Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-02
WOMEN SOUND CRY
FQRPREPAREDNESS
National Defense Act and
Naval Expansion Favored
as First Move.

program designed to awaken the
women Of the country to the need of
preparedness.
Support of the national defense act
OF 1920 and tho naval construction pro-
gram were called for as the first steps
in their program.
The 400 women attending the con-
ference, who last night heard Senator
James A. Reed Of Missouri describe the
immense naval superiority of treat
Britain over the United States, Today
listened to the plea for support of the
defense act by Secretary of War Davis
and Assistant Secretary c. B. Robbins,
defense of ocean flights by Lieut..
Lester G. Maitland and a demand for
enough men to enforce national policies
by Representatives johnson of Wash.
| ington and Andrew of Massachusetts.
Supports Naval Program.
They also heard-and applauded un-
restrainedly--an attack on "thc degrad-
ing and debasing influence" of the
press by Mfr. Andrews. who declared
that the greatest menace that con-
fronts this country today is the inde-
cency and the responsibility Of the
was able to offer no solution for the
public press" Mr.. Andrews. however.
trouble.
His attack on the press came during
the course of plea for support of the
naval construction program. when he
accused the press Of hostility to the
program and Of subordinating it to news
Of murderous hold-ups. He produced
list OF statistics to show that the
naval program would cost little In COM
parison to what the country spends on
candy. movies, cigarettes and auto
mobiles.
1T would require only 6 per cent of
| what the women of this country spend
annually on cosmetics" he declared
! Warning that with very few excep-
tons the people that have not been
I able or willing to defend themselves
| have been invaded. Inundated or wiped
out of existence" Mr. Andrew asserted
| that I'VE are no longer adolescent. to
have to look to benevolent sponsors to
| protect u.s." and urged a Navy equal
! to the best in the world. large Navy
Is necessary. he said. because OF this
country's long coast line. its large cities
! near the coast. its great amount of
commerce. its insular possessions and
its policies with regard to smaller ma
tons which are unpopular with other
countries.
Tells of Ocean Flights.
He urged that the United States I'M
! mediately start q program to bring its
Navy 70 parity with that of Great
! Britain wherever the terms OF the
Washington conference permit.
| Lieut. Maitland. Army Hawaiian flyer
urged that public opinion insist on
proper preparation for hazardous ocean
flights Such flights. when there has
not been sufficient preparation. are not
a fair test Of aviation. he said. The
success OF his own fiigh, and those of
Lindbergh. Chamberlin and Byrd. Lieut.
Maitland said. was due TO the care
full preparation which preceded them.
He said he had been working on a
| Hawaiian flight since 1919
Passenger airplane travel across the
ocean Will be practicable In the future,
he said. but not until plane has been
perfected which can ride any sea II
forced TO alight.
Secretary Davis urged the women TO
support the defense act. which. he said,
provided the first national military
policy In this country's history.
That act Is not a measure proposed
by professional soldiers for a profess
sional army" he said.
ON the contrary. II is the result OF the
composite recommendations OF the OUT
standing military leaders of the Ameri-
can Expeditionary Force representatives
81 military and semi-military organiza-
tons. veterans associations. patriotic
orders. business. industrial and labor or
CARNATIONS and citizens with no affilia-
tons Of any kind"
He enumerated the activities OF the
War Department under the defense act
and paid tribute 70 the work OF Col.
Eanford MacNider. who has Just bsen
succeeded as Assistant Secretary by Col.
Robbins
Col Robbins declared that In spite of
the demand TO outlaw war mo nation
has yet devised the means OF outlaw
ing war and In spite OF the large num-
Der OF persons who passionately advo-
cate such measure we do not find that
there yet has been devised a plan to
secure this country or any other co,n-
| .ry from the perils Of arms and conflicts.
Scores Pacifists
This nation became a nation as a re-
suit OF war. II has been maintained as
n nation only by the sacrifices OF its
citizens In many wars" Col. Robbins
said
1T will endure only so long as It's
people are willing TO offer their lives.
II necessary. for It's defense No paci-
Iistic doctrine ever created a nation
no pacifistic doctrine ever maintained
q nation"
Mr.. johnson traced the history OF the
Monroe doctrine and declared that a
large Navy Is necessary TO enforce It.
Implied force cannot be depended
upon 10 last always" he said The
Army and the Navy have 10 be In the
background 1t cannot be a paper
Navy or toy Army"
The delegates were received at the
White House by President Coolidge at
IL 80 this afternoon.
doctrine being taught In the world
today" s. decentralization, Senator
Reed OF Missouri last night made q
vigorous plea for maintenance OF
Americas national defense at IA point
where no other nation can success
fully attack our shores" The Senator
was the first speaker Of the conference.
"A person Who divides his allegiance
letween two countries Ii loyal TO
neither and traitor 10 both" he as
serted. urging isolation OF this country
~ far as possible from all world EN-
broilmcnts and controversies.
Calls Treaties Useless.
Such policy coupled with aa army
and navy large enough TO enforce our
authority" would be- the best safe
guard against war. he said We may
advocate the abolition Of war" he as
serted. but we dare not leave our
shores defenseleas War Is horrible
but II exists"
lie reviewed the history Of the past
100 seara. atressing The Italo~ Austrian
break In the World War. and declared
that rarely IN either ancient or modern
times has war been fought. which
did not rend former treaty Of peace
Paper treaties are no defense against
artillery" ne said
The Senator paid his respects TO
those VINO seek TO regulate your drink
and what you eat" and warned that