Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-03
NATIONAL DEFENSE
AGAIN IN FOREFRONT
Publication of Presidents Let.
tiers to War and Navy Secre-
taries Emphasizes Needs.
Mr.. WILSON SEEKING
PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
Wants to Give Congress All Pos.
sible Information to Build Up
D. S. Forces.

Publication Of President Wilson's let
tiers to Secretaries Garrison and Daniels
calling upon them to prepare for him
definite programs for Strengthening the
army and navy brought the question of
national defense to the forefront again to-
day. The President will submit the pro-
posals, together with his recommendations.
to Congress at its Forthcoming session.
Another angle to the question of national
defense is the announcement by Acting
Secretary Roosevelt of the Navy Depart
ment Of plans for building up an adequate
| national naval reserve in addition to the
existing state militia and the regular re-
serve created by the last Congress through
mobilization Of yachtsmen and power boat
owners and their craft with navy reserve
ships in training squadron.
In army and navy circles today the
nature of the recommendations the
President will make as a result of con-
ferences he plans to hold soon with
Secretaries Garrison and Daniels and
others was awaited with keen interest
This can only be determined, the Presi-
dent says, after further study of the
subject.
The Presidents letters, although
written last month, have just been made
pubic. In them he asked Secretaries
Garrison and Daniels to get the advice Of
departmental experts and submit plans
formulated In very definite terms.
Pursuant to this request the two sec
retaries have about finished their re-
ports. They will shortly be laid be-
fore the President, after which he will
confer with the heads of the congress
stonal military and naval affairs COM
mittees.
Naval Information,
In his letter +o Sacret,r1 n,,ioIe ~
President indicated the question wheth-
the naval experts, should be submitted
to Congress Immediately, could be de-
termined later. In part his letter said
But first we must have professional
advice. 1 would be very much obliged
if you would get the best minds in the
department to work on the subject;
mean the men who have been most di-
rectly In contact with actual modern
conditions, who have most thoroughly
naval warfare, and who best compre-
bend what the navy must be in the fu-
ture in order to stand upon an equality
with the most efficient and most prac-
tically serviceable. 1 want their ad-
vice, a program by them formulated in
the most definite terms.
Whether we can reasonably propose
the whole of it to the Congress i'm
medlately or not, we can determine
when we have studied it, The impor-
tant thing now is to know. and know
fully, what we need. Congress will GER
tainly welcome such advice and follow
it to the limit of its opportunity.
Letter to Mr.. Garrison.
In his letter to Secretary Garrison
the President directed attention to his
desire to submit to Congress a mes
sage dealing with a program for the
development of the army, and in this
connection he said:
Il am anxious. as you know, to in
corporate in my next message to Con-
gress a program regarding the de-
velopment and equipment of the army
and a proper training of our citizens
to arms which, while in every way
consistent with our traditions and our
| national policy. will be of such char
acter as to commend itself to every
patriotic and practical mind"