The Washington herald., 1916-04-11
bigger navy OR
|. U. S. DISGRACED'
Albert Bushnell Hart Tells
Navy League Nation Is Men
aced with Humiliation.
DEPICTS WEAK COUNTRY
Harvard Professor Predicts Mexico
Will Be Dependency of u. S.
Within Next Five Years.

Yisualizing the disaster of being sud
denly precipitated into a war with a
powerful nation, notable speakers, adj
dressing the opening session of the
eleventh annual convention of the Navy
League Of the United States at the New
willard yesterday, pleaded for a navy
adequate to defend the country from in
Yasion. More than 1000 delegates from
all parts OF the United States already
have registered.
By picture and word the speakers por-
trayed the present comparatively weak
position of the United States with other
world powers. They asserted that from
the proud position OF second place in the
Iist OF naval powers. the United States
has dropped to a poor fourth place.
Prof. Albert Bushnell Hart, of Harvard
University, In an address on Naval De-
Tense Of the Monroe Doctrine" declared
that before adjournment the convention
must admit the failure of the Monroe
Doctrine or else the American govern
ment must give evidence indicative of
backing the doctrine from top to bottom
Continuing, he said:
.E Wants Great Navy.
We need a navy second to no re-
sponsibility we have already incur
red. Whatever naval force is neces-
sary to protect the interests of the
american citizen on the high seas is
necessary to protect our interest in
neighboring States. The navy must
De brought up to that point or else
we are disgraced and Inevitably wiz,
receive the most terrible humiliation
that has been placed upon any ma
ton since the clash in France in
1870"
He predicted that within five years
Mexico would he n
United States.
The Making of a Navy" was the
subject last night of an ilIustrat Id
lecture by DR.. Nevil. Mnnrna Hopkins
DR.. Edward Breck. field secretary of
the league, introduced DR.. Hopkins
with brief address on Lessons of
American History" -.
Col. Robert NJ. Thompson, president of
the league, in his opening address yes-
terday, denounced the statements con-
tanned in full page advertisements sent
broadcast over the country by Henry
Ford Answering an insinuation that he
personally, as chairman Of the board of
directors of the International Nickel
Company, would profit by an increased
building program, he said:
When Congress voted s., 10000 to buy
nickel at 81 per pound l sold it to the
government for "A cents When the
steel corporation l increased the price
one cent, and when asked why, said that
l received my education from the United
States government and never wanted any
profit. but do expect a fair rate of profit
form other business concerns"
The report OF Secretary Arthur Dadmun
read at the session yesterday emphasized
the growing interest in Preparedness and
especially the naval phase of prepared
ness.
Henry II. Ward, of Boston, asserted
that previous to the organization of the
Navy League the public had no seri-
Gus conviction in regard to the mis-
sions Of the navy.
Among the other speakers at the
days session were DIR. David Jane Hill,
former Assistant Secretary of State
and Ambassador to Germany, who
spoke on The Essential Elements of
Foreign Policy" Sidney Bsllou. former
justice of the Supreme Court of the
Hawaiian Islands. on Comparison of
Naval Strengths" and DR.. Morton
Prince. of Boston.
Perry Belmont will preside at the
morning session of the convention
today. Among the speakers on the pro-
gram are ]. Bernard Walker. Repre-
sentatives White and Gardner. George
Parmly Day, and Charles A. Richmond.