Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-11-09
SOLE METHOD OF
ESCAPE OFFERED
BY WILSON PLAN
ASSISTANT SECRETARY or WAR IN
ADDRESS DISCUSSES NEW DE-
FENsE POLICY IN VIEW.
SAYS lT Is ONLY WAY OUT WITHOUT
UNDERTAKING TO PASS COM
PULSORY SERVICE LAWS.

| San Francisco. Cal, Nov 9.=Nationa
defense founded upon such a system a. tn,
administration proposed continental
army, offers the only possible avenue ol
escape from compulsory military servic,
for all citizens and IT. attendant evils. As.
sistant Secretary Breckenridge Of the wal
department declared today, addressing th,
Guard association.
''ln the last year." said Mr. Breckln-
ridge, 1--WE have seen all the manifold re-
sources of nations welded into one instru-
menI and -ubordlnated 10 one will for the
waging ot war on a scale never before wit
messed IN history. II the liberties of re-
puhiics are to be- maintained their miIitar,
resources must be adequately translated
into military strength. For the first time
m the history of our country a settled and
permanent military policy i proposed for
the nation. There are those who say il
will not work The answer Is that II viii
have to work. And furthermore. that II
II will not work, then nothing adequate
can be had except under the compellinp
hand of mhtarsm that none Of u De
sire to contemplate.
II say 10 YOU that this proposed military
policy. imperfect If II be, l. the product OF
earnest patr"its on whom our constitution
and the laws have placed responsibility
for working out Just such scheme They
have done their best. 4 appeal for your
patriotic support. for If this result. which
\ the product Of - much labor, Of such in
finite counsellIng and conferences, which
ha, received the imprlmature of the pre=i-
dent. of the heads Of the legislative mill
tary committees and of the sober opinion
ot the press Of the country. fail Of adop
ton, then We have chaos. inaction and the
continuing compromise of the safety Of thu
republic
IN opening hi remarks, Secretary
Brecklnrldge read letter from Secretary
Garrison, reerettrng the latter's inability
to attend the convention and urging sup
port for the war departments defense
plans
"Those interested in proper military
preparation and precaution.' the letter
SAID, "have an unprecedented opportunity
to accomplish something of incalculable
value 10 the country
"We must lay aside any feeling we nav
have concerning nom essentials We mu-t
show our dlsinterested public spirit and
onr patriotism by getting together on a
common ground for viewpoint, and by
rendering mutual assistance for tesults.
u stand ready to do this, and feel an
abiding confidence that YOU also do.
Being thus actuated by the right spirit
and working together to accomplish III.
right end we may rest assured that sue
cess will be merited and achieved
Secretary Breckenridge paid high tribute
to the spirit that had kept the National
Guard alive and active and built It up Il
an organization 10000 strong. despit,
public apathy toward the question Of mill
tary preparedness in days Of peace
Every since the Spanish war" ne said
there has been q group Of men. unselfish
persistent. energetic. that IN season anc
ont Of season and always without an,
great favor. have dlnned INTO the ears o.
the American public the now apparent nee,
! Tor expansion and Improvement Of the Ian,
forces Of the nation Today a. a Nationa
iu9rd~man ! proclaim the credit that /
due TO the guard for nursing and keepin,
alive ~ thu country an essential and rea
sonable military spirit and appreciation o
the truths Of military history when the,
were most needed"
IN outlining the gigantic task of work
lne ont an adequate military policy fs
The nation the speaker said the Swiss mill
Itary system was not adaptable to Amer
can needs. as the federal government coul
not control the school system of the coun
try and the constitution provided for stat
troops. while the Australian system woul
have taken too long = time 10 turn ou
trained soldiers. Faced with these prob
lens. he added the originators of the pol
icy had fallen hack upon what the presI
dent had defined a. "a citizenrv traine
and accustomed to arms" and aIwa
ready To take the field This. he said. wa
the theory upon which was founded N
plan 10 organize continental army I
100000 men.