try and plead for action If he did not
himself believe it imperative"
Senator Myers said he believed there
were 100000 soldiers in the United
States available for duty. Senator Fall
challenged his statement, and Senator
Myers admitted he didn't know the
exact facts.
Il don't want the statement to go
uncontradiCted to the country that we
have 100000 soldiers" interposed Mr.
Chamberlain. we have mot enough,
in fact, to handle the Mexican situa-
ton"
ALLOW me to suggest also" said
Senator SmOOt. of Utah, that Mexico
| today has more field guns than the
United states. I think Mexico is bet
| ter prepared with ammunition than
the United States, too"
Senators are so careful about the
| Information sent to the people of the
United States" interrupted Senator
Reed. of Missouri. II think they ought
to be equally careful about the kind
| of information they arc sending to
| the republic of MEXICO