New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-28

ors. several city executives, educators
business men and editors.
The preparedness programme OF
President Wilson was Endorsed a.
step in the right direction IN the com
mittee reports. The committee md
iHgs, however, were that the admins
tration had not indicated a desire 20
90 far enough 70 make the country
safe from attack.
Henry A. Wise Wood. n presenting
the report OF the navy committee
urged that the United States Navy De
restored ~ once 10 the position OF sec
ond among the sea powers OF the world
and that the building programme De
not limited by the financial SITUATION
OF the government. but that govern
ment finances be adjusted 10 the ne
ccssity Of the navy.
lie lo'ntod out that the United States
vas ia conflict with Germany over TIE
Monroe Doctrine. with Japan over the
exclusion act. with nearly overy power
in the world over Mexico. Unless these
policies are 20 be abandoned. he de-
CARED. the navy must be prepared 20
meet all corners at any time
New England Defenceless.
IL. Wood also asserted that the
actual experiment by an Eastern
yachtsman under his direction showed
that a foreign army Of 10000 men could
land on New England shores and over
run New England before ar adequate
army could be summoned in defence.
Figures were then quoted 20 show
that the navy il short between oO.OOO
and $4,000 men Of the number required
20 man the ships already built or build
ing and il was stated that because OF
the impOssibility OF manning present
reserve ships eleven destroyers were
unable 10 participate in the wax
manpuyres Of October. Another state
ment was that four battleships Of the
Atlantic fleet would have to be placed
in reserve next winter 20 get crews 10
man The uperdreadnoughts Nevada
and Oklahoma.
"To correct popular misapprrh~n
son j. must be made clear that thu
shortage o. men is not due 80 difficulty
in recruiting" said the report. The
sole trouble lies in the fact that Con
gtess has limited the number o. men
10 - 500"
II was added that the proposed rec
Ommendation Of the Secre airy OF the
Navy for 10000 more men was made
quate and that there was also short
age OF at least 1000 officers.
The proposed increase OF 25o mid
shipmen was criticised adversely on
the ground that the first year build
ing programme alone requires AS adj
ditional officers" The committee in
dorsed the building programme so
far as il follows the recommendation
Of the General Board" but said that
since no Congress can bind succeeding
Congresses, the ships contemplated
should all he laid down at once. "a
very radical upbuiiding of The naval
militia and naval reserve" also was
favored.
Recommends Citizen Soldiery.
The committee on militia presented
double report. The first section dealt
with conclusions drawn up after
meeting last March declaring for the
enrolment and education of the entire
citizen soldiery" and the maintenance
of the organized militia in proper
strength, not on the basis of the regu-
lar soldier. but as volunteer citizen sol
diers of az high an order as practical
BILE"
These conclusions were reiterated in
the supplemental report. drawn up
after the announcement Of the admin
istration's plan for a continental"
army This was declared to be "a
great step" but too incompletely for
mulated to be a subject Of discussion
at present" The committee expressed
"the hope that report Of the General
Staff will be submitted TO Congress in
connection with any plai proposed"
The proposed army increases. the
committee findings pointed out, should
he broadened to provide for extensive
and continuous education of officers
and for collection of large reserve
stocks Of supplies OF all kinds.
The navy plan was criticised as ex-
tending over too long a period for COM
plction and as making no provision for
adequate personnel on ships built.
building and proposed.
The project for continental army"
WIS Endorsed merely as first step
and the suggestion was made that all
non between the ages OF eighteen and
;wepty-one should be enrolled and have
military education.
Tonight tho delegates to tho confer
once offended q banquet. Mt .hich The
srcakers renewed the leagues appeal
'or ADEQUATE defence.