Ogden Evening Standard | 1910-11-26 | Page 2 | Army Unprepared in Case of War

ARMY UNPREPARED IN CASE OF WAR WASHINGTON, Nov. 25. Major-Ceneral Major-Ceneral Wood, chief of 6taff, paints a gloomy picture of the lack cf preparedness prepared-ness of the American army In case of war in his annual report, made public here today. There were weak spots in many directions, di-rections, and moat serious was the shortage of field artillery and ammunition, ammu-nition, a fault that should be immediately imme-diately corrected. General Wood said there was a great lack of reserve 6ea coast ammunition, ammu-nition, and that, at the present rate of appropriation of congress, it would take more than fifty years, to obta.n a reasonable supply for the coast defense de-fense and a still longer time to obtain the necessary field artillery and am-riunition. am-riunition. If the regular army and organized militia at war strength were called to arms today, .said General Wood, there would be a shortage of more than T0 per cent in tho field artillery riecessary to equip Uieni. This force vculd represent only a portion of the men called to arms in cise of war v.Ith a first-cla:s power. Urges Passage of Volunteer Bill. General Wood strongly urges the passage by congTess of the pending bill for raiding a vountcer army in time of war. lie said this would cost i.othlng in time of peace, ami would sfve the government millions of dollars dol-lars in time of war. The present law is so unsatisfactory unsatisfac-tory and vague that toe general start could not make necessary preparations in advance for a possible war. Re-E6tablishmcnt of the Canteen. Other needs ol the military service t ere set out in the report, including the addition d CIO nfflcer.i to replace these detailed from line duties lor staff i.iid militia work; the creation of a reserve re-serve of not less '.hau 3"00.0"0 men who have served in the regular army or militia; tin? concentration of the army In large posts; the re-establish-i.'ent of the canteen, the increase of the signal corps and the acquisition oi aeroplanes.