New-York tribune., 1916-02-18
Senate Gets Hoke Smiths
Scheme Calling for
250,0O0 Men.
ILLINOIS FAVORS
STRONG DEFENCE
Question Is Raised Of Submarine
Ordered 21 Months Ago and
Not Yet Begun.

Washington. Feb. II. Indications
from the executive meetings Of the
House Committee on Military Affairs
nre that the House will work out n
scheme whereby the regular standing
army will be increased to perhaps two
hundred thousand men and that the
Senate will work out the liberalization
Of the National Guard.
Speeches on general military topics
were made on the floor to-day by Rep
resentatiye Gardner, Of Massachusetts,;
Representative Richard Wayne Parker
of New Jersey, and Representative
Williams, OF Illinois. Representative
Parker said no one in the United
States realizes what dire results VIII
follow a desultory policy regarding the
manufacture of arms. lie pointed out
that the British army had suffered
keenly because there were not guns
enough to go round. and that recruits
and men back Of the firing line have
DffU dlilllHk WIN oNiNHo vs.
with obsolete firearms.
Representative Williams said that 80
per cent of the people Of Illinois favor
a strong defence programme and that
he made the statement only after
careful canvass. He said, however, that
in the letters he had received the fed
cralization of the National Guard nnds
favor.
Speaking on resolution calling on
Secretary Daniels to inform the House
whether the Navy Department has en-
tered into contract with the Electric
Boat Company, of New York, allowing
the company three years to build the
feet submarine Schley, Representative
Gardner said:
81 have been informed that the Sec
retary entered into contract last
spring for the construction OF the sea-
going submarine Schley and that the
contract calls for its completion IN
three wears. As the construction OF
+ the Schley was authorized IN june,
1914, which was twenty-one months
ago. and not stroke of work has been
done on her, | am forced TO the con-
clusion that the Navy Department -
not aware of the fact that war IS
going on in Europe
He said also that the navy has nine
teen submarines under construction,
and that they were authorized IN 1872,
/ 1913 and 1914.
I'VE also have sixteen coast sub
marines authorized last March, and
not a single stroke Of work has been
done on them yet" he said.
Members Of the Military Affairs Com
mittee of the House indicate that
Chairman Hay is now ready 10 vote Tor
an increase in the standing army, ana
that he will probably join with the
Republican members 81 the committee
in programme that will closely fol-
low the outline for the army IN IN =
Presidents address before Congress
last December. IL is believed that
Chairman Hay is now willing to go
further than the President regarding
the standing army and that he Will
vote for a force Of 100000 regulars.
A plan for a regular army OF 2oO,-
600 enlisted men, to be trained during
active service equally for war and
peace. was introduced to-day by SEN
ator Hoke Smith. Two years with
the colors and four years in the re
serve are proposed, which, according
to Senator Smith, would provide re-
serve army of 100000 men after 1t had
been in operation five years. Training
during the two years wit. the colors
would include nlnety-sX hours a
month scholastic or vocational uaih-
inc. Postmasters would act as re
cruiting officers, and reservists would
report TO them once year.