New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-05

URGED BY TAFT
What Would Be Our Situa-
ton but for the English
Navy? He Asks
NEED STRONG ARMY
TO BE INDEPENDENT
Years Service for Every
Man Between 10 and "a.
Is His Demand


William Howard Taft urged The
adoption Of CONSUMPTION in the United
states yesterday. This was his answer
20 the question: what would he cur
situation to-day # the English navy
we're not between US and Germany -
which he put to an audience Of 900
persons yesterday at tire Academy OF
Music, Brooklyn.
"Can we afford TO or wish 20 rely on
the protection Of another nation al
ways?" he continued. ave should look
ahead with broad vision and adopt
measures that should make us indie
pendent. There is always danger that
even now the sense OF protection that
the forces Of the Allies afford Us as a
barrier to a German offensive may lull
us into falls security and weaken
our sense of duty to ourselves.
at is said we cannot use an army IN
this war. OF all guesses that of limit
ing the extent or demands of a war is
the least reliable. We must resolutely
form a strong army. Conscription has,
until now. been of doubtful eXpediency,
because opposition to II might have
halted all plans for reasonable prep
aration. Now that the war Is on us,
however-now that the people see the
necessity-why should we not take ad-
vantage Of this state OF public mind
and do that which justice and real
democracy require?
Duty Of Every Citizen
"Nilitary service is part OF the dsty
Of every citizen. Very little service OF
any kind in behalf of the general gov.
eminent or the state has been eXacted
from the great body of our people
Conscription is needed to teach our
millions of newly created citizens the
duty of loyalty and to discipline our
FESTIVE young men and teach them re-
spect for authority.
"a voluntary system takes the mower
of the youth of the country, anxious to
sacrifice themselves, and leaves oehlnd
those who can only be dragged in by
ultimate recourse to law.
"Reouire AT least a years service
tUeen tho ages of nineteen and twenty
four. This need not interfere win VOL
unteer enlistments by capable men
under forty.
"The absolute necessity for military
nrenaredness for self-protection is one
~ two lessons of profound importance
the American people should find in the
coming of the European war. We have
had no desire for difficulty with Ger,
many. we have done her no wrong, and
vet. in violation of our rights, she pro-
noses TO do that which, if We value our
honor and our vital interests, we must
resist by force.
"Tbe second lesson is that we are
row 20 close 10 Europe that Euro
mean war as general as TINS y, certain
ir the end TO involve ", and that II Is
a. much our interest as that OF the Eu,
ronoan nations that an international
notice be organized for avoiding such
var. The United States must prepare
itself to assume just share IN the
burden of maintaining such a plan.
I.o,ation a Thing of the Past
"This war is notice 70 us that the
isolation we have heretofore enjoyed rs
n thing of the past and that in our
nreparations to meet the needs OF this
present war We should have constantly
In mind preparation 30 take our
prcper part in the councils of the world
and in the worlds joint action to pre-
vent the recurrence of another such
disaster to the human race.
Mr.. Taft. who is president OF inc
League 10 Enforce Peace, then spoke at
length in favor of peace league OF ma
lions. II was not proposed, nc SAID
thst nations should be forced TO obey
judgments or recommendations oil an
International court or commission, but
o,lv that nations must submit their
disputes TO the court and await its de
cision before going to war. This would
avoid. he said, all hasty, impulslve war
making.
"Mr, Roosevelt has condemned this
nIan with tremendous emphasis said
Mr.. Taft. ale attributes all sorts OF
bad motives TO those who are proposing
II I've got so used 10 that don't mind
il now. Mr.. Roosevelt also says he in
vented the idea. Perhaps he did; J
don't know. But if so. | don't know
Why he now condemns il, unless the an
sver is TO be found on the cover of
The Metropolitan Magazine, which
reads: The League TO Enforce Peace
Is Mischievous, Unlcss-By Theodore
Roosevelt. .,
an this crisis We are going TO rally
behind our President, to o everything
country can do to vindicate its rights
and show we are a moral people, willing
20 make sacrifices to establish moral
principle" said Mr.. Taft in conclusion.
''But in doing all this We should lay
the broad foundatiors for change of
policy. We should be willing 10 accept
our full share, as member of the
family OF nations, of the burden neces-
sary TO avoid the recurrence OF dread
full war
The address was given under the au.
spices of the Brooklyn Institute OF
Arts and Sciences.
AMEDTCAN TTNER