Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-21
Security League Speakers
Attack Administrations
Foreign Policy.
NAVY UNPREPARED
FOR WAR SERVICE
Former Secretary Of Navy Declares
Fundamental Defect Of Department
Is That it Has No Brain-New Navy
Said to Be Constructed on Peace
Basis - Ross Advocates American
Merchant Marine.

Washington, Jan. 21.-Attacks on the
administrations foreign policies and
pointed references to "the utter state
of unpreparedness of the army and
navy" and the awakening Of public
opinion on the subject of adequate de-
Tense, were features Of addresses by
prominent speakers today before the
National Security League.
An arraign1nent of the foreign poll
cies of the administration was made
by Henry A. Wise Wood, chairman of
the conference committee on national
defense, New York.
1T may be said with accuracy that
we have no foreign policy at this mo-
ment," he said. with the destruction
of our citizens-while upon foreign
merchant ships or upon our own mer-
chant vessels, we offer no armed in
reference, nor do We offer armed in
reference when our citizens, while
upon foreign soil, are destroyed, their
wives and children outraged, their
property confiscated. Furthermore. 1t
is to be doubted whether at this mo-
ment we are willing, to enforce by
armed intervention such Of our do
mestic policies as are inimical to the
interest Of foreign nations"
"Navy Has No Brains"
George Won L. Meyer, former sec
retary Of the navy, declared:
:. 1.-THE fundamental defects Of the
navy department Is that 1t has no
brain. no competent military organiza-
tion charged with the preparation Of
the fleets for war ana with their con-
duct in war. and In consequence the
navy Is being built on a peace basis
and is not being efficiently prepared
FOR war service -
'5tP. P. w. Ross, president Of the Ma
tional Marine League, advocated IAN
American merchant marine owned by
Americans, manned by Americans and
at the beck and call of our govern
ment."
Henry woodhouse, of the Aero Club
of America, declared that by spending
$25,000.000 the United States could be
made fifth In aeronautic equipment
and still would be ranked by Great
Britain, France. Germany and Russia.
Miss Mabel Boardman, Of the execu-
tive committee Of the American Red
Cross made a plea for support in the
part Of national pre-
Observation-Disclosures to care for those
who suffer in defense Of their country.
Roosevelt Stand Approved.
A demand for universal military SER
vice as the only solution Of the national
defense problem was made the rally
cry today Of the advocates of ma
tional preparedness amalgamated under
the leadership of the National Security
r ~ ,t,,er - ifr
here.
The demand was formulated in let
ter from Col Theodore Roosevelt and
by number of distinguished speakers.
who discussed various phases Of the
ment and people of the United States.
Colonel Roosevelt characterized the
continental army plan proposed by the
administration as sham and an inef-
ficient rival of the national guard.
Would "chinafy" Y. S.
Frederick r. Coudert Of New York
decried the efforts Of the pacifists as
an attempt to "Chinafy" the United
States, and drew upon the European
war for Illustrations to show that the
days Of professional armies were over.
BY Implication and direct reference
William Jennings Bryan and the ma
jority leader Of the house, Representa-
tive Kitchin, were denounced for their
opposition to the preparedness program
of President Wilson. In his address
opening the congress, S. Stanwood
Menken of New York referred to the
notorious inability Of the Commoner
;'.for direct or hard thinking on any
grave matter
Secretary Daniels naval policy was
described as weak and ineffective.
These sallies brought forth sustained
applause from the thousand or more
delegates present on the opening day
of the congress and the demands enun-
ciated by John b. Stanchf1eld, Robert
Bacon, David Jayne Hill, Luke E.
Wright. and other speakers Of national
reputation evoked unusual demonstra-
tions of enthusiasm.