The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-30
SNEERED AT
| BY ROOSEVELT
Turns Guns on Wilson Adj
ministration Foreign
Policy
DERIDES NOTES AS
BREEDING CONTEMPT
Charges Criminal Deterio-
ration" in Navy in Past
Two Years

New York, Aug. S0.1An open and bit.
ter attack upon President Wilson and
his cabinet was made by Col. Roosevelt
! last night in a statement issued at his
home in Oyster Bay. The ex-president
opened all his guns, and while basing
| his assertions on his controversy with
Secretary of War Garrison over his ad-
dress Wednesday at Plattsburg, he
lstrayed into other channels, and in his
charges and criticisms covered practi-
ealIy the whole situation created in this
country because Of the troubles with
Mexico and the European war.
The colonel seized upon statements d.
rected at him by Secretary Garrison in
Washington yesterday as the opportuni-
ty he had been awaiting to supplement
his statement Of Friday, and make di-
rect issue between the Wilson admins
tration and himself over the countrys
lack of preparedness to enforce its right
full demands upon other nations and to
protect its citizens. He charged that the
country is held in contempt by Germany
and that the Lusitania and Arabic would
not have been sunk had we started TO
prepare for war IL months ago, and
adopted firmer course in Mexico.
In his remarks reply to the colsoneP
statement of Friday-Mr. Garrison said,
among other things:
"As to his assumption that ! object
to the making of strong pleas for prop
er military preparedness, it would be
impossible for him to entertain a more
unwarranted one. ] have gone TO the
limit of my vocabulary in an endeavor
TO make such pleas just as strong as
words could make them. Ii he has found
some stronger than | was able to find,
he runs the risk that ] will borrow them.
He will, ! feel sure, permit me to do so
lnuch without requiring me also to Dor
row his ideas, that our present state of
unpreparedness makes it desirable 10 en-
gage in war with four or five other
nations"
The colonel after accepting this as a
wish on Mr.. Garrison's part 10 dissas-
soeiate himself from the Wilson admin
istratiou, plunged into the fray. He
called President Wilson's message OF last
December an elaborate plea against
such unpreparcdness, and charged that
no effort had been made since TO pre-
pare for war.
By inference al least, Col Roosevelt
asserted that Mexico had seen III TO defy
the United States and make IL neces-
ssry 10 land marines at Vera Cruz be-
cause the administration was unable 10
hack up its ultimatum by deeds. The
Mexican incident he referred to as "a
small and ignoblc war" ending in 'igno.
minous retreat" He accused Mr.. Wilson |
OF lamentable weakness in his dealing /
with Germany and with backing up ul- |
timatums with "pen-ultimatums" in
stead OF deeds. The trouble in Hayti /
he spoke of as another small war.
Mr.. Garrison was criticised severely |
for failing 20 bring the regiments Of the |
army TO the standing they should have
trouble in the air.
secretary OF the Navy ipanieir was Ac- Il
cused Of culpable misconduct in failing 4
10 have the proper feet exercises and 1
the craftsmanship 90 fall of
during the past two years.
Col. Roosevelt Il is known. has been
anxious for just the opportunity which
was provided for him hy the Plattsburg
speech. the censure Of Gen. Wood by
Secretary Garrison and Mr.. Garrison's
replies 60 his utterances. He u ready
10 do his part in making il an Issue
which he hopes would bring about the
iefeat Of President Wilson. II Mr.. VII
on should b. renominated in 1919.
Mr. Roosevelt has been urging the
ountry 90 prepare for war for some
Months. but up 60 the present time had
rot bern able 70 stir up any controversy
sith administration officials which gave
i'm . chance % fight IN the open.