New Britain herald., 1915-10-06
PREPARE; NOT FOR
 WAR, BUT DEFENSE Wilson Outlines His Attitude to
 Naval Advisory Board APPLAUDED BY HEARERS
President Believes We Should Be Ad-
 quately Ready for Any Emergency Spirit of America is One of Peace,
 But One of Independence.

But One of Independence.
 Washington, Oct. 6-President Will son outlined his attitude toward the national defense question today to the new advisory board of the navy. He believed. he said, the whole na- tion was "convinced that We ought to be prepared, not for war, but for defense, and very adequately pre- pared"
 The president received the mem bers of the board, headed by Thomas A. Edison after their preliminary con- ference with Secretary Daniels and navy officials. The board later went with Secretary Daniels to the naval proving grounds at Indian Head, Md, on an inspection tour.
 President Wilson's Remarks.
 There is very little that I can say to you," President Wilson said, "ex- 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 do want to say this:
 II 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 co-opera- tion of the best brains and knowledge of the country outside the official ser vice of the government as we'll as in side. For my part, I feel that it is only in the spirit of true dem ocracy that we get together to lend such voluntary aid, the sort C aid that come from interest, from knowledge of the varied circum- stances that are involved in handling a nation.
 T 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 a 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.
 Americans For Peace
 T do not have to expound it to you; you know as well as I do the spirit of America The spirit of Am erica is one of peace, but one of in- dependence. It is a spirit that is profoundly concerned with peace, be- cause it can express itself best only in peace. It is the spidit of peace and good will and of human freedom; but it also is the spirit of a nation that is self-conscious, that knows and loves its mission In the world, and that knows that it must comand the re- spect of the world.
 "So 1t seems to me that we are not working as those who would change anything of America, but only as those who would safeguard everything in America. I know that you will enter into the conference 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 profes- sions, should be willing in this way to associate themselves with the gov ernment in the task in which 1t needs all sorts of expert and serious advice. Nothing ought to be done in this by any single group of persons-every- thing ought to be done by all of us united together-and I welcome this association in the most serious and grateful spirit"
 Applauded by Hearers.
 The president was warmly applaud ed by his hearers. Secretary Daniels then introduced each member of the board to the president, and he shook hands with them all.
 The trip to Indian Head was made on the presidential yacht Mayflower, members of Secretary Daniels ad- visory council of department off, cials accompanying the invention board.