Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-26
Congressman Calls Pro
gram Advance" but
insufficient
WANTS BIGGER NAVY
Says Daniels Project Does Not
Meet Needs-Criticises
Garrison's Scheme

cnuSettS, a leauer III tue CaHlpdibu A'i
national pre- paredness, today consented
for the first time to discuss the Admin
istration's plans for greater navy. In
an interview today he said he consid-
cred the ADMINISTRATORS plan IAN ad-
vance" but criticized II because II would
take nine years to execute the naval
building plan.
He also expressed doubt that the hope
for volunteer army Of 100000 men could
be realized.
Congressman Gardner has been very
active particularly since the outbreak Of
the war in Europe, and at the last ses-
sion OF Congress- in agitatlng for sub
stantial increase in the military and naval
Preparedness of the United States. His
vigorous stand upon the question attract
cd countrywide attention and IL was his
activity which led to an investigation by
the House Committee on Naval Affairs
into the naval resources of the country.
The investigation created a great sensa-
tion through the testimony of such men
as Rear Admirals Fiske and Badger, who
openly disclosed the naval weaknesses of
the United States. Congressman Card
ner himself. in testifying before the COM
mittee. urged the creation of a fleet of as
battleships as the minimum requirement
for navy capable of repelling an inva-
sion by foreign fleet.
The interview with Congressman Gard
ner follows as IL was written for his ap-
proval before publications:
q. Do YOU think that President VIII
sons plan Is big enough? A. I think
that President Wilson's plan is a great
advance on anything that has yet been
done. can't help being sorry that he
has stopped short Of the very goal which
1 believe that he is honestly aiming at.
CALLS PROGRAM INSUFFICIENT.
=. Do you think the navy building pro-
gram insufficient? A. I am afraid so. /
am afraid that Secretary Daniels plan
is Intended to provide a navy strong
enough successfully to resist any nation
except Great Britain You know that
the general board of the navy, for the
last dozen years has offered Congress a
building program which year after year
we have ignored The building program
which ] speak of called for as battleships
and it did not profess to make us safe
against Great Britain, because Great
Britain was not considered a proba BILE
enemy.
lnasmuch as Secretary Daniels plan
reduces the number of dreadnoughts in
the building program from IS TO as. l am
very HluCH dITulu tfat the old, unSOunQ
/. .ooctr1ne still prevails. | am quite conf
dent that the American people are un-
willing that our safety should depend
upon the friendliness of any nation upon
earth. OF course, we can defend ourselves
on the sea against Great Britain without
attempting to build a navy equal to
hers.
Q.-Is that your principal criticism of
Secretary Daniels plan? A.-No. Ny
principal criticism lies in the fact that
the Secretary's building program will
take nine years TO execute. II takes
four years to build a battle cruiser or
q dreadnought after Congress has, au-
thorized IL. Secretary Daniels pro-
poses TO spread the authorization over a
period of five years: that means nine
years before the job is complete. 1t seems
20 me that now is a pretty good time to
spend our money inasmuch as we have
got TO spend 1t ultimately. I believe that
this program ought to be speeded up.
Furthermore, I am good deal concerned
at the fact that the Secretary only recon-
mends an increase of II, 500 sailormen and
marines. Admiral Badger, recently Com
mander-in-Chief of the Atlantic fleet,
and Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Franklin y. Roosevelt have both testi-
fed that the navy needs 1900 10 10000
additional men before we can properly
man the ships which we already have
However, there may be recruiting difti-
culties OF which / know little.
GARRIsoN's PLAN BEST.
(Which plan is the best. Daniels or
Garrison's? A.-Heaven knows that all
my prejudices are in favor OF Secretary
Garrison. but think Secretary Daniels
plan would be absolutely sound II 1t
were not so long drawn out.
Q.-What criticism have you to offer
on Secretary Garrison's plan? Ale
doesn't give us anywhere near enough
regular soldiers. II war should break
out before we have an adequate navy we
should have nothing to depend on to op-
pose an invading force. Secretary Gar
risons plan will increase our field army,
or mobile army. as it is often called. TO
10000 men or less Sixty thousand regu-
lars could not make much or a showing,
even with cur entire militia OF 10000
men alongside of them in the trenches.
Q.-Secretary Garrison also proposes an
army OF 10000 Contlnentals. as ne calls
them. They are 10 be trained for two
months each year and their period of
active service Is to be three years. What
DO you think Of the plan? Att will be
fine II you can get the volunteers TO do II.
! sincerely hope that my apprehensiens
may prove wrong. The fact is that /
have been recruiting officer In the mill
tia. Furthermore. / have recently talked
70 recruiting officers In the regular service
EFFORTS which we have made hitherto to
get a reserve army and a reserve navy. l
shall be very interested to hear the tes-
timony OF regular army officers I'm the
matter Of this Continental army / had
supposed that their recommendation
would be substantially different from
those which Secretary Garrison has made.
FAvoRs BOND ISSUE. :.
q. DO you think a reluctance to issue
bonds accounts for what you describe as
a restricted program? A. Very likely.
Personally, 4 believe In a bond issue. III
We want 10 be safe, let US be really safe
and let US be safe as quickly as possible
.. DO you agree with the idea that
preparation for war incited men 20 war?
A. just as much as l agree training men
20 neht IRE makes them incendiaries or
arming policemen with revolvers urges
them on 70 homicide.
C. TT..L~In&.~., r.