Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-01
NAVY IS PREPARED
FOR IMMEDIATE:
WAR, SAYS WILSON
Organization Better Than
Ever Before, but Force
Is Inadequate,
ARMY NOT LARGE ENOUGH
EVEN FOR PEACE DUTIES
Repeats Warning That No Time
Must Be Lost in Strength
ening Defenses.
AMERICA CRUELTY MISJUDGED
Called On for Some Sort Of Protest
at Every Tragical Turn
Of Events.
ARMY NOT LARGE ENOUGH
EVEN FOR PEACE DUTIES
AMERICA CRUELTY M1sJuDGED
Called On for Some Sort Of Protest
at Every Tragical Turn
of Events.

CHICAGO. January 3l-'rhc United
states has made preparations FOR inn
mediate war. far as the navy IS con-
cerned. although the present naval
force is inadequate in size. President
Wilson declared tonight in an address
before several thousand persons in tho
Auditorium.
we mean business" he said. in
speaking OF the preparedness plans OF
the administration.
we have given to the present fleet
OF the United States an organization
such as II never had before. | am told
by ADMIRAL Fletcher the President
said. "And we have made preparation
for Immediate war so far as the navy
$ concerned"
He said that the army. as constituted
at present. 'is not large enough. even
for the ordinary duties OF peace
The President repeated his waruincs
that no time must bc lost in strength
ening the dcfenses Of tho nation. lie
declared the government was doing
everything ii could for preparedness
when ! sec some OF my fellow
citizens spread tindcr where sparks
are falling. ! wonder what their ideal
OF Amcricanism is" tho President said.
America" the President said. had
been cruelty misjudged by the nations
at war.
Il know that on the other side OF
tho water there has been q great deal
OF cruel misjudcmcnt with regard to
the reasons why America has remained
neutral. Those looking at us from IL
distance do not feel the strong pulses
or ideals and purposes that are in us.
AMERICA MORE READY TO DIE:
FOR A!THOUtiHT THAN. A ,DOLLARs
'"They do not feel the conviction OF
America that our mission is n mission
of peace, and that righteousness can
not be maintained ms a standard In the
midst OF arms. They do not realize
that back OF all our energy we are
body OF ihealists much more ready to
lay down our lives for II thought than
for dollar.
They suppose, some of them. that
we are holding off because we can
make money while others are dying,
the most cruel misunderstanding that
any nation has ever had to face--so
wrong that it seems almost useless to
try TO correct il. because it shows that
the very fundamentals of our life are
not comprehended or understood"
Rulers not public opinion. brought
hpo"t Tue present war, Nir. Wilson de-
clared.
Il thank God there is no man in the
United States who has the authority to
bring on war without the consent of
the nation" he said
The task OF the United States. he
said, has been to assert the principles
of law in a world in which the prin-
ciples OF law have broken down.
I'VE are not now Thinking of in
vasion OF the territory OF the United
States" tho President declared that
is not what is making us think. We.
are not asking ourselves shall we be
prepared only to defend our own homes
and our own shores
rs that all we stand for? To keep
the door closed securely from our
enemies? What about the great prin-
ciples set up for liberty of national
government in the whole Western
Hemisphere? We stand pledged to see
that both the continents OF America
are left free to be used by their people
as those people choose 10 use them
under system of national popular
sovereignty as absolutely unchal-
lenged as our own.
AT this moment the Americas are
growing together upon that handsome
privilege OF reciprocal respect and de-
fense."
DETAILED PLANS ARE
OUTLINED BY WILSON
Detailed plans for strengthening the
army and navy and tho aviation corps
and for making munitions and arma-
ment by the government were out
lined. The President spoke for nearly
an hour.
The Auditorium was q riot of red,
white and blue, swung In festoons from
rails and boxes. Sack OF tho stage
hung the American coat OF arms on IL
field Of blue.
An hour before the President was
due 10 speak the four galleries above
the main floor were white with faces,
and many were turned away.
Mayor Thompson. of Chicago oc-
cupied seat on the stage near the
President. and Governor Dunno, OF
Illinois. was in box.
Twelve hundred police held in check
the sidewalk throngs. clearing The
street entirely OF traffic between the
hotel and the Auditorium. The rous!ng
welcome with which Chicago greeted
his arrival was echoed in the cheers
Of the crowds about the building as
the presidential party came in. Mr..
Wilson was introduced by Frank c.
Caldwell president of the Industrial
Club. The President began TO speak
at Sis O'Clock.
In beginning his speech, the President
referred to the rapid development since
the European war broke out, Aaying
that year ago IL did saem as if
American rights would be respected
without anxiety, and take II for granted