Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-15
TAFT MAKES STRONG PLEA
FOR PREPARED COUNTRY
Endorses Woods Speech Denouncing
"Sunrise to Sunset" Army as
Perfectly Asinine.
NO DANGER OF ,nL1TAR1sM
But II Is Foolish TO Presume That
Other Nations Will Not Take Adj
vantage of Conditions Here II They
Are Made Too Apparent.
Especial TO The Times-Dispatch.


NEW YORK. August l4.-President
Taft made n strong plea for prepared
ness in an interview just before his
departure for san Francisco to-day
Incidentally he indicated his APP
prevail OF the speech made by Major.
General Leonard Wood. at PlattsburS,
wherein the latter said
me perfectly asinine statement has
heen made that We can raise 1000 90 J
men between sunrise and sunset"
1t would need 10000 men sue
cesstully 10 intervene i'll Mexico and
TO raise that number is a difficult task
for nation so unprepared in a milf
tary sense we are" declared Nj.
Taft.
There is no one as much III favor
OF peace as ! am. but ! am not in
favor OF that foolish sense OF security
which has no real foundation.
Il feel Very strongly upon the ques-
tion ot national preparedness within
reasonable limits. There is no danger
OF nlilitarism here. 1t would be very
difficult in this country with the ideas
OF the people and the conditions that
exist 10 have niilitarism IN excessive
form
1T is extremely foolish to assume.
as some 90, that foreign nations will
not take advantage OF our state OF
preparedness IF we make that con-
d!tion' too apparent.
Above everything else. we must i'm
prove the navy and strengthen II.
am very glad to see the change the
subject has produced in WASHINGTON
and there appears 10 ne every prospect
that Con resS will now take the
necessary steps to catch up with the
position where the navy should be"
Asked what ne thought the actual
strength OF the army and navy should
g. nv. -11 n - ~,
able limits could be obtained he reRied
that he thought the recommendatio lions
made by. the army and navy experts
OF the advisory board II adopted would
achieve that result
MADE GREAT MISTAKE
IN GUSHING HUERTA
on the question OF the situation in
Mexico Mr. Taft did not hesitate TO ex-
press his opinion with force. He said: :
We made 4 great mistake in being
responsible for busting Huerta. Had
been in office still would have recog-
n!zed Huerta. as certain other countries
did. but even II there had been any
doubt we should have at least pursued
the same course with him as was pur-
sued with DiaZ, that is. to have waited
one year to see whether or not he was
capable OF restoring peace and security
TO the country.
Il was Very Elad TO see that the South
American republics had been called into
the conference to discuss the situation
IN MEXICO. II is an extremely good plan
10 cultivate the good Viii OF those coun-
tries. and al the same time show them
that our interest in the Mexican situa-
tion does not proceed from selfish
policy. They are our ne!Ehbors and we
should develop neiGhbor!y spirit with
them
Immediately after the interview Mr..
Tai, left for Rockville. Ind. where he
wi!l deliver a lecture tomorrow after
noon on The Presidency"
on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday
he Will attend the sessions Of the
American Bar Association at Salt Lake
City. He will then leave for Portland,
ore. where he will address the North
western Bar Association. and will ar
rive 81 San Francisco on the evening Of
August -. September . has been des-
ignated as Tai Day" at the Panama
Pacihc Exposition.