The Washington herald., 1917-03-09
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column In City.

biuS Iof elgnt or more nOnr1S1d oir1slDle
airships for coast and harbor patrol
work, opened by the navy, disclose offers
from five companies with prices for one
airship ranging from S71.5o0 to $4,000 and
deliveries in 10 days. Five million dol
lars have been appropriated and the
number OF airships will be determined
Iater.
The Curtiss Aeroplane, Company. Buffa-
10. offered to build one machine for
s47. 900 or four at s40,5Oo each The Good
rich Company, Akron, Ohio, offered one
at $4,000 or two at Sl.5O0 each; the Con-
necticut Aircraft Company, New Haven.
Conn. one at 1880 or up to eight at
81. 900: the Goodyear Tire and Rubber
Company. Akron. one at $4,000, with
prices graduating down for an increased
| number to $4,000 in excess OF eight; A.
E. Knabenshue. New York city. one at
81 500.
president Wilson could fill up the exist
ing units of the standing army and the
national guard within a month II he
would make a strong personal appeal for
volunteers"
This declaration was made yesterday by
an army expert who is deeply concerned
over developing events and fearful lest
the United States will be plunged into the
war before 1t is ready.
why SnOuIQ we 20 aneaO ana make
the same old mistakes?" he asked. I'VE
made them at the outbreak of the civil
war. We did things the same way when
In the Spanish-American war. When it
became necessary to send a large number
OF men to the border we were far from
ready.
1T looks now as though the old drama
of unpreparedness will be re-enacted in
the event OF actual hostilities with Ger
many. My Judgment is that a personal
appeal by the President would turn the
trick and give US the full peace strength
OF the regular establishment or some
thing over 10000 men and about 10000
men in the National Guard.
Would Aid Army Expansion.
with such a force we could make
great progress toward preparedness for
expansion into an army of a million or
moro men on short notice should a war
decision be reached
The time to strike is while the iron
Is hot. The effect of the expose of Ger
many's attempt to embroil Mexico and
Japan in the war against the United
States will wear of in time. That the
rank and file of the people are in a
mood to adopt strong methods for the
enforcement Of American rights there
can be no doubt
The publication of a few more such
documents would certainly bring a gen.
erous response should the President
make a personal appeal to youth to en-
list as a patriotic duty.
The large number who would come
forward would be trained as noncom-
missioned officers. with a view to pro-
viding an ample number of men capable
of training recruits when the army was
largely expanded. With such a force
we could gain at least four to six months
time in training a national army to meet
any emergency.
Army Resources Good
Fortunately the army is getting into
excellent shape from the standpoint Of
supplies. While our reserves of guns and
ammunition are now only normal. and. II
anything, a little below that, q very large
number OF munition plants are in con-
slant operation throughout the country
and are in position to turn out supplies
and equipment more rapidly than we could
get ready for them.
For example. while the Bethlehem
Steel Company appears to he unable to
deliver satisfactory armor-piercing pro-
jectiles for the navy, there is no Ques-
ton but 1t is In position to turn out an
enormous supply Of munitions suitable
for use in the army, where the armor-
piercing variety Of shells is not required.
Hundreds OF small concerns are list
ed, any one OF which is capable of sup
plying munitions in considerable guam
titles and to keep them coming.
But we want men. We should be
at work right now laying the founda-
ton for a great force to guard the
country against any possible attack, or
to cross the Atlantic II need be.