Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1915-11-04
INCREASED NAVY
IS GREAT NEED
McADOO DECLARES UNITED
STATES MUST BE WELL
PREPARED

PREPARED
Fargo, N. D., Oct. 30.-Speaking
before an audience that taxed the
/. capacity of the Fargo auditorium at
the Masonic temple, Secretary Of the
Treasury VIM. G. McAdoo handled
the subject of national preparedness
without gloves and stated that the
United States had developed a navy
that was "lop-sided and utterly in
adequate.
The meeting had been called for
1880 o'clock and long before that hour
people were being turned away-un-
able to find even standing room. The
stage had been tastefully decorated
for the occasion, and besides Secre-
tary and Mrs. McAdoo and party, was
occupied by the reception committee
and prominent democrats from all
over the state.
Mayor Emery Presides
Mayor Emery presided and first in
troduced Byron 4. Newton, assistant
secretary of the treasury, who gave
a short talk. He expressed gratifica-
ton at the spirit with which the party
had been received all through the
trip from the coast-and especially
in North Dakota.
Secretary McAdoo was then intro:
duced by Mayor Emery and stated
that he was glad that he was to ad-
dress a non-partisan meeting. He
believed political parties were essen
tial to our form of government, but
he did not believe in letting partizan-
ship dominate or influence important
measures. ... ....
National Preparedness
Continuing, Mr.. McAdoo said that
he wanted to say few words on our
national preparedness and the estab-
ishment of q merchant marine. "Tho
terrible events. of the past year in
Europe, and the acute situations
which have arisen in our foreign re-
lations," he said, "have brought forci-
bly to the front the necessary for
greater naval and military pre-
paredness than our people have here
tofore believed necessary for the ma
tional safety.
"Our splendid isolation, upon which
we have relied so much in the past as
our chief protection, has been neutral
lied in great measure BY the develop
ments Of modern science. Wireless
telegraphy and wireless telephony.
aeroplanes, fast steamships, powerful
battleships, long-range guns, high ex-
plosives and submarines which can
cross the Atlantic and Pacific, have
awakened us to a realization Of the
fact that the great ocean barriers
have largely disappeared, and that
we may in time become the object of
attack by hostile powers. We have
been forced to consider the new meas
ures which are essential to put the
country upon a basis of greater Sc
curity. We must not approach this
subject in hysterical fashion; we must
not take euunsel of fear but counsel
of prudence, reason and intelligence.
We are so fortunately placed that we
do not hnxe TO adopt q militariste
policy, as that term is commonly un-
derstood. Our geographical position
makes It unnecessary for us to main
tain such formidable military estab.
1shments xs the great powers OF
Europe. The most indispensable fac
tor in any sensible plan Of national de.
tense Is q powerful navy, capable OF
striking with effect-both extensively
and defensively- supplied with essen:
tial naval auxiliaries in the form o3
an American merchant marine and
manned by American seamen.
GAS a part of our naval program OF
preparedness we should provide, every
element of well-equipped, highly
efficient, and perfectly balanced naval
fleet and organization. The ships,
both of the fighting line and Of the
auxiliary line, should be the best that
American skill and science can pro-
duce, and the men who are to fight
the battleships and operate the aux
= iliaries must be trained American sea-
men, imbued with our national spirit
and knowing no allegiance except to
the United States. So vital is this
that, whereas few years ago we. per-
mitted foreigners to enlist in our
navy, the law now compels the enlist
ment Of American citizens only"
Mr.. McAdoo estimated that the
United States required about 400 mer-
chant vessels and 800 mine sweeping
boats to constitute an efficient mer-
chant marine and auxiliary fleet.