The Washington herald., 1916-04-12
ANSWERS ATTACK
ON Defense men
H. H. Chamberlain Brands
Charge of Selfish Motives
a "Sanderous Lie"
BRYAN AND FORD SCORED
U. S. Has Lost Respect of World.
William H. Stayton Tells Navy
League at Session Here.

In an unscheduled address at the close
OF the second days session Of the Navy
League yesterday H H. Chamberlain,
chairman Of the worchester branch OF
the National Security, classed as "a SLAM
derous lie" the charge that the Navy
League and the National Security League
are financed by munition makers He said
in part;
When men Of great experience. In
cluding former Ambassadors Senator'S and
others. tell Us that we are In need OF
defense, and then when an automobile
manufacturer or apostle Of grape Juice
comes along and says that these people
are bad or friends OF bad men, whom
are you going to believe Their charge IL
founded on a sianderous lie, and IL Is
a question whether their ethics are not
as bad as their reasoning.
Tive Armentans recently Joined our
society. did not question whether they
were employees OF some munftion plant
and were seeking our help for higher posi-
tions, but took II for granted they were
joining from high principles, and a de-
sire to see prevented outrages such as
have been prepetrated on their fellow
Armenians at home: The motive Of all
national defense societies Is to save our
country from disaster and disgrace
Have Lost Respect of World.
William H stayton. of New York, as
serted that the United States should have
the strongest navy in the world because
we need a navy big enough to protect
both coasts at the same time and to win
back that wonderful asset we have lost
the respect Of the world.
There Is . growing antagonisrn be-
tween the United States and the rest OF
the world, and the only thing that can
restore this country to foreign respect is
a power sufficient to command it," he
declared.
The speaker pleaded as much for q
navy personnel Of $4,000 men, which he
said would cost only as much a year to
maintain as Great Britain Is spending
every sixteen days during the present
European war.
Instead Of the old rattlesnake nag,
with the motto, Don't tread on me-" he
said, the United States seems to have
adopted a flag with q typewriter on it
and the motto, Don't tread on US or we
win make you pay for it II we can COL
Iect'
The speaker took a fling at Secretary
Of the Navy Daniels when he declared
that the Secretary should be a man Of a
business type at least strong enough to
I'LL a position such as the head OF the
United States Steel Corporation He
added: Some Presidents have given US
that type Of Secretary. others do not"
Bishop Urges Defense.
Peace may best be brought about or
anticipated by adequate national de-
fense,' declared Rev. John N. McCor-
mick, Episcopal bishop Of the Western
district OF Maryland. He said he could
see no inconsistency between the fact
that he had prepared a prayer for peace
to be used in his district and that he was
making an address before the Navy
League in favor OF preparedness.
Representative Gardner, Of Massachu-
sets, startled the delegates when he de-
clared that the Secretary of the Navy a
nookwinktng the American people as to
the true condition Of the navy.
I'VE have suffered from suppressions
and reticences and exaggerations and
boastfulness," he said. CONGRESS and
the public have not been getting the
whole story. do not mean to say that
We have been getting many absolute mis-
statements, but We have had some. It
passes my understanding why the War
Department should publish full figures as
to ammunition and mines and the target
practice of our coast defense guns, while
the Navy Department should refuse ali
those figures"
Three Fundamental Steps.
Perry Belmont. of New York, who
presided over the morning session, stated
that there are three fundamental steps
that must be taken in putting the nation
in state of defense: Mobilization of
industries, establishment of a council of
defense, and provision of financial means
TO carry out program of adequate de-
fense.
The history Of the naval power OF
the United States was the subject of an
eloquent address by J. Bernard Walker.
Henry White, former Ambassador to
France. spoke on the effect Of the
domestic policies of the United States
on foreign countries and the necessity
Of making the army and navy a fitting
force to back up the diplomatic corps
The history of the Yale battalion of
field artillery was recounted by George
Parmly Day treasurer of Yale Uni
versity
Among the other speakers of the day
were DR.. Charles a. Richmond, president
Of Union College, and Prof Charles Nobel
Gregory, Of George Washington Uni
versity.
Among the speakers on the program for
this mornings session are Henry A. Wise
Wood, Charles @. Curtis, Isaac N.
Seligman, and Rear Admiral Bradley A.
Ftske. At the afternoon session the
speakers will be Representative SatterIee
Edmund j. James, president of the Uni
versity Of Illinois; s. stamwood Menken,