The Washington herald., 1915-11-05
PRESIDENT GIVES PLAN
TO DEFEND COUNTRY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

pared. but not for war, but only for de-.
fense; and with the thought constantly
! In our minds that the principles we hoId
| most dear can be achieved by the SLOW
| processes Of history only In the kindly
and wholesome atmosphere Of peace. and
not by the use of hostile force. The
mission Of America In the world IL
essentially a mission Of peace and
good will among men. She has become
the home and asylum Of men of all
creeds and races. Within her hospitabe
borders they have found homes and
conKenial associations and freedom and
wide and cordial welcome, and they
have become part Of the bone and slnew
and spirit OF America itself. America
has been made up out of the nations OF
the world and is the friend Of the nations
OF the world.
But We feel JUSTIFIED In preparing our
selves to vindicate our right to inde-
pendent and unu1olested action By max
Ing the force that is in US ready for
assertion.
And We know that we can do this
In way that will be itself an illustration
OF the American spirit. In accordance
with our American traditions We want
and shall work for only an army adequate
to the constant and legitimate uses OF
times of international peace. But we
do want to feel that there Is a great
body of citizens who have received at
least the most rudimentary and necessary
forms of military training; that they will
be ready to form themselves into Ii
nghing force at the call OF the nation;
and that the nation has the munitions
and supplies with which to equip them
without delay should II be necessary to
call them into action. We wish to supply
them with the training they need. ana
We think We can do so without calling
them at any time too LONG away from
their civilian pursuits.
1T Is with this idea, with this
conception, in mind that the plans
have been made which II will be
my privilege to lay before the Con-
gress at its next session. That plan
calls for only such an increase in the
regular army OF the United States as
experience has proved to be required for
the performance OF the necessary duties
of the army in the Philippines, In Hawaii
in Porto Rico. upon the borders OF the
United States, at the coast fortifications
and at the military posts OF the interior.
For the rest. It calls for the training
within the next three years of a force OF
10000 citizen soldiers TO be raised in
annual contingents of I33O00, who would
be asked to enlist for three years with
the colors and three years on furIough
listment with the colors would not be
organized a standing force. but would
be expected merely TO undergo intensive
training for very brief period OF each
year. Their training would take place in
immediate association with the organized
units OF the regular army II would have
no touch of the amateur about II, neither
would il exact OF the volunteers more
than they could givesin any one year
from their civilian pursuits.
Ard none OF this would be done In
such a way as IN the slightest degree
to supersede or subordinate our present
serviceable and efficient National Guard.
On the contrary. the National Guard
itself would be used as part of the in
strumentality by which training would
be given the citizens who enlisted under
the new conditions. and I should hope
and expect that the legislation by which
all this would be accomplished would put
the National Guard itself upon better
and more permanent footing than It has
ever been before. giving It not only the
recognition which 1t deserves, but more