The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-29
srriminal Deterioration" in
Navy in Past Two Years
Is Charged.
BLAMES SEA DEATHS
on ADMINISTRATION
Asserts Stand Toward Mex,
ico Made Germany Dis
regardful.

The Roosevelt Garrison tilt over the
s,,,,,o rsb,ke administered on Thurs
a,v TO Majo General Leonard WOOD
sor inviting Col. Roosevelt to speak at /
tia Plattsburg training camp was con-
tinued yesterday by the Colonel with
ststemen, in which he charged that
the Administration had permitted
.criminal deterioration" Of the om-
c,ency Of the navy and sneered al
President Wilson for his notes TO Ter
many and Mexico. Col. Roosevelt said
that Mr.. Wilson's notes were ultima
tums" that brought the nation into
dsrepute and were the real cause OF
the loss Of American lives on ships
that we're torpedoed by German sub
marines. He added that stern words
,hould be used only by those who
could back them with strength.
Secretary Garrison In statement
yesterday said that he was as ardent
An advocate of national preparedness
= the Colonel, but that he would stop
.hort OF recommending that our pres
snt state OF preparedness makes II
desirable TO engage IN war with four
or five other nations.
Col. Roosevelt, replying last night.
challenged the Secretary OF war 10
show where he had made such a re-
mark, demanded that the Secretary
demonstrate his belief In preparedness
nv getting his own Department In or
der. and compared the peace achieve
ments OF his own administration with
that OF President Wilson.
Colonel Jabs Garrison Again.
Col Roosevelt's statement follows:
-Mr Garrison now wishes to disso-
cate himself from the Administration.
He is the servant OF the President. Just
A Mr. Daniels is Each servant does
what the President authorizes or permits
him 10 do or say and the President Is
fully represented in both.
"If Mr. Garrison does not object to the
plea made for preparedness In the
Pattsburg speech. then l can only
gather that he does object to my protest
against hyphenated Americanism. FOR
the speech was practically confined 10
these two subjects. except for very
fec,iye action to stop the murder of our
men and women in Mexico and on the
high seas
LET Mr.. Garrison be concrete. lie
says he will go az far as l VIII Tor
preparedness | assume, therefore, tnat
he heartily backs up my proposal tor
universal military service. IL so !
heartily congratulate him and assure him
that his position is proper
Il said also that for thirteen months
We had failed in any way to prepare.
Does Mr.. Garrison deny this? Does
he deny that President Wilson's message
" last December was an elaborate pea
against such preparedness? IL Mr.. Gar
rison does deny this. then he must use
i words without relation to their real
II meaning
Challenge 10 Secretary of War.
again, Mr.. Garrison, in his conclud-
ing sentence, says that my idea is that
our present state of unpreparedness
makes i desirable that We should &c
10 war with four or five different ma
uons, | challenge Mr.. Garrison to
eve one quotation from anything ] have
ever written or spoken in which | have
advocated going to war with four oi
n'e dlnetent nations or In which have
ever advocated going to war at all be-
cause OF our unpreparedness.
Tie knows | never said anything oi
.he KIND and he would do we'll hereafter
10 attempt to be at least approximately
exact when he purports TO quote what
say or IN express my feelings.
As Mr. Garrison Is engaged in an at
@ck on me ! Will point out to him on,
TWO things he can himself AFFORD Il
explain,