New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-05
Credit for Preparedness.

In his speech to the New York Pres.
Club last week President Wilson threw of
these happy ideas: "Of course. it Is ou'
duty to prepare this nation to take care OF
its honor and of its institutions. OF course
it is the duty Of the government which II
will never overlook. to defend the territory
and people of this country"
\ prerequisite to the defence Of our ter
ritory. our institutions and our honor Is
military preparedness. We are not pre-
pared as yet in a military sense. Nor ha:
the government at Washington ever
worked earnestly and harmoniously for
preparation. The part of it for which Mr.
Wilson speaks directly-the executive de
partment-has itself put the brake on
hardest. In the House of Representatives
Mr.. Hay. the chairman Of the Committee
on Military Affairs, and Mr. Padgett, the
chairman Of the Committee cn Naval Al
fairs. have also done what they could 70
block adequate preparation. Fortunately
the House has at times broken away from
their rcactionary leadership.
The Senate alone has made a fight for
something like real preparedness. 1t was
defeated-by an alliance between Mr.. Hay
and Mr.. Wilson-on the question Of army
reorganization. 1t has now a better chance
of winning against the House and the Ad-
ministration in its fight for a greatly en-
larged naval programme.
The Senate Committee on Military Al
fairs has just increased the amount car
ried in the army appropriation bill 10y
s146.OOO. OOO-or so per cent. OF the House
bills total of S1S2,OOO.O 900, $25.O00,OO0 was
added in committee of the whole agains;
Mr.. Hays protests. He insisted again and
again that he had allowed all the money
that the War Department had asked for.
The Senate army bills total is more than
twice as large as the appropriation recon-
mended by the House Committee on Mill
tarv Affairs, which claimed TO be carrying
out the suggestions of Secretary Baker 1t
is evident. therefore. that if our army
faulty reorganized and inadequate as 1t
is-ever gets equipped for real service,
how very small part of the credit Of
that achievement must 90 to the Admins
tration and to Mr.. Hay. It's only recognized
spokesman i'm Congress on military policy.
The Senate Committee on Naval Affairs
has lust recommended the completion IN
three years of the fvo-year building pro
gramme submitted by Secretary Daniels at
the beginning of the session. Such a
speeding up would involve a 40 per cent
Increase over Mr.. Daniess estimates. The
House Of REPRESENTATIVES cast aside COM
pletely the Navy Departments plans. 1t
laid down one-year building programme,
departing radically from everything THAI
the Secretary had advised. i favored Tor
1861 more capital ships and much
larger enlisted force than he held to be
necessary. Now the Senate has gone much
further than the House, increasing the
total carried in the naval appropriation
measure by S35OOC00O and greatly eX-
pediting and charging constructions
Undismayed, however the Secretary IS
still struggling to tag on. When the House
turned him down he wrote the chairman
of the House Naval Affairs Committee a
letter Of congratulations. Now that the
Senate has rejected his building pro
gramme as too dilatory, be is also LAVISH
in expressions of aftcr-the-evcat approval
He has consistently fought real naval pre-
paredness. Though Conercss and the coun-
try have found him out and checked ms
power for mischief. he still remains Sc
r;o,,e obstacle to naval cGic.cncv BY nc
stretch Of charity can any credit he gNcf
him for the very considerable increase IN
the navy's strength which, owing 70 the
Senate committees energy has now 9ooe
chance of being written INTO ,ais years APP
preparation bin.
The Senate is the only branch Of the gov
eminent which has shown any real apprc
citation of the needs OF our military sltua
ton. 1t stood. for a time at least. for d
real army reorganization. though it lac..eo
the grit to fight the sham Has rcorganiza
ton to a finish. 1t is for powerful, com
pletely coordinated and roundabout navy
1t may not prevail in It's navy igh
against ethargic House and an Admin
istration which has never known its owr
mind. But it has at least given eyidenc,
that its eyes are open and that its iudg
ment is sound. 1t Will rightly monopoliz,
the credit for whatever has been merlto
rious. either in performance or intention, Al
the preparedness record of the present Adj
ministration.