The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-26
PRESIDENTS PROMISE
FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE
Meets With Profound Approval By
Leaders In Matters of Moment
to Government.
GARRISON SPEAKS OUT
ON GOVERNMENTS NEEDS
Country to he FNatty Informed as to
Real Conditions Witch Exist, and
Congress VIA Fse Askcd For Large
Appropriations

WASHINGTON. Js1ly as Events have
been crowding i'm apcn Washington
SO rapidly In the las few months that
Il has net hesa generally rcallzeo
what great changes have taken place
in the attitude Of the Wilson admin
fstratson toward usuX matters or the
highest importance.
The Presidents promise. announced
Yesterday, that he Will give careful
consideration 10 she needs Of the naval
and military esta olishments, affords
the most recent, and. perhaps. the
most striking example. Of the extent
to which the Wilson administration
has discarded notions with which II
was imbued when II came into power.
There Is NO doubt here that those
members OF the cabinet whose ad-
vice has been consistently in accord
With The Presidents views on the sub
marine issue succeeded in eonvinc-
ing MIN that the real strength OF his
note TO Germany would depend upon
wha, was back OF Il. and that some
demonstration Of serious Intentions
was necessary to empha size in Berlin
the earnestness of the United States
Hence the Official announcement at
this time OF the Presidents deep in
terest in the siren xthening of the ma
tional defenses.
Mexican situation.
little incident in Connection with
the situation in Mexico also indicates
the drift of the administration Pres
ident wilson's authorization TO Gem
eral Funston to return any fire across
the border at Naco was step which
eight months ago the President was
wholly unwilling to take, though at
that time persons were being wounded
almost every day on the American side
of the line.
Recent shifts In and appointments
to the diplomatic posts have denoted
a change of mind on the part of Pres
ident Wilson. But the greatest single
change in the administration came as,
the result of the elimination OF the
BRYAN influence The effect of the
retirement Of MFR. Bryan in the rum
ming of the government business is
daily becoming more apparent. and
the matter is now being openly COM
mented on by high officials of the adj
ministra ton.
Bryan's Personality.
One of these officials acknowledged
today that he was just beginning to
realize how the Bryan presence per-
meated and sometimes dominated the
administra ton. Many things were left
undone. even unmentioned In the ad-
ministration councils because of the
certainty in advance that they would
arouse the antagonism OF MIR. Bryan.
All this restraint has now been lift
ed, and officials admit that the change
is being reflected happily In the way
in which the affairs of some OF the
depa rtments are running.
That tie Presidents national sfe-
Tense announcement yesterday is only
the opening gun of what Is likely to
be the greatest struggle Washington
win have seen In many years is the
generally accepted view here Many
fear that there will be no adequate
response from Congress without a
tremendous fight
Garrison TO Speak Ont.
It Is known that 1t is that Secre-
tary Garrison's determination to speak
the whole truth as regards the military
establishment. He intends to announce
in few weeks the details OF what
he and his advisers regard as the min
mum needs of the military establish
meut, and there is reason to believe
that his conclusions as to what Is re-
auired will startle the country.
Secretary Garrison's recommended
tions will be based more on what he
thinks the situation requires than on
what he thinks Congress will be in
humor to provide. It is his intention
that the country shall be fully informed
as to the situation, and he is then
willing TO let the people decide whether
they want Congress to provide what
is necessary or not. Preliminary es-
Inmates provide for a total force. regu-
lars. militia and reserves. in the neigh
horhood OF 100000 men as compared
with only 100000 now: appropriations
of 5000. goo, 900 year as compared with
the present S100,0o0.o60 are spoken of.
while II has been suggested that Con-
gress may have to be asked TO pro-
vide $500 900 600 IL everything Is to be
done for the army and navy
Though Mr., Bryan has said no word
himself. there is a convention here that
he will be in Washington In person
TO lend his powers of leadership to
those opposing increases for the ma
tionai defense.