Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-21
Utter Unpreparedness of the
Army and Navy Subject
of Security Speakers.
NO FOREIGN POLICY
Chairman of National De-
Tense Deplores U. S. Rela-
lions With Powers.

Washington, D. c., Jan. 2l.-Attacks
on the administration foreign poll
cies, pointed references to 1.-The utter
state of unpreparedness Of the army
and navy" and the awakening of pub
lie opinion on the subject of adequate
defense, featured addresses by promi-
nent speakers today before the ma
tional security league.
Arrangement of the foreign policies
of the administration was made by
Henry A. Wise Wood, chairman of the
conference committee on national de-
tense.
at may be said with accuracy that
we have no foreign policy at the mo-
ment," he said. with the destruction
of our citizens, while on foreign mer-
chant ships or on our own merchant
ships, we offer no armed interference,
nor do we offer armed interference
when our citizens, while on foreign
soil are destroyed, their wives and
children outraged, their property con-
fiscated.
Sees Nation Wide Reaction.
Furthermore, it is to be doubted
whether at the moment we are will
ing to enforce by armed interven-
ton, such of our domestic policies as
are inimical to the interests of for
eign nations. Therefore, to discuss a
naval policy for the United States, at
| this time, would seem a mere acad-
emic occupation were 1t not for GER
tain indications that we are about to
experience a nationwide reaction of
public opinion which cannot fail to
crystalize into a national spirit, ind
ing expression in a definite code OF
policies dealing with foreign affairs
in order to sustain which the United
States, if need be, will declare war"
In pointing out that "other nations
fight in packs and we singly," Mr..
Wood said, 1.-The United States should
formulate naval policy that would
bear the full brunt, if necessary, of a
coalition Of powers" He advocated a
naval policy that, would maintain at
all times in the Atlantic force super
ior to that of Germany, in the Pacific
| a force superior to Japan: protect the
Panama canal against capture or de-
struction by land or by sea, or injury
by air"
Shipbuilder Urges Greater Navy.
"The present machinery of our gov
eminent is utterly unfttel to deal
with our major naval Problems" de-
clared Charles G. Curtis 0: New York
a prominent manufacturer of ship
turbines. Congress should follow
the advice Of the genera. board and
adopt its program without daiay The
cooperation Of the ship builders Should
be enlisted and both private AMI gov
eminent yards should be put in con-
dition to build all the warships nee
essary with the greatest rapidity"
George Won L. Meyer, former secre-
tary OF the navy. declared, "the fun
damental defect Of the navy depart.
ment is that it has no brain, no COM
petent military organization charged
with the preparation of the fleets for
war, and in consequence the navy
is being built and administered on a
peace basis and is not being efficient
ly prepared for war service"
Would F0rtify Canal.
He urged the fertilization of the
Panama canal and the additional pro.
lection Of it by the navy, a definite
naval building program, abolition OF
useless navy yards, necessary increase
Of personnel with the increase of ton.
mage, establishment of national
council Of defense, prompt organiza.
ton Of naval reserve of over $4,000
men and creation Of q navy genera
staff.
! P. H. W. Ross, president of the ma.
tional marine legaue, advocated "ar
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