The Washington herald., 1915-09-01
WILSON TO fight
FORBIGGERNAVY
President Plans to Overcome
Opposition of Kern
and Kitchin.
FEELS PUBLIC DEMAND
Chief Executive, However, Does Not
FEELS PUBLIC DEMAND
Chief Executive. However. Does Not
Contemplate Expenditure of
$500.000.0O0. As Reported.

Warned by the expressed opposition of
Democratic Leader Kern, of the Senate,
during his talk with the President YES
terday, and by an interview given out by
Representative Claude KitChin, who will
be floor leader in the next House. Presi-
dent Wilson is laying his plans to over
come them and put through Congress his
program for an increase in the military
establishment and a very substantial ex-
pansion of the American navy.
1t was stated yesterday on authority
close to the President. however. that the
administration had no idea of recon-
mending to Congress such an unnecessary
sum as S50O,oe0.0O0 for increased national
defense and plans of preparedness to that
end.
This authority said that unauthorized
statements to the effect that the Presi-
dent favored a demand on Congress of
half a billion had scared several import
ant men. who believe that there must be
very considerable increase in the navy
and adequate plans for creating a
great army or any emergency.
Developing this idea. one of the
officials of the War Department said
that 1t ought to be evident that the
greater share of the expenditure
should go to the Navy Department,
as the fleet was the instrument both
for offense and defense. The plans
for the army did not, he said, con-
template an expensive increase of
the standing army by such numbers
as would involve an attack on the
Treasury of s250.00O.000 or anything
like it. The increase absolutely nee
essary for the army would be in line
of coast artillerymen and field artil-
lery of all types. 1t could be stated.
he said, that the alarming figures
were not based on anything the Pres
ident would agree to or that the War
Department would suggest
The high authority who discussed
the question yesterday said there
would be a large additional expendi-
ture which might be called an emer-
gency expenditure by the Navy De-
partment. He indicated that neither
the President nor the Secretary of
War favored any notable increase in
the standing army. 1t should be re-
membered he said. that it is the navy
to which the people look for the pro-
lection of the vast coast line of the
United States and the outlying pos
sessions.
He made the point that the outlying
possessions especially could not be pro-
tected by ships other than those of the
very first class. For this reason. he said.
there was an almost universal opinion at
the White House. the State Department.
the Navy Department. and the War De-
partment that there should be concentra-
ton on a sane but at the same time very
large naval construction program.
The President has not vet passed on
the estimates of the Navy Department 1t
Is hinted that while he realizes the
Sround-swell der1and for emergency num-
bers of hattleships and cruisers. subma-
rines and air fleets. he had to take the
revenues into account. For this reason.
after his conferences with Senators Till
man and Chamberlain and Representa-
tives Padgett and Hay. representing the
Military and Naval completes of Con-
gress, he will consult with the Secretary
of the Treasury.
More than one cabinet officer has ad-
mitted that il would be impossible for
Congress. even if il So desirCl, to stem
the tide of demand for an increase in the
navy in all its branches.