Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-28
SENATOR WARNS
Of PERIL TO j. S.
Chamberlain Urges Prepara-
ton Against predatory Ma
tons" Banding Together.
SECURITY LEAGUE DINNER

Senator Chamberlain of Oregon.
chairman of the Senate committee on
military affairs, last night warned the
people of the United States that they
are facing troubles, mot only at home,
but abroad. from predatory nations,
VINO are banding themselves together
for wha. purpose God only knows" but
he said, II do know It behoores US to
prepare"
Senate. Chamberlain's warning was
delivered in an address at E. great ban
cuet Of 800 persons at the New Willard
Hotel, held as the final event of q
three-day Congress of constructive
patriotism under the auspices Of the
National Security League. He shared
place on tho speakers program with
former Attorney General Wickersham.
who discussed the proposed league to
enforce peace: with Rear Admiral
Robert E. Peary, U. S. N, retired, who
outlined a program for developing air
power for defense, and who pointed to
the important part air attacks nave
played in the European war. and with
other speakers. among them FORMER
Senator Lafayette Young and former
Representative Martin w. Littleton.
Robert Bacon. former ambassador to
France. president of the National Sc
the surrounding walls being framed
with garrison size American hags. The
banqueters rose and sang THE Star
Spangled Banner in much the same
way those present at the opening OF
the convention. three days ago. recited
the Lords prayer in unison. Some OF
the most distinguished men of the
country were present. many having
come from long distances to take part
in the proceedings of the congress, and
Mr.. Bacon read a long list of patriotic
and defense societies affiliated with the
National Security League. to whom, he
said. the thanks Of the league are due
for important assistance in stirring the
people of the country to the necessity
for increased military preparedness.
and what he called the first step in
preparedness-the necessity for uni
versal and obligatory military training
United States.
Senator Greeted With Cheers.
The convention delegates welcomed
Senator Chamberlain with great
shout and a series Of cheers when he
began to speak. He did not .mince
words in speaking Of the necessity for
military. training. saying, impressively:
II wish I could tell you Of what I
know of some of our prospective and
present troubles at home and abroad"
He continued:
1.-THE American people ought to real
ize that they owe some obligations to
our country for the benefits they have
any particular set Of young men Of our
country be sent to the Mexican border
or anywhere else? While they are do
ing their duty to their country, the
Ia 10
fist. II you please. remain at home to
take the positions of the young men
who have gone forth"
Senator Chamberlain said he found
soon after he Joined the Senate COM
mittee on military affairs that the his
tory in the school books from which
the youth of the country are taught, is
not the true military history of the
country. Abiding to 4the various re-
ports made by commissions and COM
mittees in regard to the country's mill
tary situation since the war of the
revolution, he said:
Every one Of these reports, except
the last that was made by the general
stan of the army, was pigeon-holed by
the Congress of the United States. Can
you blame the American people that
they do not understand that they are
standing on the brink of a volcano that
is liable to explode at any moment and
ton and our people?
Cure Is Military Training.
THE cure is that for which you are
now neutrality-suspicious. and compul-
sorry military service and training. For
more than a month I have sat from 10
o'clock am. to 6 o'clock pm. listening
to what people think of that PROPOSE
ton. You would be astounded II you
knew the opposition to 1t. So warn
youi Go forth and tell of the neces-
sity for universal training and service
In every schoolhouse of this land, for
there are predatory nations who are
banding themselves together. for what
purpose God only knows. but 1 do know
that 1t behooves us to prepare. 1t Is
easier now for a foreign nation to
mobilize troops on our shores than it
was during the days Of the civil war to
mobilize troops from Washington at
Appomattox. and my judgment is that
we must compel all our able bodied
citizens from eighteen to forty-five
years old to prepare themselves to re-
spond to their country's call"
Mr.. Bacon capped Senator Chamber
lain's speech with the cry: Il
Wake up. America! The hour is at
handy