The Washington times., 1915-11-16
TO ENROLL MILLION
women IN LEAGUE
Nationwide Campaign Begins
to Support Plans For
National Preparedness.

One million women organised to work
for national preparedness before Janu-
ary I--this is the object Of the nation
wide campaign undertaken by members
Of the women's section of tho Navy
League.
Already %,ooo are enrolled. and wom-
en- representing almost every form Of
feminine activity are already engaged
In the work.
Impetus was given the campaign by
tho conference yesterday at the New
willard Hotel. ending last night with
. brilliant reception.
The reception was one Of the most un-
usual affairs that has been given In the
District In the interest Of a big public
cause, because In the receiving line were
representatives Of practically every
women's organization-the suffragists,
the anti-suffragists, the patriotic. social
and economic organizations Of women,
as well as a host Of socia leaders. ana
q fair sprinkling OF men In public Ire.
psmon Mrs HYfn L ,,s sSStt mUs. Mr.. g. storr H p
Hle1ander. M Anus Mrs. ~ RoSeTs Sase' NJ, thompson
Mrs. George Barnett. Mrs. Frank ID;
Odenheimer, Mrs. Reynolds 7. Hall. and
Mrs; Ashurst were prominent In the
8. M. c.. and Lieut.. David lie Breton,
L. 8. N. made the introductions.
Addresses were made at tine afternoon
session of the defense conference by
tions and Miss Mabel Boardman de:
tailed the work Of the American Red
Cross. Franklin d. Roosevelt. Aseist-
ant Secretary of the Navy. outiin.c the
present undefended condition Of the Sa-
ton and the plans of the Navy De-
partment for meeting II.
Plans Of Navy.
He said that this occasion was the
first time he had been able as repre-
sentative Of the National Government,
to meet the situation four square and
tell exactly what could be expected.
The navy, at present, he declared. could
not man the ships It already has. In
case of war It would require more than
two months to get the ships into con-
dition for defense. There IS a shortage
of more than 1000 officers and men
needed for the first line o: defense.
Tho plans OF the department are d.
vided into four parts. he announced.
The frst concerns the officers and men
made to keep In touch with the officers
and men who have served and are re-
tired or have resigned or been dis
The second division concerns the
other Federal services that might be
utilized in connection with active work
by the fleet. This includes the coast
guard. the light house service and ,se
tions like the Chesapeake oyster reSu-
iating fleet and the various city haroor
patrols.
Intensive Training.
The third division relates to inten-
sIve training which the navy Ia to
eive through the medium Of instruction
"camps' aboard ship 1t is the inten-
tIon to have men meet on board shir
and work for three weeks or month
or even moro for the purpose Of In.
structing them in the naval adaptation
Of fifty or more specialized forms o,
activity that enter into the naval ser
vice and to keep In touch with men SC
trained with the idea Of calling on them
for the service in which they have beer
instructed In time Of need.
The fourth division relates entirely q
auxiliary ships. The navy has lis'
OF 100 ships flying the American flag
ana it has recently been discovered
that ninety-eight out of this 100 are
also carried on the list In the War De
TRrtment as possible transports. 1T
her adress later Miss Mabel Boardmar
stated that one Of the navy's hundred
ships Is also carried on the Red Cros:
list as available for hospital service.
America First.
Rear Admiral Casper Goodrich. U.
N, made a plea for support for new
organization to be known as the Ameri
can Society. the purpose Of which Is t.
preserve the idea OF America First.
Greetings from the various women's or
sanizations were presented by Mrs. vii
liam Cumming Story. for the Daughter
OF the American Revolution; Mrs. o. II
y. Belmont for the Political Equalit!
League; Mrs. William Alexander for tn
Special Relief Society: Mrs. Reynolds 7
Hall for the Society Of Navy Sponsors
Mrs. Frank d. Odenheimer for tn
United Daughters of the Confederacv
Mrs. Arthur NJ. Dodge, for the Nationa
Association Opposed to Woman's Suf
frage: Mrs. Ada L. Weiss for the Legio
OF Loyal Women. and Mrs. Catherin
Roche for the Ladies OF the G. A. II
A feature Of the meeting was the sing
ing of Miss Vida Milholland, and tn
nrrhosfrul pupnbers under the direct iO