Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 248, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1914 — U. S. IS WARNED OF MILITARY NEEDS [ARTICLE]

U. S. IS WARNED OF MILITARY NEEDS

Congressman Gardner Points Out That Country is Illy Prepared to Defend Itself.

Washington, D. C., Oct. 17.—The speech of Congressman Gardner, of Massachusetts yesterday on the'tinpkparedness of the United States has caused senate 'and house leaders, backed by the war department, to pay attention to the military needs of the country. For many years Major General Leonard Wood, when he was chief of staff, spoke warningly on the subject to committees of congress and this administration, like the last, is interested in the Creation of a trained reserve. Senator Warren, of Wyoming, who has served longer on the committee of military affairs then any democrat, and who was a member of the committee during the Spanish and Philippine wars, yesterday afternoon said that while he felt ho alarm for the United States on account of the war in Europe, he did think the normal safety of the country called for an increase of 30,000 or 40,000 men In the army. Mr. Chamberlain, of Oregon, the democratic chairman of the committee, is and his views directly on Mr. Gardner’s observations could not be obtained. But it is understood that he favors an increase in the fighting force of the United States.

“I am not one of those expecting war, said Mr. Warren, reviewing the situation, “and it is very easy for one to get excited and to overshoot the mark. But it is a fact that our army is far too small. For its numbers it is a strong army. I mean its personnel is excellent and it is well armed and equipped, but it is too small even for drill work in the larger units. There should be maneuvers of divisions and corps and we simply haven’t*the men for that sort of work. “You can’t concentrate 80,000 or 90,000 men in a country of the size of the United States. Though there are no more Indians, troops are stilj needed at interior points, while

even to spread them along . the coasts would leave them very thin indeed. The army is short in certain kinds of mobile artillery—field piece and siege guns—while what’s happening in Europe shows what siege gups can do. “In the coast artillery where men should work the guns in at least reliefs, I doubt if we have men enough to man the guns in one relief. We have the deep water harbors fortified, but there is nothing to prevent an expeditionary -force from coming ashore anywhere if it elude or cripple the navy.”