Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-05
President Makes
Clear His Program
Of Preparedness

Continued from Page one.)
the same impulse and ultimate OBJ
ject.
All this is very clear to VS. and will.
confidently predict, become more and
more clear TO the whole world as the
great processes OF the future unfold
themselves. II Is with a full conscious
ness Of such principles and such amb-
tons that we are asking ourselves at the
present time what our duty In with re-
gard TO the armed force OF the nation.
Within a year we have witnessed what
we did not believe possible. great
European conflict involving many oil the
greatest nations OF the world. The In
fluenoes OF great war are everywhere
I'm the air. All Europe Is embattled.
Force everywhere speaks out with a
loud and imperious voice In a titanic
struggle OF governments. and from one
end of our own dear country 10 the
other men are asking one another what
our own force IL. how far we are pre-
pared 90 maintain ourselves against any
interference with our national action or
development.
To Make sure OF Security.
In no mans mind. l am sure. IL there
even raised the question OF the willful
use OF force on our part against any
nation or any people. No matter what
military or naval force the United States
might develop. statesmen throughout the
whole world might rest assured that we
were gathering that force. not for attack
In any quarter. not for aggression Of
any kind. not for the satisfaction Of any
political or international ambition, but
merely TO make sure of our own secur-
lily. We have II In mind TO We prepared.
but not far war. but only for defense
and with the thought constantly in our
minds that the principles we hold most
dear can DO achieved by the slow pro-
ceases OF history only In the kindly and
wholesome atmosphere OF peace. and not
By the use OF hostile force The mission
OF America In the world is essentially
q mission of peace and good will among
men. She has become the home and
asylum OF men OF all creeds and races.
Within its hospital borders they have
found homes and congenial associations
and freedom and wide and cordial well
come, and they have become a part Of
the bone and sinew and spirit OF Amer
lea itself. America has been made up
out OF the nations OF the world and IL
the friend OF the nations Of the world.
But we feel Justified IN preparing our.
selves to vindicate our right TO inde.
pendent and unmolested action by max.
Ing the force that IL In US ready for as.
sertion.
Army Adequate to Keep Peace.
And we know that we can do this A.
a way that viii be itself an illustration
OF the American spirit. In accordance
with our American traditions We wan
and shall work for only an army ads.
quate to the constant and legitimate use,
OF times OF international peace. But W,
do want 20 feel that there is a grea
body OF citizens who have received a
least the most rldimentary and neces
sary forms OF military training; thai
they viii be ready 70 form themselves
into fighting force at the call OF al,
nation; and that the nation has the mu
nitions and supplies with which 20 equlI
them without delay should Il be neces
sary TO call them into action. We Wlsl
10 supply them with the training the,
need. and We think we can DO 30 with
out calling them at any time too lonI
away from their civilian pursuits.
Plan for Citizen sOIdiery.
Il Is with this idea. with this concep
ton, In mind that the plans have beer
made which It win be my privilege tS
lay before the congress at It's next ses
sion. That plan calls for only such an In
crease In the regular army Of the Unltet
States as experience has proved to be re
iquired for the performance OF the neces
sary duties OF the army In the Philip
pines, In Hawaii. In Porto Rico, upon tn