Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-05-15

ings of army officers of the United
States. Chiefs and assistant chiefs of
departments have taken criticism and
abuse silently, because under the reg
ulations, they could not make reply.
If the people of the country therefore
think there is blame to place for such
lack of preparedness as exists they
should place it where it belongs-on
themselves for not Influencing the con-
gress of the United States to make
appropriations in the past for army
supplies, and to stop pooh-poohing the
need of preparation for war.
Much has been made of so-called
''broomstick" episodes. The war de-
partment has been criticized severely
because it declined to supply with
rifles a detachment of men drilling on
Governors Island. Criticism also has
come from other places because the
war department will not turn over
large quantities of rifles to home guard
organizations and other associations
of men who may or may not eventual
ly get into the service.
An American army of 100000 men
so far as its infantry is concerned
could be supplied with rifles and am
munition in plenty today. There is
much misunderstanding in the country
about the rifle and equipment situa-
ton.
The United States is confronted with
the problem of raising an army of
100000 men, of giving It's infantry and
cavalry rifles and equipment, and Its
artillery field pieces and equipment
with ammunition for all branches.
Must Keep Weapons for Army.
In view of the way in which con-
gress has declined to make appropria-
tons In the past for the necessary
war material, officials say it is not
proper that army officers should be
blamed for not having rifles to give to
home guard organizations and to de-
tachments of drillers here and there
when the sharp necessity is to have
enough weapons for the actual army
which Is to be raised
The law and the regulations stood
in the way of supplying weapons to
the broomstick drillers here and there
and to the home guards elsewhere.
The war department, it is asserted,
could not have furnished these rifles
even if it had so desired. There was
also law higher than that of con-
gress, to stand in the way. 1t was
the law of military common sense.
What would this country do if its
supply of rifles were in the hands of
the home guards and men of other or
CARNATIONS when the time came to
supply the needs of the actual fight
ing units of the field army? American
civilians, 1t is said, do not think well
along military lines. A rifle in the
hands of a soldier who must be trained
quickly for the fighting line is worth
two rifles at the command of a civil
ian who is learning how to take the
position of a soldier and how to do a
few other things with the possible in
tention of offering himself later for
the service. In the one case there is
sharp necessity and in the other case
there is only the possibility of neces-
sity.
Crozier Has Done All He Could.
Chieftains of the army bureaus have
not been asleep through the years.
Does anyone suppose that Brigadier
General William Crozier chief of ord
nance, has not done all that he could
with the money at hand to supply
American troops with view to the
possibility of war? Does anyone sup
pose that this man does not app eciate
the patriotic sentiment which inspires
his fellow Americans who desire to
drill with the view of future service
and who are demanding that rifles be
given them?
The ordnance officers do not deny
rifles to men because they want to
deny them. They deny them because
the law of the land and the law Of
military sense compel them to make
| denial 1t would seem from some of
the stories which go floating about that
it is the desire of army officers to pre-
vent the American people from secur-
ing the means to prepare themselves.
The fact is that the officers of the war
department are putting their material
where it will do the most good.
Trained soldiers try to put their
training to proper use. 1t has been
necessary to conserve the supply of
rifles and ammunition so that it may
be available for troops who must use
them in actual conflict. If the gov
eminent of the United States two
years ago had made provision for this
time of evil, the broomstick brigades
and the home guards could have their
rifles and abuse would be absent. The
army has to keep within it's appropria-
| lions.
The war department is as well pro-
vided for hOstilities as it possibly can
be under the circumstances of lack of
sufficient appropriations. For years
! the army has urged that money be CIV
en- it to prepare. Congress has turned
an unhearing ear. Things probably
will be different In the future, but
this, Washington officials say, is late
| day for reformation.
A Trade.
An old offender against the laws of