The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-09
.FAV0RS ADEQUATE DEFENSE.
PRESIDENT DECLARES HIMSELF
ON IMPORTANT NATTER.
Is for Peace, but Believes That Unit
cd States Should be Prepared to
Command Respect OF Other Nations
and Ready to Act i'm Emergency.

Washington, Oct. 6.-PreSident
Wilson, at the first gathering of the
new naval advisory board, announced
himself today in favor of having the
United States adequately prepared for
defense Ito cOmmanu the respect Of
other nations for our rights" Later
it became known that the president
plans to make for defense" the basis
of his advocacy of a strong army
and navy, and that he will outline his
views more specially before the
cOnvening of congress.
The president addressed the men,
bers of the advisory board at the
White House, congratulating them on
beginning their work. Previously the
board had met at the navy depart
ment with Thomas A. Edison presid-
ing and listened to an address by
Secretary Daniels. Later they took
trip down the Potomac river On
the presidential yacht Mayflower to
the Indian Head gun proving grounds
One Of the sights witnessed there was
the firing Of the navys most modern
weapon, 14-inch SO calibre gun. A
newly designed machine rifle also was
brought into action.
Tonight members of the board held
their second meeting in Secretary
Daniels office. Various subjects were
discussed and plans for organization
were taken under advisement An
other session will be held tomorrow.
There is very little that L can
say to you," the president said, sex
cept to give you a very cordial well
come and to express my very great
pleasure in this association of lay
men with the government. But 1
do want to say this:
u think the whole nation is con-
vinced that we ought to be prepared,
not for war, but for defense. and very
adequately prepared; and that the
preparation for defense is not merely
a technical matter; it is not a matter
that the army and navy alone can
take care Of, but a matter 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 l feel that it is only in the
spirit of true democracy that we
may get together to lend such volun-
tary aid, the sort of aid that comes
from interest, from a knowledge of
the varied circumstances that are in
volved in handling a nation.
L want you to feel, those of you
who are coming to the assistance of
the professional officers of the gov
ernment. that we have a very serious
purpose, that We have not asked you
to associate yourself with us except
for 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.
L do not have to expound it to
you; you Know as well as 1 do the
spirit Of America. The spirit of Amer
lea is one of peace, but one of in
dependence. 1t is a spirit that is pro-
foundly 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
1t Is also the spirit of a nation that
is self-conscious, that knows and
loves its mission in the world, and
that knows that it must command the
respect of the world.
80 it seems to me that we are
not working as those who would
change anything of America, but only
as those who would safeguard every
thing in America. 1 know that Won
VIII enter into conferences 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 associate
themselves voluntarily with the gov-
ernment in the task in which it needs
all sorts of expert and serious ad-
vice. Nothing ought TO be done in
this by any single group of persons
everything ought t be done by all of
us united together-and welcome
this association in the most serious
and grateful spirit"