New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-28
Build a Huge Navy Now,
hnr0"l Of 2aTy League

H.f ..f 't.-fsT
va a:1~.or. Nc. -. E.Dres. ing
tie r,l'c ,Ha. the European war will
.,' % aaor :~s years and that its
c.p- .. ,h bcc:uninc Of the
tc.. u.a. w.:h danger 20
...J '-,! rich and comDara-
. ...rr:d and to.onci Rob
o., PIE cent OF the
...a'u.. Sc. irtteTs to-day 20 all
'-l, .to.- and representatives. asking
q .~ .la;pr. tJ- the re oiutions re-
tea;i Gort.i H. ;ha league. The res
o.as o"s call Cor She inmcd nc COZ
s,iuc. o. % the greatest number Of
f-a-ag ships Of every description that
a. j. pudding resources Of the coun-
80 VII permit.
30. resolutions ~cTc passed after
consultation with naval and scientific
Crsor's as the most practicable meas
u.e By which thc United States can
meet tho emergency caused by Cur I'M
defended condition. in view q the
crisis arising from the European war.
In his letter Colonel Thompson points
out the neccssity for decisive action at
once i'm providing for the immediate
construction Of such navy as shall be
able 20 prevent any aggressively in
flilitu lblf'ki ubhlbli tiNiAi 0NitNlhS Az
army across the ocean TO attack this
country. Colonel Thompson's letter, in
part. follows:
at is my duty rs president OF the
Navy League. on behalf OF more than
$4,000 members Of that organization
and its woman section. TO call your at
tention 20 the almost unanimous de
mand throughout the United States
that such naval preparedness be pro-
vided at once as shall render II certain
that no aggressively inclined foreign
nation shall be able 10 send an army
across the seas 10 our shores and visit
upon our own land the horrors of war
which have ravaged Europe.
Accordingly, We believe that the cit
liens of this country stand together in
demanding that measures be adopted
which viii provide us with adequate
naval insurance against the horrors Of
war in the homeland. not in ten or ff-
teen years. but at the earliest possible
moment. In these days of national
peril no mere promises will satisfy
public opinion. The need for prepared
ness exists now, and il is likely TO grow
more pressing with the passage of
every day until the close OF the Euro
pean war and the end of the period of
readjustment which must follow.
According to the consensus OF
opinion of the worlds political and
financial experts, the end of the pres
ent war is likely TO come in about two
years, and the year Immediately fol-
lowing its termination, when the power
fully armed but impoverished states Of
the Old World are endeavoring 20 adj
just their finances 10 new conditions, is
likely to be the period most fraught
with danger 10 our own fabulously rich
and comparatively undefended land.
"In view Of this clearly defined emer-
gency, the members and directors OF
the Navy League and, we believe, "A vast
majority OF all of the citizens OF the
United States would urge that al many
dreadnoughts, battle cruisers. scouts.
submarines and auxiliary vessels be
laid down at once as the shipbuildng
resources OF the country viii permit,
and that these ships be rushed to com
pletion as quickly as is possible.
Dreadnoughts have been rushed to COM
pletion in foreign shipyards in periods
, Of eighteen months, or even less. and
We refuse TO believe that American
yards and American workmen will be
found unable TO equal records made
Mood "