Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-22
SECURITY LEAGUE
SOUNDS ALAR MS
Speakers Attack Wilson's Foreign
Policy and Say Army and Navy
Utterly Inadequate.
WOOD WANTS BIGGEST NAVY

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-Attacks
on the administration foreign poll
lcies and pointed references to 1.-The
utter state of unpreparedness Of the
army and navy" and the awakening
Iof public opinion on the subject of
adequate defense were features OF
addresses by prominent speakers to-
day before the National Security
league.
An arraignment Of the foreign poll.
lc'es OF the administration was made
by Henry A. Wise Wood, chairman of
the conference committee on national
defense. New York.
No Foreign Policy.
1T may be said with accuracy that
we have no foreign policy at the mo-
ment," he said. with the destruction
of our citizens while upon foreign mer-
chant ships or upon our own merchant
vessels, we offer no armed interference,
lnor do we offer armed interference when
lour citizens, while upon foreign soil, arc
destroyed. their wives and children out
ragged their property confiscated.
Furthermore, 1t is.to be doubted whether
at the moment we are willing 70 cnforc,
by armed Intervention such Of our do
nestle policies as are inlmicnl TO the in
terests of foreign nations. He said there
were, however, certain indications that
we are about to experience nation
wide reaction OF public opinion which
ct 4. g.-t-
spirit. finding expression in a definite
icode of policies dealing with foreign At
fairs, in order to sustain which the
United States, if need be, will declare
war.
Wants Biggest Navy.
Mr. Wood said the United States should
formulate n naval policy that would bear
the full brunt, IL necessary, OF a coali-
ton of powers He advocated a naval
policy that would maintain at all times
in the Atlantic a force superior TO that
of Germany. in the Pacific force su-
rerior to Japan; protect tie Panama canal
against capture or destruction by land
or sea, or injury by air"
THE present machinery of our govern
ment Is utterly untitled to deal with our
major problems" declared Charles G..
Curtis of New York, prominent manu-
facturer of ship turbines Congress
should follow the advice OF the general
board and adopt its program without de-
lay. The cooperation of the ship build
ers should be enlisted and both private
and government yards should be put into
condition to build all the warships neces-
sary with the greatest possible rapidity."
"Navy Department Has No Brain"
George Won L. Meyer, former secretary
Of the navy, declared the fundamental
defect OF the Navy department Is that
II has no BRAIN" no competent military
organization charged with tho prepara-
then oS the fleets for war and with their
conduct in war and In consequence the
navy is being built and administered
on a peace basis and is not being eff
GENTLY prepared for the war service.
I'VE add to our difficulties" he con-
tinued, "by being the only civilized ma
ton that has not a budget system" He
urged the fertilization Of the Panama
canal and the additional protection OF
It by the navy. a definite naval building
program, abolition of useless navy yards,
necessary increase OF personnel with the
increase of tonnage, establishment of a
national council Of defense. prompt or
zanization of a naval reserve of over
25.OOO men. and creation Of q navy gen.
eral staff.
American Merchant Marine.
r. II. 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 government"
Henry woodhouse of the Aero club OF
America declared that by spending s25,-
CO0.BOO the United States could be made
fifth i'm acronautic equipment and still
would lie ranked by Great Britain.
France Germany and Russia. The back
hone of an aerial naval reserve could be
created, he said. for 100000 by increas-
I'M; the army and navy equipment and
Miss Mabel Boardman Of the executive
committee of the American Red Cross
made a plea for support in the organi-
cations part OF national preparedness
readiness to care fo" those who suffer