The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-09-08
WILSON FOR DEFENSE.
REQUESTS GARRISON AND DAN.
IELS TO SUPPLY DATA ON
NEEDS OF NATION.
Asks Information for Next Message
Recommendations for Strengthening
Dcfcnses to BE Incorporated in
Communication to COngress-Expcrt
Counsel OF Technical Subjects.

So"hsci OF 1cchn1cal subjects. ,
Washington, Sept. 2.-President
Wilson tonight made public letters lie
wrote to Secretaries Garrison and
Daniels last month asking them to
formulate for him definite pro-
grammes for strengthening the ma
tional defenses that he might make
recommendation in his next message
to congress.
The secretaries have been at work
on the reports for more than q month
and now have them virtually COM
pleted. AS soon as they are submit
ted the president will discuss them
with the chairmen of the military and
naval affairs committees Of congress.
The letter to Secretary Daniels
Ireads:
II have been giving, as I am sure
you have also, great deal of thought
to the matter of a wise and adequate
naval programme to be proposed to
the congress at it's next session and
l would like to discuss the whole sit :
uation with you at the earliest DOS
sible date.
But first we must have profess
Isional advice. l would be very much
obliged If you would get the best
minds in the department to work on
the subject; I mean the men who
have been most directly in contact
with actual modern conditions, who
have most thoroughly comprehended
the altered conditions Of naval war;
| fare, and who best comprehend what
\ the navy must be in the future in
order to stand upon an equality with
the most efficient and most practically
serviceable. / want their advice, q
programme by them formulated in
the most definite terms. Whether we
can reasonably propose the whole of
1t to congress or not, We can deter
mine and study it. The problem now
Is to know and know fully what we
need. Congress will certainly well
come such advice and follow it to the
limit Of its opportunity. 1'
1T should be a programme planned
for a consistent and progressive de-
velopment Of this great defensive arm
Of the nation and should be Of such
Kind as to commend itself to every
patriotic and practical man."
To Secretary Garrison the president
wrote: "t
| Il have been scarcely giving less
thought than you yourself have to
the question Of adequate preparation
of the national defense, and I am
anxious. az you know, to incorporate
in my next message to congress pro-
Igramme regarding the DEVELOPMENT
and equipment Of the army and q
proper training Of our citizens to
arms which, while in every way con-
\ sistent with our traditions and Our
national policy, will be Of such a
| character as to commend itself to
every patriotic and practical mind.
| Il know that you have been much
In conference with your professional
associates In the department and that
you have yourself come to some very
definite conclusions on these exceed
ingly important matters. I would be
very much obliged if you would be
Kind enough to prepare for me a pro-
gramme, with estimates of what YOU
| and the best informed soldiers in your
counsel think the country ought to
undertake to do. I should like to
discuss this programme with you at q
time as early as it can be arranged" j."
| The following telegram from John
Hays Hammond. president of the Ma
tional League of Republican Clubs.
was made public tonight by Secretary
Garrison:
Regardless of politics the people
are behind you in the important work
you are so ably doing for our national
defense.
| ANY suspicion as to your integrity
or purpose is entertained only by shall
low minds and by contemplate politi-
clans whose wish is father to the
thought 1t will prove to be politi-
cal suicide to socalled leaders of the
| Republican party If they do not cor
olaiiy cooperate with the administra-
ion In the matter of national de-
Tense"
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