The Washington times., 1915-11-28
URGES NAVY BIGGER
THAN WILSON PLANS
Security League Also to Ask
Congress to Go Further for
Strong Army.

CHICAGO. Nov. 2S.-Far reaching
deihands for immediate national de-
ssnse developments will be presented
to Congress soon after It convenes.
Delegates to the conference of the
National Security League have deter
mined to present resolutions to Con-
sress carrying commentator of
President wilson's preparedness plans
as far as they go. but demanding
more
The resolutions based on reports of
the army. navy. and militia commit
tees of the league will demand:
Legislative measures for national
defense should embrace all persons
liable to military service. thus pre-
pairing through the State militia.
proper material from which a greater
army and navy may be drawn when
needed.
Adequate reserve materials for war
be maintained in readiness for emer-
sencies at all times.
Would Follow Experts.
The saving of sso.ooo.ooo expected
to result from a curtailment of the
pension list during the next eight
years be expended in national defense
without further taxation.
That since the necessity for military
defense has been recognized, legisla-
tive action be had at once along the
lines set forth by the experts work:
More than 200 delegates. represent
ing most OF the States and all Of the
larger cities were at the convention
The conference closed with a banquet
at which the speakers were Luke f.
Wright. former Secretary Of War:
senator; President s. standwood Men.
ken, of tho league. and Vice President
Henry A. Wise Wood.
mo Politics In League"
g. Stanwood Menken. president Of the
league. said in part:
"In our work we have no politics eN-
cept preparedness, no creed but
America. We believe We should pre-
pare to fight. and II need be will fight
to prepare.
ut is clearly beyond discussion and
established as true that In terms OF
lutely defenseless against any first class
power To order our ships In the At,
lantic into action against either England
or Germany, or those in the Pacinc
against Japan. would be to decree the
murder OF brave men who serve negli-
gent people with courage and ability:
Like conditions exist as to our land
forces. which are deficient in officers.
men and all the material of war.
''In the present emergency we protest
against tho spectacle of our army and
by the edict Of Bureaucracy. we have
right to know, and insist on learning.
all they can tell u.s.
Navy Boards Report.
The navy committee presented a re-
Port emphasizing the urgency for i'm
nitdiste actiCn to restore our navy to
second plaA, among the navies Of the
world"
THE ships In commission in the whole
Atlantic feet are 800 men short, the
report goes on. "The other fleets are
: in about the same condition; and th,s
full commission. II Is a physical I'M
possibility today TO commission our re-
serve ships"
fiye-year program would require 3oVO
men and 400 officers. and 1t takes from
four to seven years to train the men
The whole increase. the report says
should be made Immediately.
II was said that the United states has
available In officers from all sources
only about % per cent the strength or
England and 40 per cent that OF Ger
ut is to be notcd,' the report s5ys.
that the published program calls 1or
two battle cruisers for this year. There
Is an entire unanimity IN the serves n,,
on the point that " We are to nave any
hattie cruisers we must have at least
a division OF four. Two such ships wo1d
he utterly unable to perform the service
for which battle cruisers are designer,
as all naval authorities agree that Tour
Is the effective number.
while a liberal building program
Ia in progress there should be made an
immediate increase IN personnel anu a
very radical upbuiiding Of the naval
militia and the naval reserve
Report On the Army.
The report OF the militia committee
takes the position that the condition OF
preparedness should be made to be
beneficial to all men Of military age
when following the pursuits OF peace
while fitting them for military service.
The first step, they say. should be en-
rollmen by States OF all men liable to
service, and unlil the country comes 70
realize the Importance OF such enroll
ment reliance should not be placed upon
any method which IL dependent. as now.
upon individual volunteer enort
The committee recommends that the
"original idea Of the National Guard
as a school for officers be losterea'
and pleads for "a more universal recog-
milton on the part of employers ana en-
ployed of the duty to prepare Tor use
fulness along the lines OF preparation
to serve IN some military rd-da caPssiS P3hs S,; ~
of the state to take action, as II Is re-
sponsible for Its population TO act III
way that will induce the desire 70 oe
National Guardsmen and continentals'
Urges Definite Policy.
The report recommends the adop-
ton without delay of a definite mill
tary policy for the United states. The
report, in part. follows:
we do not possess sufficient re-
liable information to pass definitely
ON the program, but we believe 1t
may be made the basis of proper flu
turo development II the details are
so worked out as to agree with the
recommendations of the experts con-
stituting the General sta OF the army.
1--WE approve the suggestions for an
increase Of the regular army. We are
of the orinion that this feature of the
program should be broader and that
Immediate steps should be taken To
add largely to the number of officers
and to Increase the number of young
men being educated for officers. We
alEo approve OF proper steps being
taken to provide an adequate reserve
OF supplies Of all kinds.
Approves Continental Army.
We approve the creation OF an ade-
euats force OF thoroughly trained
citizen soldiers under national con-
troll IN accordance with plans to be