The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-06
T. R. SEES PERIL TO
DEFENCE IN WILSON
Says "Frightful Mishandling"
Has Caused Navy to De-
teriOrate so Per Cent.
FOR ARMY OF 100000

Col. Theodore Roosevelt amplihed
his we'll known views on preparedness
In a statement made public yesterday
In which he charges that the efficiency
OF Uncle Sans navy has been allowed
BY "frightful mishandling' to deterlo-
rate probably 80 yer cent. during the
first two years OF the Wilson Admins
tration.
He believes. he says, the United
States hould start right away 10 make
itself the second naval power In the
world and should provide for a stand
Ing army Of at least 250.0OO. He also
indicates now no feels about the FALL
Ing OF the Ford peace party and says
tho real danger to this nation from
the standpoint Of preparedness for self
defence and OF the performance OF in
transitional duty In represented by
President Wilson and 70 a lesser degree
by former President William H. Taft.
Col. Roosevelt said
II emphatically believe that the ques-
ton OF national preparedness Is one
that transcends party lines. think
both Republicans and Democrats should
put aside craftsmanship In the matter and
that Congress should reject the utterly
inadequate measures. not even half
measures. set forth in the Presidents
Manhattan Club speech and liould give
a genuine measure of preparedness by
providing not within five years but at
once for u navy that will make US
he second naval power In the world {.
by securing such reorganization of the
navy Us will prevent n repetition of
such friKhtful mlshandllng Of the ny
AS that which caused IL 10 dcterior,te
probably 80 per cent. tn efficiency during
1913 and 1914: by securing provision
at once for a professional army Of at
loast a quarter OF II million men, an
army which. relatively to the population
OF the United States. would he no bigger
than the police force OF New York Is
relatively to the population OF the city
of New York.
We should abandon at once the at
tempt to create an Inefficient volunteer
force such as the so-called Continental
Army or any similar organization. which
will only be an inefficient rival of the
National Guard. We should put back
Of the Regular army a real reserv. OF
trained troops. We should provide for
a very large ircreas" Of officers and
finally, III my judgment. We should work
steadily toward the only thoroughly ade-
quate and proper system FOR "A democ-
racy. the. system OF universal prepara-
tion by universal service on the lines OF
the plans successfully applied in the
real democracies of Switzerland and
Australia. adapting the system to our
own needs and uses"
After referring TO the Ford argosy
az "a ridiculous and mischlevous jitney
peace junket." the Colonel continues
And Mr.. Bryan advocates this coun-
try acting In Il way hat would in
evitably and Immediately rcduce IL 10
below the present Chinese level. Messrs.
Bryan and Ford. however. do not rep
resent the chief danger from the stand
point ~ preparedness. for Il Is quite Inn
possible that they can make any perma-
nent appeal TO any persons save those
SO ~incurably foolish that they really
ought 20 live In the more backward por-
: tons OF China.
"It IL MIR. Wilson and to q lesser de-
gree Mr.. TAFT who represent the real
danger - this nation from the stand
point OF preparedness FOR sclf-ief.nce
aud 81 the performance of International
duty"