New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-21
Colonel DenounCeS Will
sons Programme as In
adequate to Needs.
DEMANDS a NAVY
ABLE TO ATTACK
Insists That Is the True Defen'
sive Power. and Urges
Universal Service.

Washington. Jan. 20.-A call 10 tho
American people 20 arm themselves
against a day fast coming. when tneF
may need 20 fight, was sounded to-day
in stirring speeches before the mrs.
congress Of the National Security
League. II was greeted with continued
and enthus. ast.c applause by the sew
ersl hundred manufacturers. puoHcis's'
merchants. lawyers and others gathered
Tor the congress.
Robert Bacon. eX-Secretary Of state
brought the audience at the evening
session TO It's feet when he declared:
The nation is sstir with d new feel
ing There is an awakening through
out the land. The call for America
10 save the Americans IS sounding from
house 20 house and from city 70 city
like that call which on the lSth day -
April IN 20 went through every Mid
dlescx village and farm. and believe
The answer viii be as strong and clear
as it was then
Theodore Koosevelt's name was loud
IN cheercd Ills sister, Mrs. IheoGore
Douglas Robinson, read 20 the gather
ing a letter in which he said that he
regarded the proposed conunonta!
AMY as a sham which would be merely
a. inefficient rival 10 the National
Guard, that the navy programme was
d paper programme, entirely made
oUate 70 our needs and that ml4ltary
preparedncss should be required as a
natter of right. not as matter OF
favor" Of all American citizens.
I. II. Raps Wilson
Colonel Roosevelt hkened the United
States's failure 20 take other action
than diplomatic negotiations over the
loss of American lives by submarine
warfare TO a man whose wite's lace
was slapped on the street and VINO
took no other action than 10 tell her
70 stay home.
Peace. the Colonel pointed out. had
cost the United States more than MS
wars. This great loss OF life ana
honor. he said. was due 20 American
oefenceless. Protest WITHOUT force 10
Lack il was useless. he declared.
Miss Naude Wetmore, chairman OF
the women section of the National
civic Federation, told the congress
thai mo woman who brings up her
children on policy that she did not
,aise her bow 10 be soldier has a
hight TO the protection OF announcer
woman's SON -.
Luxe +. Wright, Secretary of War
in Roosevolt's Cabinet, declared that
the country had reversed the pohcy,,
"Speak softly and carry big suck,
by speaking loudl! and carrying a
stuffed club -
Mr.. Wright said that ii was possible
the United Stats might have 20 hght
England after the present war, be-
cause. If there Is anything that makes
an Englishman peevisn. 1t Is TO disturb
his trade" The present preparedness
programme. he said. was step IN the
right direction, but mighty short
step"
colonel Roosevelt. in his letter, re-
itorated his criticism Of the admins
tration for failure 10 act more de-
cisively on the submarine warfare Ia
sue and announced his preparedness
programme.
Il believe" he said, that we should
base our military and naval pro-
eramme upon the retention and de-
fence Of Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama
Canal and all its approaches, including
ell the points Of South American soil
north OF the Equator, and, OF course
including the defence Of our own
coasts and the islands of the West
Indies. To free the navy we need
ample coast defences, manned by 100
600 men. and "a mobile army Of 10000
men.
"The proposed continental army is a
sham. ID would be merely an Inefficient
rival of the national guard For Il
year or so. during the period Of nov
city. IL might attract some men. Blu,
We cannot expect men 20 sacrifice their
business interests and put themselves
az disadvantage compared 20 their
less patriotic business rivals as a per
Inanent thing. They ought not 10 do
II, and IL Is an outrage 10 ask them
10 DO IL. Military training should be
required as d matter o. right Of all
An appeal 20 Americans 10 revive
their national consciousness that the
country may assume 10 srightful place
ia the society of nations, prepared %
fulfill its duties and obligations, was
voiced by Robert Bacon. former Sec
rotary Of state. lie predicted q re-
habilitation of international law after
the European war.
Colonel Roosevelt's letter follows:
at seems 70 me there are two mat
'ers which every good American cit'