The Clayton news. (Clayton, N.M.) 19??-1954, 1915-10-09
NEW NAVAL BOARD ORGANIZED
President Wilson Outlined Attitude
Toward National Defense in Stir
ring Address TO Members.

ring AuOFeSS 10 mtutDcFS.
Washington. Oct. g. President
wilson outlined his attitude toward
the national defens. question today
TO the new advisory board of the
navy. He believes, he said, the
whole nation was Convinced that
we ought TO be prepared not for war
but for defense and very adequately
prepared"
II want you to feel" President
Wilson continued, those of you who
are coming TO the assistance of the
professional officers of the govern
ment, that we have a very serious
purpose, that we have not asked you
TO associate yourself with us except
for a very definite and practical pur-
pose, 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 the nation.
Il 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; it is spirit that is
profoundly concerned with peace, be-
cause it can express itself best only
in peace 1t is the spirit of peace
and good will and OF human freedom
but it is also the spirit of nation
that is self-conscious, that knows
and loves its mission in the world,
and that knows that it must COM
mand the respect of the world,
80 it seems TO me that we are
not working as those who would
change anything America, but only
as those who would safeguard every
thing in America. | know that you
will enter into conference with the
officers of the navy in this 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
b. willing in this way to associate
themselves voluntarily with the gov
ernment in the task in which al
sorts of expert and serious advice
Nothing ought to be done in this by
any single group of personal---very.
thing ought to be done by all of Us
united together-and welcome this
association in the most serious anC
grateful spirit
The president was warmly ap'
plauded by his hearers. Secretar!
Daniels then introduced each mem
Der of the board TO the president.
The president received the mem
bers of the board headed by IhOma
\. Edison after their preliminar,
conference with Secretary Daniel
and navy officials The board late
went with Secretary Daniels to tn
navy proving grounds at India
Head, Md. on an inspection tour.
There is very little that ca
say to you,' President Wilson salC
except to give you very cOrdit
welcome and TO express my Yer
graat pleasure in this associatio
of laymen of the government. Br
do want to say this:
II think the whole nation is cor
vinced that we ought to be pre-
pared. not for war, but for defens
and very adequately prepared; an
that the preparation for defense
not merely a technical matter, it
not matter that the army and nav
alone can take care, but matter
which we must have cooperation
the best brains and knowledge of II
country outside the official servi'
If the government as we'll as insld
OF my part feel that it is only
the spirit of true democracy tn
We get together 10 lend such volul
tary aid that comes from intere'
from a knowledge Of the varied CT
,lmstances that are involved
landing a nation.