Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-09-10


tional defense. The announcement,
which came from the White House
in the form of the publication of his
letters of July 81 to the secretaries
of war and navy, apparently is in
tended to set at rest the speculation
as to what he intends to do to satisfy
those who apprehend that he will not
do anything and as we'll to subdue
the defense agitators who of late
have been crying from the housetops
that the president has become con-
WINGED of the necessity of a large
army and large navy.
1t is worthy of note that the letters
to the war and navy secretaries ask
ing them to assemble data on the sub
ject preparatory to comforting with
the president, were dated July 81, the
day on which the final warning to
Germany was signed.
The presidents letters indicate no
deviation from his former policy, no
change of opinion due to the Euro
pean war and the crisis between this
country and Germany. In fact his
language tallies exactly with his OBJ
servations on the subject made in
his address to congress December 8
last year.
In his letter to the secretary of war
the president says he is anxious to
include in his next message to con-
gress a program for development of
the army land proper training of
our citizens to arms" In his mes
sage to congress last December he
said: 1--WE must depend in every
time of national peril, in the future as
in the past, not upon standing
army, nor yet upon a reserve army,
but upon a citizenry trained and ac-
customed to arms
Plans for the Navy.
In his letter to the secretary of the
navy the president says he desires to
propose to congress "a wise and ade-
quate naval program. But
first We must have professional ad-
vice." In his message to congress
last December he said:
"A powerful navy we have always
regarded as our proper and natural
means of defense. But who
shall tell US now what sort of navy to
build? When will the ex-
perts tell US just what kind we should
construct" He is now asking the
experts to tell him.
But I turn away from the sub
ject," he said to congress last De-
cember concerning the defense ques-
tx generally. 1T is not new. There
is no new need to discuss it. We shall
not alter our attitude toward it be-
cause some amongst us are nervous
and excited. We shall easily and SEN
sibly agree upon policy of defense.
The question has not changed its as
poets because the times are not nor
NAL. Our policy will not be for an
occasion. 1t will be conceived as a
permanent and settled thing, which
we will pursue at all seasons, with
out haste and after fashion per-
fectly consistent with the peace of the
world, the abiding friendship of
states, and the unhampered freedom
of all with whom we deal.
LET there be no miscOnceptiOn.
The country has been misinformed
We have not been negligent Of ma
tional defense. We are not unmind-
full of the great responsibility resting
upon us. We shall learn and profit
by the lesson of every experience and
every new circumstance; and what is
NEEDED will be adequately DONE"
Letter to Garrison.
The striking portions of the presi-
dents letter to Secretary Garrison
were:
II have been giving scarcely less
thought than you yourself have to the
question of adequate preparation for
national defense, and l am anxious,
as you know, to incorporate in my
next message to congress a program
regarding the development and equip
ment of the army and proper train
ing of our citizens to arms which.
while in every way consistent with
our traditions and our national pol
icy, will be of such character as to
commend itself to every patriotic and
practical mind. The i'm
portant thing now is to know and
know fully what we need. Congress
will certainly welcome such advice
and follow it to the limit of it's OPP
portunity."
In his letter to Secretary Daniels
the president, in discussing the plans
concerning the navy, requested pro-
- d,;oo ond coid.