El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-13
TAXES HERALD
FOR HIS TEXT.
George Maxwell Makes APP
peal For Better Defen-
sive Army and Navy.


Americas unpreparedness. for war
and practical plan 10 make this coun-
try ready for emergencies, at the same
time fighting the internal foe Of the
desert, the flood and the diminishing
timber supply, was discussed by
George H. Maxwell at the chamber Of
commerce banquet Monday night. Mr.
Maxwell, who is the director of the
National Irrigation association, was
guest of honor at the banquet (which
was held in the Hotel PasO del Norte
banquet hall The dinner was the most
largely attended of the year.
Music for the occasion was furnished
by the chamber Of commerce quartet,
Mrs. Parvln Witte, Mrs. ". W. Evans.
ParVln Nltte, T. a. Christian and A. i.
Sievers. Richard Burgess acted as toast
master and introduced the first speaker
judge Dan NJ Jackson. who told OF the
trip TO san Francisco, the fight fO- the
American National Livestock assOcia-
ton convention and the final landing
Of the convention for FL Paso in 1916.
Herald Line Is His Text.
~ single line in the evening paper
would make a subject for a whole ad-
dress on the national defence problem"
said Mr.. Maxwell, the next speaker.
The line reads; To remain unprepared
IS the surest way to invite national
disaster 1 wish that 1 had some sort
of branding iron with which I could
brand that thought on the brain of
every man, woman and child in this
country.
L want YOU to understand thar the
criminal, senseless and idiOtic state of
unpreparedness that this country is
now in is not the fault of any party
II is your fault 1t is you people here
tonight and the people IN New York
and san Francisco and all over the
country who are TO blame. An army. a
navy, a reserve, that is what is NEEDED
what Is absolutely essential The army
Is good 50 Tar as II goes, but II IS too
small. II is absolutely foolish for the
people of this country TO 20 along with
their dollar chasing and count on our
should spend less on chewing gum and
moving picture shows and put il into
an efficient navy.
Not Single Battle Cruiser.
we have not a single battle cruiser
in our navy and. If there is one thing
that this war, TO date, has proved il is
the prime Importance of the battle
cruiser Our coast defences are not
coast defences, they are merely har-
Dor defences- A huge force could land
at almost any point on either coast and
come right in behind our coast de-
fences
Years ago they used to talk Of the
yellow peril There was none then,
but there is one now. 1t is not the peril
of Japan but the peril Of Japan with
China behind her People scott, they
call il jingoism, but il is not jingoism;
il is real menace and one that. as sure
as the sun rises. this country will some
I'd ana at 10 lar future QdE-hLll
have to contend with
Plan for Defence.
TO meet the needs Of this country
propise- First, a first line Of de-
fence 10 be the regular army, as il is
now or as future conditions should re-
quire IL TO be- second. a second line
Of defence in a well organized force Of
men. running into the millions, who.
while being in the nature Of a reserve
as the Swiss people are all reserves, are
at the same time doing constructive
work. such as retaining the deserts.
draining sWampS. building canals and
caring for and perpetuaung the forests:
and Inlrds a Lhlru line or defence that
is true farmer class. men whom the
government gives expert training TO
on small tracts Of government land.
There must be a reserve. a reserve
that Is instantly ready to respond 10
the call Of the government But we
cannot have the European system
where the young men are taken from
commercial pursuits and learn nothing
but the art Of war. Give them a chance
to serve their government and at the
same time do constructive work and the
result viii be that the very best class
Of men will flock into the service"
Guests Present.
Those attending the banquet were.
George H. Maxwell judge Dan II. Jack
son, Richard Burgess. Burt Orndorff,
J. B. Paden, R J.. Obear, / A Shedd,
Leslie Reed, J. L Ely, R. A LOwen-
Capt William Z. Hunt, James A Dick.
H D. Slater, DR.. H F. Wright, Leo
Ferlet, Louis St J. Thomas, J. Kra-
kauer. Robert Krakauer. +. W Nor
5, ). Nichols, A K. Adams, A Cour-
chesne. L N. Lawson, s. J. Freuden-
thai. Walter kOhlberg, Henry T Bowie
5. P. Weisiger. E. A Shelton. F. II.
4AaIe; Leo L k7Loh!berg, W y Ellis
h z. Christie T. A Courchesne, J. J.
Muudy, Felix MARTINEZ. W G. Roe q