New Britain herald., 1915-11-05

National Guard itself would be used
 as part of the instrumentality by
 Which training would be given the
 citizens who enlisted under the new
 conditions, and I should hope and ex-
 pect that the legislation by which all ] this would be accomplished would put the National Guard itself upon
 a better and more permanent foot
 ing than it has ever been before, giv- ing it not only the recognition which 1 it deserves, but a more definite sup port from the national government
 and more definite connection with
 the military organization of the na- tion.
 1 Part of Nation.
 1 What We all wish to accomplish
 is that the forces of the nation should indeed be part of the nation and not
 a separate professional force, and the
 chief cost of the system would not be in the enlistment or in the train ] ing of the men, but in the providing l of ample equipment in case it should 1 be necessary to call all forces into the field.
 1 Moreover, it has been American policy time out of mind to look to the 1 Navy as the first and chief line of 1 defense. The Navy of the United States is already very great and ef- l ficient force. Not rapidly, but slow 1 ly, with careful attention our naval force has been developed until the navy of the United States stands 1 recognized as one of the most eff 1 cient and notable of the modern time. All that is needed in order to bring it to point of extraordinary force i G md off nj xxrifh th.a | other navies of the world is that we
 have long been pursuing, and that chief of all we should have 8 definite policy of development, not made from year to year but looking well into ] the future and planning for a deti- | nite consummation. We can and 1 should profit in all that We do by the l experience and example that have been made obvious to us by the ml4- itary and naval events of the actual present It is not merely matter of building battleships and cruisers and submarines, but also a matter Of making sure that We shall have the Adequate equipment of men and mu-
 nitions and supplies for the vessels
 we build and intend to build. Part 1 of our problem is the problem of what l may call the mobilization of the resources of the nation at the proper time if 1t should ever be
 necessary to mobilize them for na- tional defense. We shall study efficien-
 cy and adequate equipment as care
 fully as we shall study number and
 size of our ships, and I believe that plans already in part made public by
 the Navy Department are plans which the whole nation can approve with ra- tiOnal enthusias sm
 No Panic in Sight.
 No thoughtful man feels any panic
 haste in this matter. The country is
 not threatened from any quarter. She
 stands in friendly relations with all | the world. Her resources are known and her self-respect and her capacity 1 to care for her own citizens and her l own rights. There is no fear amongst
 us. Under the new-world conditions 1 we have become thoughtful of the things which all reasonable men con- l slider necessary for security and self defense on the part of every nation
 confronted with the great enterprise
 of human liberty and independence. l That is all.
 'Is the plan We propose sane and l reasonable and suited to the needs of
 the hour? Does it not conform the i anclent traditions of America? Has l any better plan been proposed than
 this program that we now place be- fore the country? In it there is no pride of opinion. It represents the best professional and expert judg- 1 ment of the country. But I am not so
 much interested in programs as l
 am in safeguarding at every cost the i good faith and honor of the country. l If men differ with me in this vital l matter, I shall ask them to make it clear how far and in what way they are interested in making the perman- 1 ent interests of the country safe
 against disturbance.
 l Support of Country.
 ''In the fulfillment of the program
 I propose I shall ask for the hearty support of the country, of rank and 1 file of America, of men of all shades 1 of political opinion. For my position in this important matter is different
 from that of the private individual
 who is free to speak his own thoughts
 and to risk his own opinions in this matter. We are here dealing with things that are vital to the life of l America itself. In doing this I have tried to. purge my heart of all per ] sonal and selfish motives. For the time being, I speak IS the trustee and
 guardian of a nations rights, charg- ed with the duty of speaking for that