U. S. FORCES NOT SUFFICIENT

An investigation conducted by the Scientific American shows that the total mobile force of the United States, regular and militia, amounts to only a little more than 90,000 men. According to the statement of the committee on public safety, the need of men for all branches of military service is urgent, and, although enlisting has been taking place rapidly, many more volunteers are needed to prepare the country adequately for actual warfare. In case of invasion we shall need 380,000 stationary coast guard volunteer troops and 500,000 mobile troops to defend the country from foreign enemies, and to prepare for such an event the Government has proposed to raise the regular army from 60,000 men to 250,000, the militia to 400,000, and to call for 500,000 volunteers. An army of 1,000,000 men such as is proposed will require 25,000 officers, 18,000 more than are in the regular army today. We have 800 field guns ready for service and need more than four times as many, and the 1,325 machine guns are only a small part of the 17,000 desired.

Three months ago, Secretary Baker of the War Department declared that there were "plenty of arms for a force of 1,000,000 men," but General Crozier, chief of ordnance, has estimated that by June 30 we will have probably only 850,000 rifles and it will undoubtedly be necessary to make changes in existing private plants making rifles for the Allies, as no two European rifles are the same, and all are different from the American rifle. Moreover, it is probable that these plants could not be in working order inside of a year. For the army planned, a billion rounds of small arms ammunition will be needed at the start, and a reserve of double that amount constantly maintained, although there are only 350,000,000 rounds available and the capacity of the one Government manufactory is only 80,000,000 a year.

Coast Patrol Plans Completed.

Plans for mobilizing the fleet on a war basis, establishing a coast patrol and protecting commerce were compiled February 28, but responsible authorities have stated that it will take six months to put the plans in operation. At that time there were 22 battleships and 75 other warships out of commission, without crews or ammunition and since many have not had steam up for six months they will need extensive repairs, 60 days being necessary to put them in commission, and four months to make then fit for fighting.

Work on the coast patrol has been progressing rapidly, however, as in addition to a flotilla of high speed, light draft submarine chasers, which will be completed in five months, a large number of privately-owned boats have been offered to the Government, and the 10,000 men needed for this work are rapidly being secured. The present shortage men in the navy is 27,000.

In the aeronautical work an official advisory committee has reported that adequate defence will require 4,000 aeroplanes and 2,400 aviators. There 12 plants in the United States capable producing the machines and the aviation service has been flooded with applications from men ready to serve the country as airmen. Nine months of training however are needed to make an efficient military aviator, as the courses conducted by the Government are of an exiremely rigorous and thorough nature.