The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-11-05
MUST Be PREP AIRED
FORDEFENSF,N
AGGRESSION
Wilson Opens Campaign for Big
ger Army and Navy
ASKS FOR UNITED COOPERATION
Desires that Men Who Differ with
Him Should Make Clear Their
Position.

New York, Nov. president Will
son opened the nistration's cam
paign for its national defense pro-
gram in a comprehensive address
here tonight at the Manhattan club
dinner, He declared solemnly that
the United States had no aggressive
purposes but must be prepared to de-
fend itself to assume full liberty and
self-deyelopment." Significantly he
said that with ourselves in this
great matter, we associate all the
peoples of our own hemisphere" ad-
ding that I'VE wish not only for the
United States, but for them, the full
lest freedom OF independent growth
of action"
The president was received with
enthusiastic applause as he entered
the hall and during his address. The
hall was decorated with American
flags and even the galleries were FL
led with Democrats, happy over their
victory in New York city. When the
president rose to speak, everyone
jumped up and applauded again and
again until he was forced to signal
Tor quiet.
Within year. said the president
1--WE have Witnessed what we did not
think possible, a great European con
fict involving many of the greatest
nations of the world. The influences
OF the great war are everywhere in
the air. All Europe is in battle.
Force everywhere speaks out with a
loud and imperious voice in titanic
struggle for government, and from
one end Of our dear country to The
other men are asking one another
what our own force is, how far we
are prepared to maintain ourselves
against any interference with our
national action or development.
The president called upon men, of
all shades OF political opinion" to raj
ly to the support of the program He
said 1t represented the best profes-
sional and expert opinion of the
country and he gave warning that
g if men differ with me in this vital
matter shall ask them to make it
clear how far and in what way they
are interested in the permanent in
terests of the country safe against
There is no need for the country to
feel panic stricken, the president de-
clard, because it stands in friendly
relation with the world" He spoke
of the United States as "a nation too
big and generous to be eXacting but
yet courageous enough to defend its
rights and the liberties of its people
wherever assailed or involved
Outlining the defense program the
president said it included an increase
in the standing army, the training
within the next three years of 40e,-
900 citizen soldiers to be raised in
forces of 10000, and the
of the National Guard.
He laid particular emphasis on the
need of ample equipment.
The president declared that the
navy alrady is a very great and
efficient force" but that in order to
Drlng 1t TO a point or extraordinary
force and efficiency" a definite policy
must be adopted and FASTENED, and
an adequate supply of men and equip
ment provided.
In addition to speaking on national
defense, the president attacked men
who love other countries better than
America" and men who stir up re-
ligious and sectarian antagonism. He
declared that such men should be
called to reckoning.