Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-10-08
PRESIDENT OUTLINES
STAND ON DEFENSE
Tells Naval Advisory Board the
Nation Wants Real Pre-
paredness.
SEE PROVING GROUNDS.
Secretary Daniels Accompanies Experts
On Trip Of Inspection.

President Wilson outlined his atti-
tude toward the national defense ques-
ton yesterday TO the new advisory
board of the Navy. He believed. he said.
the whole nation was convinced that
We ought to be prepared, not for war,
but for defense. and very adequately
prepared"
The President received the members
Of the Board, headed by Thomas A.
Edison. after their preliminary confer
enuce with Secretary Daniels and navy
officials The board later went with
Secretary Daniels to the naval proving
grounds. at Indian Head. Nd, on an in
spection tour.
There is very little that can say to
YOU" President Wilson said. except
to give you a very cordial welcome
and to express my very great pleasure
in this association of laymen with the
Government. But do want to say this:
Il think the whole nation is convinc-
ed that we ought to be prepared, not for
war, but for defense. and very ade-
quately prepared; and that the prepa-
ration for defense is not merely a tech
nical matter, il is not matter that the
army and navy alone can take care Of.
but a mater in which we must have the
cooperation of the best brains and
knowledge Of the country outside the
official service, of the government as
we'll as inside For my part. / feel that
it is only in the spirit of a true democ-
racy that we get together to lend such
voluntary aid, the sort of aid that comes
from interest. from knowledge of the
varied circumstances that are involved
in handling a nation.
Il want you to feel, those of you who
are coming to the assistance of the pro
fessional officers of the government
that we have a very serious purpose.
that we have not asked you to associate
yourself with US except for very def
mite and practical purpose, to get you
to give us your best independent
thoughts as TO how we ought to make
ready for any duty that may fall upon
teh nation.
II do not have to expound it to you
you know as well as ! do the spirit
OF America. The spirit of America is
one OF peace, but one of independence.
Il is as pirit that is profoundly con
cerned with peace, because it can ex-
press itself best only in peace. II is
the spirit of peace and good will and of
human freedom; but il is also the spirit
of nation that is self-conscious, that
knows and loves its mission i'll the
world, and that knows that it must
Il 2 49, @T,.a
so il seems to me that we are not
working as those who would change
anything of America, but as those who
would safeguard everything in America
| know that you will enter into confer
ence with the officers of the navy in
that spirit and with that feeling. and it
makes me proud, gentlemen, that the
busy men of America. the men who
stand at the front Of their professions.
should be willing in this way to asso-
ciate themselves voluntarily with the
government in the task i'm which it
needs all sorts of expert and serious
advice. Nothing ought to be done in
this by any single group of persons
everything ought to be done by all of us
AnAtSu tosetHeF- anu welcome tnls
association in the most serious and
grateful spirit
The President was warmly applaud
ed by his hearers. Secretary Daniels
then introduced each member OF the
board to the President and he shook
hauds with them all The trip to In
dian Head was made on the president
ial yacht, the Mayfiower. members ol
Secretary Daniels advisory council oi
the party.