Preparedness Movement - Military Not Prepared

Military Not Prepared

In fact neither the army nor navy was in shape for war. Despite the flood of new weapons systems unveiled in the war in Europe, the army paid scant attention. For example, it was making no studies of trench warfare, poison gas or tanks, and was unfamiliar with the rapid evolution of air tactics. The Democrats in Congress tried to cut the military budget in 1915. The preparedness movement effectively exploited the surge of outrage over the Lusitania in May, 1915, forcing the Democrats to promise some improvements to the military and naval forces.