Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-22
BINGHAM ASSA|LS
ECONOMY IN NAVY
Aztec Club of 1847 Dinner
Hears Notables Advocate
U. S. Preparedness.

Urging adequate preparedness at all
times. Senator Hiram Bingham of Con-
necticut declared the last thing in
which We should economic is the ma
tons first line of defense--the Navy"
in an address before the Aztec Club Of
l847 at its eighty-fourth anniversary
dinner in the Willard Hotel last night.
Seated next to him at the time was
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy Ernest
Lee Jahncke, q member of President
Hoover'S commission which found
Hoovers naval economy plan sound. Mr..
Jahncke earlier in the evening had
glorified the part played by the Navy
in the Mexican War.
Senator Bingham's reference to the
Navy was made after he had advocated
preparedness at all times. While stress
ing that rigid economy at present Is cs-
sential, he indicated he felt the Govern
ment should economic in almost any
way other than with the Navy.
Says Navy Prevents War.
The speaker declared I'VE were drawn
into the World War because Germany
believed we couldn't prepare in time and
that she could wipe out the allies before
we could cross the ocean,"
Senator Bingham praised President
Roosevelt as 1.-The man who welded the
big stick and spoke softly" and the lat
ter's sending the United States Navy on
cruise around the world. Several ma
lions, which at the time had not ap-
pesred very friendly, were soon max
ing love to u.s. as q result Of the
strength shown, Senator Bingham said,
You gentlemen know the horror of
war;" Senator Bingham said. 1.-THE only
way to prevent it is through prepared
ness"
Senator Bingham also expressed
strong opposition to granting the Philip
pines independence.
Jahncke Praises Navy.
Senator Bingham's speech came Inn
lone, commander of the Sd Corps Area.
United States Army, had delivered an
address urging preparedness. Asserting
"the finest index to the future Is the
history OF the past" Gen. Malone said
the day has not yet come when we
may safely assume that the Army will
not again be used upon the battlefields
Of the world
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy
in his address paid tribute to the heroes
Of the Mexican War and the Amer1-
cans who opened up the West for the
Stars and Stripes.
WHO knows but that with Great
Britain in actual possession of Cali
fornia. she would not have absorbed
our Southwest and made herself the
partial, If not the absolute, mistress of
North American" Mr.. Jahncke asked.
But we Of this day cannot avoid the
thought that II Lieut.. Archibald ii.
Gillespie OF the Marines had not DOS
sesSed the courage and tenacity Of pur-
pose, and IL Commodore John D. Sloat
had not reposed in Gillespie that self
same confidence the leading figures of
Government at Washington had in
trusted in him, the United States of
today would not have bordered on the
Pacific Ocean," Mr.. Jahncke continued
IN paying tribute to the American
heroes in the War with Mexico.
+. I. Polk New President.
Maj. Gen. Ben H. Fuller, comman-
dant OF the Marine Corps, was the other
speaker Of the evening. He recounted
history and tradition Of the CORPS.
In accordance with the socfety's
customs, the speeches were in the forms
OF response to toasts to the different
branches Of the military service the
speakers represented.
FLIoF 70 TIE olnner the club held
short business session. In accord
ance with the custom of the club the
vice president during the past year.
Frank L. Polk Of New York City, auto
matically became president, succeed
ing Lieut.. Col. U. s. Grant. Sd. Mr..
Polk was prevented from attending the
meeting due to illness.
Col. J. r. r. Lands, assistant sec
rotary during the past year, was named
vice president. The assistant treas
urer, Leonard L. Nicholson, jr., was
named treasurer, and the secretary,
Conway B. Hunt, was reelected. Next
years meeting will be held in New York.
The membership of the club is COM
posed Of the nearest blood relatives of
officers who served in the Mexican War.
Col. Grant informed the club that
the organizations original home in
Mexico City has just been located after
q search extending over several years
by Edmund Kirby-Smith and Mai. Otto
Holstein, two Americans resident in
Mexico, who are members Of the club.
The club was organized October -,
1647, when the United States Army was
in Mexico City, and Is now composed
OF the Oldest sons or nearest blood
relatives NJ 0ff7Nnra An tina Mayiran TTTar