New Britain herald., 1915-11-09
BRECKENRIDGE FOR
 NATIONAL DEFENSE
Only Avenue of Escape From Com-
 pulsory Military Service

San Francisco, Nov. 9.-National defense founded upon such a sys- tenn as the administrations propos- ed continental army, offers the only possible avenue of escape from com pulsory military service for all citi- zens, and it's attendant evils, Ass1s- tant Secretary Breckinridge, of the War Department, declared today, ad- dressing the annual convention here of the National Guard association.
 "In the last year. said MT. Breck- inridge. i've have seen all the man. ifo1d resources of nations welded in to one instrument and subordinated to one will for the wag1ng of war on a scale never before witnessed in history If the liberties of republics are to be maintained their military resources must be adequately trans lated into military strength. For the first time in the history of our couh- try settled and permanent military policy is proposed for the natloh. There are those who say 1t VIII not work, then nothing adequate can oe had except under the compelllns hand of a militarism that none of us desires to contemplate.
 Product of Patriots.
 'I say to you that this proposed military policy, imperfect if 1t be, $ the product of earnest patriots on whom our constitution and the laws have placed responsibility for work ing out just such scheme. They have done their best. l appeal TOT your patriotic support for ii this re- suit, which is the product Of so much labor, of such infinite conselllng and conferences, which has received the imprimature of the president, of the heads of the legislature military com mittees and of the sober opinion of the press of the country, fail of adop- tion, then we have choas, inaction and the continuing compromise of the safety of the republic"
 In opening his remarks, Secretary Breckinridge read letter from Sec retary Garrison, regretting the lat ter's inability to attend the conven- tion and urging support for the war depart1n defense plans
 Those interested in proper mili- tary preparation and precaution," the letter said, have an unprece- dented opportunity to accomplish something of incalculable value to the country
 Show Our Patriotism.
 We must all lay aside any feeling We may have concerning non-essen- tials. We must show our disinter- ested public spirit and our patriotism by getting together on a common ground for a viewpoint, and by rem dering mutual assistance for results.
 "I stand ready to do this, and I feel an abiding confidence that you also do.
 Being thus actuated by the right spirit and working together to ac- complish the right end we may rest assured that success will be merited and achieved
 Lands National Gupard.
 Secretary Breckinridge paid high tribute to the spirit that had kept the National Guard alive and active and built it up to an organization 129.o2 strong, despite public apathy to~2rd the question of military pre- parc dness in days of peace.
 Ever since the Spanish war; he said, there has been a group sof men unself1sh, persistent, energetic, that in season and out of season and al- l ways without any great favor, have dlnned into the ears of the Ameri- l expansion and improvement of the land forces of the nation. Today as a National Guardsman I proclaim the credit that is due to the guard for nursing and keeping adive in this l country an essential and reasonable military spirit and appreciation of the truths of military history when l they were most needed"
 In outlining the gigantic task o1 | working out an adequate military l policy for the nation the speaker 1 said the Swiss military system was not adaptable to American needs as the federal government could moi control the school system of the country and the constitution. provid' ed for state troops, while the Aus. tralian system would have taker | too long a time to turn out trained soldiers. Faced with these problem: he added the originators of the pol icy had fallen back upon what the president had defined, as "a citizen ry trained and accustomed to arms and always ready to take the field This, he said, was the theory upor which was founded the plan to or ganize continental army of 4O0, 900 men.
 Tactical Units.
 Secretary Breckinridge indicated that new division of the genera staff probably would be created t< handle the affairs of the continenta army, although many details of its administration would remain under commanders of territorial depart ments of the regular army. Thes, 1 departments, he said, would be fur, ther sub-divided with states as a ter ritorial unit of administration ant by divisions as tactical units.