Norwich bulletin., 1915-11-05
President Wilson on National Defence
SAYS UNITED STATES HAS NO
 AGGRESSIVE PURPOSES
BUT MUST BE PREPARED
To Defend Itself to Assure "FuII Lib erty and Self DeveIopment"-Given an Enthusiastic Reception at Man. haitian Club Banquet.

New York, Nov. 4.-President Will son opened the administration cam paign for it's national defense pro- gramme in a comprehensive and care ly-planned address delivered here tonight at the Manhattan Club ban quet. He declared soIemnly that the United States had no aggressive pur- poses but must be prepared to defend itself to assume full liberty and self development" Significantly, he said that with ourselves in this great matter we associate all the peoples of our own hemisphere" adding that I've wish not only for the United States but for them the fullest freedom of independent growth of action
 Enthusiastic Reception.
 The president was received with en- thusiastic applause as he entered the aanquet hall and during his address. The hall was decorated with American flags and even the galleries were filled with democrats happy over their vic tory in New York city. When the president rose to speak everyone jumped up and applauded again and again until he was forced to signal for quiet.
 Force Speaks Out Loud.
 Within a year." said the president, I've have witnessed what we did not think possible, a great European con- flict involving many of the greatest nations of the world. The influences of the great war are everywhere in the air. All Europe is in battle. Force everywhere speaks out with a loud and imperious voice in a titanic struggle of government and from one end of our own dear country to the other men force is, how far we are prepared to maintain ourselves against any inter ference with our national action of de- velopment."
 Asks Support of Programme.
 The president called upon men of all shades of political opinion" to. rally to the support of the programme. He said it represented the best profession al and expert opinion of the country and he gave warning that 'if men diff fer with me in this vital matter I shall ask them to make it clear how far and in what way they are interested in making the permanent interests of the country safe against disturbance es.''
 No Need to Feel Panic Stricken.
 There is no need for the country to feel panic stricken, the president de- clared, because it stands in friendly relations with the world. He spoke of the United States "as a nation be- ing too big and generous to be exact ing, but yet courageous enough to de- fend its rights and the liberties of its people wherever assailed or involved"
 Outline of Programme.
 Outlining the defense programme, the president said it included an in crease in the standing army, the train ing within the next three years of 400,0 ,000 citizen soldiers to be raised in annual forces of 133,000 and the strengthening of the national guard. He laid particular emphasis on the need of ample equipment.
 In addition to speaking on nation al defense, the president attacked ''men who love other countries better than America" and men who stir up religious and sectarian antagonism. He declared that such men should be called to a reckoning Just before the dinner the president shook hands with all the guests including Charles F. Murphy.