Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-10-06
WILSON WANTS
PREPAREDNESS
ON BIGGER SCALE
Not for War, but for Defense,
He Tells Committee of
Naval Advisers.
ITO COMMAND RESPECT
OF THE ENTIRE WORLD"
President Welcomes DanieIs's
Aides-Says Spirit of
America Is Peace.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6.-President
Wilson outlined his attitude toward
the national defense question today
to the new advisoryy board of the
navy. He believed, he said, the whole
nation was Convinced that we ought
TO be prepared, not for war, but for
defense. and very adequately pre-
pared"
The president received the men,
bers of the board, headed by Thomas
A. Edison, after their preliminary
conference with Secretary Daniels
and navy officials. The board later
went with Secretary Daniels to the
naval proving grounds, at Indian
Head, Md, on an inspection tour.
There is very little l can say"
President Wilson said, except to
give You very cordial welcome and
TO express my very great pleasure in
TINS association of laymen with the
government. But l do want to say:
Prepared for Defense.
Il think the whole nation is con-
WINGED that we ought to be prepared,
not for war, but for defense, and very
adequately prepared; and that the
preparation for defense is not merely
technical matter, it is not q mat
ter that the army and navy alone
can take care of, but q matter in
which we must have the cooperation
of the best brains and knowledge OF
the country, outside the official SER
vice or the government as well as in
side.
For my part, / feel that IL is only
in the spirit of a true democracy that
we get together to lend such Volun-
tary aid, the sort of aid that comes
from interest, from a knowledge OF
the varied circumstances that are In
volved in handling a nation.
Il want you to feel, those of you
who are coming to the assistance o1
the professional officers of the govern
ment, that we have a very serious
purpose, that we have not asked you
to associate yourself with us except
for very definite and practical pur-
pose, to get you to give us your best
Independent thoughts as TO how VIC
ought to make ready for any duty
that may fall upon the nation.
Americas Spirit Is Peace.
Il do not have to expound it TO you
you Know as well as | do the spirit
of America. The spirit of America Il
one of peace, but one of independence
1t is spirit that is profoundly con
cerned with peace, because il can ex-
press itself best only in peace. 1t is
the spirit of peace and good will and
of human freedom; but it is also the
spirit of a nation that is self-con-
scious. that knows and loves its mis-
sion in the world, and that knows
that it must COMMAND the respect of
the world.
$50 it seems to me that we are not
working as those who would change
anything in America, but only as
those who would safeguard every
thing in America ! know that yor
will enter into conference with the
officers of the navy in that spirit and
with that feeling, and it makes me
proud. gentlemen, that the busy mer
of America, the men who stand al
the front of their professions, should
be willing in this way to associate
themselves voluntarily with the gov
ernment in the task in which il needs
all sorts Of expert and serious ad-
vice.
Nothing ought to be done in this
by any single group of persons
everything ought to be done by al
of us united together, and l well
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