New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-23
Robert Bacon to Head
Cam paign for
Preparedness.
GARRISON PLAN
is INDORSED
Four Ex-Cabinet Members
Urge Reform to Sc
curity League.

Washington, Jan. 22.--An indorse-
ment Of Secretary Garrison's efforts
toward enlargement Of the nations
military forces was voted to day by the
National Security League, with the res
ervations that the regular mobile army
should be even greater than that con-
templated in the War Department plan,
and that adequate national defence
would depend ultimately upon "univer-
sal obligatory military training and
service" A greater building programme
for the navy than has been outlined by
the Navy Department was urged as es-
sential in another resolution adopted.
Steps to coordinate the work Of the
various organizations seeking greater
armament WAS indorsed, and il was un-
derstood tonight that definite plans
had been made for a general eonsolida-
tion Of such organizations in a defence
league, with Robert Bacon, ex-Secre-
tary Of State, as It's president. Be-
sides the National Security League,
societies expected 70 enter the new
organization include the Navy League,
the Army League. the American De-
fence Society. the Aero Club Of Amer
ica and many others which have Joined
in the movement for preparedness.
Wickersham for Universal Service.
Adoption OF the resolutions followed
Endorsement of Secretary Garrison's
programme as first sound step tow
ard adequate preparedness by Elihu
Root and Henry l.. Stimson. both for
msr Secretaries Of War in Republican
administrations. At banquet to-
night, concluding the three-day meet
ing Of the league. George W. Wicker
sham. Attorney General in Presiden.
Taft's Cabinet, advocated universal
military service and immediate repeal
Of the law under which the national
guard would be called into service In
advance Of volunteers.
Other speakers at the banquet were
Senator Lodge, Of Massachusetts, rank
ing Republican member of the Foreign
Relations Committee, who discussed
Americas Danger" and George Haven
Putnam, Of New York.
A set of resolutions, drafted by a
committee of which Luke f. Wright,
ex-Secretary Of War, was chairman,
were adopted almost unanimously.
They were in part:
"Be it resolved, that the defence Of
the United States depends on an ade-
quate navy and a national army found
ed upon a system Of universal obliga-
tory military training and service. This
system must be wholly under the dis
cipline and control Of the national au-
thorities. We deprecate all steps
which tend to obstruct or postpone the
adoption of such a universal system.
Four Divisions in Army.
THAT the National Security League
indorses the efforts of Secretary Garri-
son to obtain an increase in the regu-
lar army, the correction Of our faulty
enlistment law, the establishment Of an
adequate regular army reserve and tho
accumulation Of an adequate supply OF
ammunition, artillery and material. but
we believe that in addition to the pro-
posed quota Of coast artillery and
auxiliary troops the mobile regular
army within the United States should
comprise at least four complete in
fantry divisions. "a recommended by
the War College report of 1915.
That the National Security League
recommends the authorization By Con-
gre,s of a council Of national defence,
as Sc. forth In House Bill No. 1888 Of
the first session Of the Sixty-third Con-
gress. commonly known as the Hobson
bill. for the purpose of securing more
harmonious cooperation between the
executive and legislative branches Of
Continued on page 9. column