New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-10
TRAINING IS NEED
OF NATI0N-TAFT
Should Have Largest Navy
and Army of a Million
Men Ready

The unpreparedness OF the United
States TO meet the dangers which con-
stantly surround it and which are daily
becoming more acute due TO the nation
expansion through its island posses
sions, was described yesterday by Will
lam Howard Taft in an address at the
Joint convention of the Pennsylvania
and Atlantic Seaboard Hardware Asso-
citation and the New York State Retail
Hardware Association in The Hotel As
tor.
Mr. Taft declared that TO prevent
foreign nation from landing troops IN
this country, in event Of war, we must
have the largest navy in the world and
a reserve force from which we could
marshal 1000, 900 trained men within a
month or six weeks. To bring this
about he urged the passage Of compul-
sory military service law providing for
one years training for every male
reaching manhood.
He called attention TO the fact that
there are $4,000 Japanese veterans IN
the Hawaiian Islands as against be-
tween 5000 and 1000 American troops.
He emphasized the fact that our own
ership of the Philippines makes US an
Asiatic power.
. awe seem TO want the trade Of China
and Japan, but their immigrants don't
appeal to U.S. he said. ave have
kind of color scheme of black and
white and seem to be sensitive about
tho browns and yellows.' A japanese
statesman told me that if the Japanese
were treated in this country as Chinese
have been treated. despite the Japanese
governments desire for peace, IL might
not be able TO restrain its people. The
open door in China has been just lit
tie bit ajar since we helped Japan hex
Russia"
He referred to our unpreparedness IN
every war in which the nation has been
forced TO take part.
1--WE have always been that way,
he said. "The result was sscriflce OF
some of our best citizens VINO rushed
70 the colors unframed in the art Of
war After the Civil War We settled
down to chase dollars while little
thought was given 10 national prepared
ness. When trouble with England over
Venezuela threatened this country We
the New York police force. Where
would we have been il England had
called our bluff?
I've have boosted over winning the
Spanish War, but in doing so
we failed 10 speak of one factor in our
favor. that the Lord had been with US
ranking US with drunken men and chill
dren. He selected the only nation. ex-
cent China, less prepared for war than
we we're 70 battle with US.
We are facing war now-on the
brink Of it. | believe firmly that the
only policy we can pursue Is TO have IL
understo ID that every male who comes
70 manhood shall spend a certain time
in training 70 be a soldier against the
time when he may be needed. You can
call il anything you ike-military
training, consumption or what not-but
il is neees AIRY and would not be bad
thing for the country. The youths Of
our country are coming TO age without
realizing the responsibilities of govern
ment. They need discipline. Even IN
YOUR own homes they rule the roost as
they oughtn't 10. ] should favor one
year of training. II will teach the
youth 20 respect authority and 70 I'M
derstand what il is TO be a subordinate
until he does understand that he is not
fl 10 be a commander.
Germany. if unimpeced, could land
100000 or 100000 men in this country
fully equipped for warfare within six
weeks, but she couldn't land them here
II we had the biggest navy.
President Wilson has declared that
in the next war this country cannot be
neutral His words are profoundly
true. II the science Of war continues
there will be no room for any neutral.
The only way OF preventing the world
from being split up into two armed
camps is 20 form n league 10 enforce
peace, with every government mem
Der Of that league