The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-18
TAFT HAS NO FEAR OF WAR
FRANZ TAIN Ar DINNER 10
WIND az PEACE CONFERENCES
We Don't Need \ standing Army 10 CsWe
with Those or Europe Dur Navy b
Good Due ami wlm D- Far More Eney-
tive when the Panama Canal Il Oucn.

Society for Judicial Settlement OF Inter-
national Disputes closed its sessions In
Washington tonight with a banquet at
the New Willard Hotel. Presidsnt Taft.
the French Ambassador. Joseph n.
Choats. Major Gen. Frederick ID. Grant,
Representative Bartholdt OF Missouri.
Martin W I.ittleton. Thomas Neasoa
Page and Bourke Cochran made speeches.
Gen. Stewart l.. woodford was toast.
master.
Gen woodford said that forty years
ago Gen. u 8. Grant. one Of tho thrss
great Generals then alive in the WoeSa.
predicted the object for which thia CO.
ciety contends would be accomplishing.
lie predicted. Gen. wocdford said. ths
| abolition Of warfare and the establAaA.
ment Of an International court, the de-
crees Of which would be enforced By ths
great Powers OF the world.
President Taft said something abous
the war scare that has appeared In Con
gress over the answers OF Secretary ce
War Dickinson TO the McLachlen rcsolu-
ton, showing our unpreparedness for
war
There has been a good deal OF talk On
the papers and some reference In Con-
gress.' said MIR Taft. TO the supposed
helpless condition Of this country In the
event OF foreign invasion I venture
TO think much more has been made Of this
than the facts calmly considered, would
justify. We have a very good navy, and
with the opening of the Panama Canal Il
will he a much more effectual one II
would be useful to prevent the coming q
an invading army across tho SEA.
The people OF this country continued
| the President. will never consent TO tho
! maintenance Of a standing army which
military experts will pronounce sufficiently
large TO cope in baf.le with the standing
army Of the greater Powers should they
| get by our navy. avoid our har bor defences
and descend UPON our lasts
If this leaves H. in "a position of help
ls-sneess, then 10 he IT, for those who
understand the popular will IN this coun-
try know that It cannot he otherwise
We shall do everything in the WAY OF
Wise military preparation II we maintain
our present Regular army. II We continue
/ to improve the national militi1. IL wo
pass the pending volunteer bill - gp int,
! operation when war Is declared. and not
, to involve the nation in a dollars worth
OF expense until the emergency arises; IL
We pass a law now pending IN Congress.
which will give VS. y fore. Of additional
officers. trained in the military art and
able In times of peace Ia render efficient
service in drilling the militia of the States
and in filing useful 0IIIsi-civil positions
thar are Of the utmost advantage to the
Government and IL we in a reasonable
time, accumulate. guns and ammunition
enough to equip and arm IA force We could
enlist under our colors in AN emergency.
i hav. said this much in order { > allay
tn. ~c-cnilad war scar. which has fur
n-hed pahulIm for the newspapers dur
ing tn" last few DAYS There Is not the
iii Ghtest reason Cor such "A sensation.
, We are at peace with ali the nations Of
, the world and ara quit. likely % remain
80, a. far a. we can see into the future.
: Just "A little more forcthought and a
little morr attention int the matter
nn the part Of Congress and We shall
nave all the army and all Of the NUM-
tion- and materials 81 war that We ought
10 have IN republic. -itua ed we are
$500 miles on the one hand and 5000
/ milc- on the other from the sources of
! possible invasion. or army il much
more eyp"nsiv" per man than that Of
any other nation and i, l. not an unmixed
~ IL that II il %. because il necessarily
restricts IL To- tn. maintenance OF force
which IL Indispensable III the ordinary
policing Of this country and our DEEPEN
denotes and furnishes an additional
reason for our using every endeavor
- maIntiIn peace.
Th.. President does not believe that the
time il at hand 70. tn. abolition Of ali
protection bv armed force The Panama
Canal he said -hould b. fortified -
W. have. "A property there said Mr..
Taft. which when completed will he
worth siOl onr IN. II has been built
not alone - iurthe- the caI-e Of tho
world commerce. hut also TO bring our
..asr"rn and western -eaboardis closer
together and 30 secure us the military
benefit, .uahliIg our naval fleet TO pass
quickly from one ocean TO the Other.
Vow tn" works Of III. canal are Of s,ich
a chara,'"- hat "A war vessel might easily
ur.t III" anal oyt Of commission We
ar. It tho.il"i to police the canal and
prpt", 10 HLi ~" hav. the treaty rights
to- erect f" III atoms there. Fortifica-
IiOl- - ia" best tn" most secure method
81 protecting b" canal against an attack
81 .-orn,. Irresponsible nation Of armed
force
II II sad rhi' -" could neutralizs the
canal and Nv inducing all nations TO agrss
20. to attack ~. canal Assure liz inmu-
nI,y from ~ Jury. buI the trouble rs thai
narton- ar" uIiir ~ likely al, men - vio-
la" th,Ir DDiIgat Ion- under great -tTcss
like ,hli II war. IL seems to m. that we
ought tu pul uIIr-".ly.- ~ "a position with
rrf.r"nc" to thi. very valuable and deii.
,.si,. I.l-c,. nf prup.rty 80 that should any
nation forget IT, Obligations. Ne will I've u
- 8. ION 10 prevent unlawful MUIR 20
his iu-' r'rn"nt II commerce. ~ valuable
to he world and - Indispensable. 10 Ius.
-lh. Ia, hat we for ~ IN" canal VIII
not prevent - from di-Gharging all inta-
ngtInrsi obli CATIONS that We may have IN
rrxp.ct ,o a. br u will enable Ibs 10 de-
rnnd ourselves ~ 10 possession against
he act ~ every irresponsible. force or