Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-16
COUNTRY NEEDS BIG NAVY
Best Kind of Insurance, Says
DR.. Edward Breck.
Field secretary Of NAVY League of the
I nitcd states Addresses Members
Of Ethan Allen Club and
t;ucNts.

The lecture given Saturday evening at
the Ethan Alien club house by Or. Ed
ward 1srecl>, scnior field secretary Of the
! Navy League of the United States. before
/ the members of the club and their invit ed
/ guests, proved one of exceptional interest
Dr. BreCk spoke on the United States
navy and with a very convincing delivery
pointed out the real needs OF the navy
and told for what the Navy League stood
Il Wae through the cooperation OF T. w
Elliott president of the Ethan Allen club.
and Gen. Y. S. Pec< that DR.. Breck, who
is an authority on this subject, was
brought 70 this city. An invitation to
hear DR. Breck and spend the evening at
he club was extended to the Algonquin
club members aud the officers at Fort
Ethan Men. Following the lecture a
bu"e' ijucn was served.
''"t extract OF Or. Preck's lecture
fo'H
League is n patriotic society
:" Years ago for the purpose OF
E''. 'n navy up to date. Ina powerful
NHN. ct" is peace and the league is the
hes, peace society in tho United States.
y ro"clful navy is the cheapest insur-
"hcc no; for peace but against war Peo-
MI" who believe in the motto "pcace at
ANY price do not understand the intrinsic
meaning Of insurance. They dispose of all
possible enemies. perhaps arguing that
Japan Is banl>rupt. that Germany will not
want another war. etc. etc, but as rich
To afford insurance, This insurance, as
any good insurance. is costly
The worst thing the Navy League is
iS
mean ignorance among the ignorant class
of people but ignorance among the
more Informed class Of conditions as they
actually exist in tho navy. What thu
league wants is. first, n more powerful
navy. n good reserve. 5000 more men Ia
man not only our first class ships but
many Of tho second class. a council OF
national defense Of which We now have
none, plenty of ammunition which do not
now possess, efficiency, system univer
sal military service something of the
Swiss nature, absolutely democratic, a
IT merchant marine.
The United States with all her riches is
entitled 10 the best. The trouble is thai.
matters of the navy are left entirely to
congressional committees rather than be-
ing put into the hands of experts as ia
done in other countries. Josepkus Daniels
has been appointed the expert manager
of the greatest and most complicated ma 4.
'hinory of the United States. and. con-
'rary to his report that all was going
we'll and in fine condition in tho navy,
senator Lodge on calling for the report of
Admiral Fletcher. which had to he cough
cd up 10y Ioscphus. found that there were
many Weaknesses. How can the Amer
lean people correct any weakness that
they are not aware exists? Europe is
informed of every one Of our weaknesses.
1t was over a year ago that the California
was authorized by Congress and tho keel
has but just been laid, Not n tap has been
done on an ocean going submarine au-
:horized II months ago. What private
builder would allow these conditions to
exist" Another argument against Dan
els is that there is not one navy officer
in one hundred who does not detcst him.
When this condition is founI to exist
there is something wrong with the man.
In answer TO tho pacinsts who want to
obtain peace by ahuishinG all arms. /
would say arms do not bring on war but
force must back diplomacy. The Monroe
doctrin" does not make our country pop
ular with its orders for Europe and Asia
TO keep off the grass OF America. 1t is
with immortal cheek that We stand up and
make such declaration with no navy to
back II M. The Monroe doctrine is the
coclljcSt doctrine ever set m by any ma
ton and it is regarded abroad AS the
grea test bluff in history, to De called at
the proper time.
mr.. Breck had a number Of stcreopticon
slides showing some Of the coun'ry's