Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-26
BIG ARMY TO BE READY
ON TINE, SAYS CRAGO

Washington MdrCn u.
Congressman Thomas :. tragO of
Waynesburg, Pa. member of the Mill.
tary Affairs Committee. thoroughly
agrees will. :he position of Major Cen
eral Leonard Wood, outlined before the
Senate Military Affairs Committee. that
the United States should have an army
of 100000 men as soon as possible.
with at least half that number On the
battlefields, of France.
Mr.. Crago believes. however. that ev-
erything possible to bring this about has
been done in the short time since war
was declared on Germany. and that the
Increased army will he ready by tho
time that transportation facilities are
available to transfer the American army
to France.
Congressman Crago returned TO WASH
ington today from Camp Hancock
Georgia where he and Congressman
Henry Wilson Temple. of Washington,
Pa, spent four or five days with the
Pennsy wanna national guardsmen in
training there He is mCst enthusiastic
over the physical condition of the Penn
sylyania regiments there and the way
they have picked up the army training
''If the other American regiments are
as fit physically and advanced in their
training to the same point as the Penn
svlyania boys at Camp Hancock. the
American people need nave no tear tnat
the American army will hold their line
against the Germans. If Hindenburg de-
cides to tackle our sectors. said Con.
gressman Crago.
"I was utterly surprised to find that
so much has been taught the Pennsyl-
vania boys in the comparatively snort
time they have been In training" Mr.,
Crngo continued. "All they will need
now is the equipment to hold their own
against any kind of German assault
and as a member of the Military Affairs
Committee. | think ! can say that is
being supplied to the army as quickly as
men are being turned out to need it..
"Our great problem today is trans
nortation. We have in the United states
today about million men physlCaily nj,
minute, who could be placed along the
battle line In France in very short
time. II we had the ships. Ships
that's the great drawback-or rather
lack of them.
eve have today about 100000 men
4, France and 900, 900 more here, wait
| ing for transportation, -
furnish them with big guns and other
necessary appliances, IT Il useless FOR for
of snace is needed to transport the men.
| Points Out Unfair Criticism
! 'Criticism of our failure to carry this
/ and that kind of equipment across Is
| hardly fair, because for every. shipload
| ~ eunipment we send over we hold back
" sbinioad of men. So long as there Is
! CONTINENT for them on the other side
| NE greatest good can be accomplished
10 sending over al the men poss ~
''"I think most of the experts in the
War Department and the men in Con
nrass Who have studied the question, be-
s;a,'o with General Wood that we should
have 1000, 900 men in France. II II were
nossible. But with a serious lack o,
abips il is impossible. and but little could
he gained by training 100000 men
here when we only can send 100000
Srhe president has the authority. to
car, out more men when they are needed
and doubtless will call them when there
Is prospect they can be transported to
iSnngressman Crago and Congress"
Tampie went to Camp Hancock last
thursday and remained right In camr
ryith the boys until they left for Wash
ington yesterday afternoon
Bunked mt Camp
"When we suggested going back q
Gown and putting up at a hotei Tor the
niyht the boys would not hear of IT, bul
insisted we must bunk with them, ano
We aid" continued Mr.. Crago. we
,wsra given kits and got In line Tor oui
vnoS With the boys In the khaki ; went
~ hed with them. and got up when they
Ala IN the morning We thorouenIy en-
I joyed w the new. NE and werf serry g
hnYe. ~ & 4, 4, Y, y. Z.