New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-03
Will Call on Congress
to Meet Needs
of Nation.
PROFESSIONAL
ADVICE SOUGHT
Best Minds Must Guide to
Meet Altered Conditions
of Warfare.
NAVY MUST ADVANCE
President Wants Citizens Trained
to Arms-Within National
Traditions.
NAVY MUST ADVANCE
From The rribuns Bur-aul

Washington, Sept. .. Pointing ou.
that the coming naval programme
should be plan for a consisten, ard
progressive development Of this grea.
defensive arm OF the nation" Presl.
dent Wilson has ordered Secretary
Daniels TO confer with the expert.
eneed men in his department 20 pre.
pare plans that will enable the navy
Ito stand up on an equality with The
most efficient and most practically
serviceable."
Letters which the President sent %
the Secretary Of the Navy and to the
Secretary Of War on July 2l last were
made public to-day. In the one 70 the
Secretary Of War the President says
he knows that Mr.. Garrison has been
much in conference with the prtfes-
sionsl associates In his department and
has come TO some very definite conclu-
sions on these exceedingly important
matters. In the letter TO Secretary
paniels. however, the President hits
out at the efforts OF civilian 20 tell
what the navy needs. The President
says:
Orders Professional Advice.
But first we must have professional
advice. | would be very much obliged
II you would get the best minds in the
department TO work on the subject;
mean the men who have been most
directly IN contact with actual modern
L. 4 -t.N
comprehended the altered conditions
Of naval warfare and who best COM
prehend what the navy must be in the
future"
The President apparently expects 20
have laid before him a comprehensive
army and navy programme that will
excel any that has yet been presented
to Congress. The President also indi-
Gates that the financial question will
be very important part in the carry
ing out OF the programme, for in each
of the letters he says that whether or
not the whole Of the plans can be pro-
posed Immediately 20 Congress can be
determined when they have been
studied. The President says the most
important thing now is 70 know, and
know fully, what the nations needs.
w duttns
The letter TO Mr. Daniels is as fol-
lows:
IL have been giving, as | am surs
yoC have also, great deal OF thought
TO the matter Of wise and adequate
naval programme, 10 be proposed 10 the
Congress al its next session, and
would like 10 discuss the whole subject
with you ut the earliest possible date.
But first we must have professional
advice. would be very much obliged
il you would get the best minds in the
department 20 work on the subject;
mean the men who have been most d
rectly in contact with actual modern
conditions, who have most thoroughly
comprehended the altered conditions ~
naval warfare, and who best compre-
hend what the navy must be in the
future in order 70 stand upon an equal
ity with the most efficient and most
practically seryiceable / want their
advice, a programme BY them formu-
lated In the most definite terms,
Whether we can reasonably propose ths
whole Of il 70 the Congress imme-
diately or not we can determine when
we have studied IL. The important
thing now is 10 know and know fully
what we need. Congress will certainly
welcome such advice and follow u 20
the limit OF its opportunity.
"it should be programme planned
for a consistent and progressive de-
yelopment Of this great defensive arm
OF the nation, and should be OF such
kind as 10 commend itself 70 every
patriotic and practical man.
"I shall return 70 Washington IN q
few days and shall be glad 10 take this
important matter up with you AZ your
early convenience"
The Presidents letter 70 Secretary
Garrison follows:
VIII Put Plan In Message.
II have been giving scarcely less
thought than you yourself have 20 ths
question OF adequate preparation for
national defence. and | am anxious, as
you know. 10 incorporate in my next
message to Congress a programme re-
garding the development and equipment
Of the army and a proper training of
our citizens 10 arms. which. while IN
every way consistent with their tradi-
tionS and our national policy. will be
Of such a character as 10 commend
itself to every patriotic and practical
mind.
II know that you have been much In
conference with your professional as
sociates in the department, and that
you have yourself come 20 some very
definite conclusions on these exceeding
ly important matters. shall be away
from Washington for few days. but 7
would be very much obliged N you
would be kind enough 20 prepare foe
me q programme. with estimates, OF
what you and the best informed sol
diers In your eounsels think the coan-
try ought 10 undertake 10 do. ! should
like 10 discuss this programme with
You at as early a time as IL can be
made ready. Whether we can reason
ably propose the whole OF ~ 70 the
Congress Immediately or not we can de-
termine when We have studied u. The
important thing now Is TO know ard
know fully what we need Congress
will certainly welcome such advice and
follow il to the limit OF its oppors
tunity."