Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-05-18
SECURITY LEAGUE
ISSUES CALL FOR
VOLUNTEER Army
SEEKS MEMBERSHIP OF ONE MIL
LION FOR DEFINITE MILITARY
PROGRAM.
To Prepare against War',-NatiOnaI
Defense an Issue at the Next Session
of Congress.

Better Coast defense, a definite mil
itary and naval policy, a budget sys
tenn for appropriating money instead
of the present pork barrel" method in
Congress, an effective mobile regular
army, better government support for
the national guard, and the creation of
an organized army and navy reserve
are among the platform planks upon
which The National Security League is
sending out an appeal for the enroll
ment of first American army of one
million volunteer workers.
Among the names which appear in
the membership of this League for
National Defense are Joseph H. Choate
former Ambassador to England, Hon
orary President; Alton B. Parker, Hon
orary Vice-President; S. Stanwood
Menken, President; former Secretary
of War, Henry l.. Stimson, Chairman
of the Army Committee; j. Bernard
Walker, Chairman of the Navy Com
mittee; Benjamin F. Tracy, former
Secretary of the Navy Colonel William
c. Church editor of The Army and
Navy Journal.
In the call for volunteers the League
points out that until a satisfactory
plan for disarmament has been worked
out and agreed upon the nations of
the world, the United States must be
adequately prepared to defend itself
against invasion, and also that a mil
itary equipment sufficient for this
purpose can be had without recourse
to militarism." The League was form
ed, continues the appeal, las a prep
aration not for War but against War"
There are today according to the
League, but 10000 mobile troops in
continental United States, and this
SMALL force is short of officers, am
munition, and equipment. 1t is dis
tributed among 50 widely scatter
points, which would make it impos-
sible to mobolize quickly at any given
point.
The National Guard, according to
the League, is far below its paper
strength in men, equipment and eff
cheney.
In the report of the naval committee
our navy is described as "a peace
navy" inadequately manned, without
sufficient target practice, exceeded in
| tonnage by Great Britain, France and
Germany, and moreover, with many OF
our ships obsolete. There is need of
navy of sufficient size" says the
committee, ito prevent the capture OF
our nsular possessions, to guarantee
the neutrality of the Panama Canal
and to prevent the landing of hostile
force at any point upon our 21,00Q
miles of coast"
Among the standing committees be-
ing organized by the eague is Peace
Committee, on which it is proposed 20
invite representatives of the church on
non-sectarian basis, to serve to-.
gether with men distinguished as pub
licists, whose services will tend to dis
arm those critics of the League who
have brought the accusation that the
League is organized for the promotion
of War.
The call for volunteers and for pub,
lie support is being sent out in the
form of an open letter addressed to
present and former members of the
Cabinet, to Members of Congress, to
governors of four states and territories
to Mayors, to Chambers of Commerce
and Boards of Trade, to Merchants
Associations, to University Clubs and
Alumni Associations, to Colleges and
Universities, to Patriotic Organizations
and to all Women's Clubs and to all
American Citizens in general.
1t is the present plan of the League
to make National Defense an issue al
the coming session of Congress. With
this program in view, branches are be-
ing organized all over the country es-
TN 4. G