Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-06
Germany Charged at National
Defense Conference With
Killing Americans.
NATIONAL GUARD HELD
PRACTICALLY WORTHLESS
Censure for President Also Implied.
Closing Session Is
Held Today.

Germany charged with killing
American citizens on the high
seas, Great Britain accused of
piratical interference with United
States commerce and the declara-
ton that the National Guard, the
third defense of this nation, is
practically worthless because of
mismanagement by the War De-
partment, were startling features
of the closing session of the ma
tional defense conference today.
Reference was made to "the amiable
nonsense of Mr.. Bryan" and to 'the
war whoops of Col. Roosevelt" There
President when 1t was asserted that
there are times when we "are too proud
not to fight" and that "the country is
tired of being slapped in the face"
The United Slater was cited as facing
a third crisis in its career as nation.
Switzerland was pointed out as a model
for the world in training of marks
manship. Notice was served that this
is no place for anything but a true
American at heart and an undivided
offered that any immigrant welcomed
from any other nation should subscribe
to an oath of loyalty. and that If he
show disposition ito howl for the fa-
therland here at a safe distance, let's
send him back at once"
Last of Three-Day Session.
This was the last of the three-day
session of the conference on national
defense in the New Willard Hotel
under the auspices of the National De-
fense League, the Navy League and
the National Rifle Association. The
speakers today were Prof. William Lib
bey, Princeton University, president OF
the National Rifle Association; Judge
James H. Blount: Gen. Charles d. CATH
er of Baltimore, Nd commanding the
| Maryland National Guard; James s.
Holmes of Fort Totten, N. Y; 9. E.
! Ward, president of the Toledo Military
! Association; Gen. Jacob H. Smith OF
Portsmouth. Ohio. commander n-cnie! !
of the army of the Philippines, and
Gem II. sOden Lake, commander-in-chief
of the Army and Navy Union.
Adequate Navy Desired.
Resolutions declaring the desire Of
the conference for a navy sufficiently
strong to meet all comers and for
prompt increase of the army and Ma
tional Guard and other means or de-
fense were unanimously adopted as
follows:
..It is the unanimous opinion of the
conference on national defense, which
is participated in by representatives OF
the National Defense League, the navy
League and the National Rifle Assocfa-
ton the three principal and oldest pa
dofa
representatives of the Grand Army OF
the Republic, the United Spanish War
Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the Army and Navy Union and
the Union Veteran Legion, the five
principal veteran organizations of the
United States, that
THE American people. in order to
provide for their needs at home and
abroad, for their security from foreign
aggression and for the maintenance of
the ideals which have inspired the re-
public from it's foundation, must Gre
ate an efficient fleet sufficient in size
to keep the national honor unstained
ITO this end the conference on ma
tional defense indorses unreservedly
the views which have been enunciated
by the experts of the general board o.
the navy, who are properly charged
with the duty Of determining the size
of the feet.
For Council of Defense.
BE it further resolved, That the con-
ference on national defense believes
that means should be adopted to CO.
ordinate the needs of the navy as ex-
pressed by the general board with the
necessities of the nation. and there
fore heartily indorse the proposal for
Il general council Tor national defense.
"1he conference on national defense
sees with intense gratlncation the
nf tlr l.
lar appreciation OF the needs or the
navy, and lndulges in the hope that this
feeling will md expression IN practical
measures to bring into being the fleet
which must be prepared for common
defense.
1T Is the sense of this conference that
the army, the National Guard and all
other means OF national defense be
the recommendations OF the general
staff cf the army.
This conference desires that Con-
gress take immediate steps to provide
Tor a council of national defense.
These resolutions were drafted and
signed by committee, consisting OF
Wlnneld Jones, CHAIRMAN, representing
the National Defense League; Arthur
Ii. Dauman. representing the Navy
League; Prof. William Llbbey, repre-
sentIng National Rifle Association: Col.
John McEIroy, representing the Grand
Army OF the Republic; Gen. II. Oaen
Lake representing the Army and Navy
Union; Dr. Clarence J. Owens. repre-
senting the citizens; Col. D. L. Rice.
representing citizsns: P. T. Moran, rep
resentIng the Washington Chamber OF
Commerce.; John Callan OLaughlin,
representing the press; Erasmus Will
SON ana Col Orlando w. Aldrich. repre-
senting the Union Veteran Legion. and
Capt. j. Walter Mitchell. repi esenting
the United Spanish War Veterans.
nanIares Matinnal Guard