Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-31
URGES $5O0,0O0,0OO
FOR INCREASED NAVY
Col. R. M. Thompson, New Head of
League, Advocates 1mme-
diate Action.
Would Raise United States Standing
Army of 1000, 900 Men, Made
Up of Boys.

NEW YORK, August 31.-Col. Rob-
ert NJ. Thompson was elected president
Of the Navy League of the United
States by the board of directors here
yesterday. to succeed Gen. Horace Por-
ter. who declined reelection. Gen. Por-
ter has been president of the organiza-
ton since 1905 and on his refusal to
serve further in that office he was
named as honorary president
Arthur B. Lambert of St. Louis. pres
ident of the st. Louis Aero Club, and
Henry b. Joy of Detroit. Mich, were
elected second and third vice presidents,
respectively, these being newly created
Offices.
Larger Navy Desired.
A number of plans for a continual
ton of the leagues efforts to obtain
from Congress legislation for a larger
navy were adopted by the directors, al
though their nature was not disclosed.
A report submitted by Arthur H. Dad
mum. the secretary, stated that the
leagues campaign to arouse sentiment
for an increased navy had been con-
marked results.
The leagues board of directors adopt
ed a report of it's committee on legis-
lation recommending that Congress
give the same consideration to the
advice of the general board of the
navy in planning national defense as
1T gave to the advice of the commission
of engineers that recommended policies
for the isthmian canal"
The necessity of council of ma
tional defense to bring together the
chief executive officers. the chairmen
of the congressional committees and
all the experts dealing with naval and
military affairs also was urged.
Proposes 10000 Reserve.
The committee proposed naval re-
serve Of $4,000 men. to be formed by
the enlistment of men honorably dis
charged from the navy and by seamen
of the merchant marine. A strong mer-
chant marine for foreign trade was
declared in the report to be 'indis-
pensable to we'll proportioned and
adequate navy"
Speaking last night at Navy League
dinner Col. Thompson declared that to
avoid becoming entangled in war with
one of the fighting organizations of
Europe the United States must appro-
pirate $500.000,O0O for a vast naval in
crease at once. and must raise a stand
ing army of 100000 young men be-
tween the ages of eighteen and twen-
ty-one."
Wants Boys for Army.
Col. Thompson said the standing
army should consist of boys, and that
there should not be a man, except off,
GERS. above the age of twenty-one. IT
say this" he said. because in all real
1t Is being proved that the
boys are those who make the real
fighters. Instead of being a drawback,
however, this fact makes the problem
of our national defense simpler. We
have proved that schools such as West
Point and Annapolis not only create
the best soldiers there are, but that
they develop remarkably fine, well
educated men. who make the best citi-
zens when they go into private life"
Col. Thompson pointed out that every
year there are 100000 boys in this
country who reach the age of eighteen.
There would be no loss of time on the
part of the boys In giving them mill
tary training, he added. and there
would be no economic loss to the coun-
try.