Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-01
Army and Navy Register
Holds League Statement
InSuIted President.
CALVIN TO SEND LIST
OF MEMBERS TOMORROW
F. J. Libby Sees Danger of U. S.
Being Treated to Mad Won
Tirpitz Program.

While Navy League workers yester-
! day we're preparing a membership list
from which President Hoover will select
jurors to try his case against the league
the President gained support of the
National Council for Prevention of War
in his fight to reduce naval expendi-
lures.
From quite another quarter, the Army
and NAVY Register, which has wide dis
tribution among naval officers. came the
opinion that 1.-The Navy League state
ment of this week is nothing short of
an insult to the President of the United
States"
Frederick ]. Libby, executive Secre-
tary of the National Council for Pre-
vention Of War. a prominent figure at
congressional hearings on armament
appropriations, made known his views
in a brief. formal statement, in which
he senSed another and more devastat-
ing world war" in the oflng, unless the
American people support President
Hoover in his controversy with the
Navy League. If the President fails,
Mr.. Libby insisted America will be
treated to a mad Won Tirpitz program.
hist for Hoover Tomorrow.
William NJ. Calvin, executive secre-
tary of the Navy League, last night said
that he expected to have the list of the
organizations membership compiled for
the White House by tomorrow morning,
so that President Hoover may proceed
to name his investigating commission.
| This new group will inquire into the
! leagues charge of "abyssmal ignorance
of naval affairs. aimed at President
Hoover in a pamphlet made public last
week by William Howard Gardiner.
president of the league. The Chief
Executive has promised that members
of the league will be on the Investigate
ing committee.
Walter Bruce Howe chairman of the
board of the Navy League. is almost
ready to name the exact date for a
special meeting of the Executive Com
mittee to consider the next move In
the controversy with the President.
The statement of Mr. Libby follows:
This is the showdown. Unless the
country backs up the President, Amer
lea viii be treated to mad Won Tir-
pitt program with another and more
devastating World War.
The professional navalists and
their financial associates fail to realize
an arm of the civilian authority and
not the ruling power. President Hoo
Yer, in his determination to suppress
what is tantamount to a revolt on the
part of the Navy and its friends, is
maintaining che of the cardinal prin-
ciples on which this Government was
founded namely, the supremacy of the
civilian over the military authority.
THE National Council for Prevention
of War is with and will stay with the
President in his determination to resist
and eliminate the attempted dictator
ship, direct or indirect, by a Subordi-
nate branch Of the executive depart
ment of the United States Govern
ment."
Register" Makes Comment.
Under it's News and Comment coll
umns the Army and Navy Register,
asserted
The Navy League, capable of great
usefulness and hitherto possessing in
fuence and achieving results with Con-
gress and the people, is composed Of
patriotic citizens who have been quite
satisfied with the previous representa-
tons and appeals made in their name
and on behalf of the Naval Establish
ment Those expressions have been
, courteous and dignihed. if at times
somewhat proliX and didactic Any
departure from this standard can only
mean loss of prestige and sacrifice hof
! opportunity. The Navy League state
ment of this week is nothing short of
/ an insult to the President of the
United States. who has acted promptly
and properly with a retort that makes
it possible to have an investigation
through. an instrumentality that is in
telligent and impartial, characterics
not reposing in a congressional COM
mittee with its paltisanShip and hap
hazard method. for which the head
of the Navy League expresses prefer
ence. The Navy League document is
an apt illustration of the detrimental
consequences of excess of zeal. Had
q foreign observer or organization en-
ployed Identical language in an allu-
sion 10 the President of the United
States. 1t could be expected that the
Navy League, from its traditions and
achievement. would be the first to
utter protest and administer rebuke
The Navy League. finally. has injured
itself and reduced the chances of con-
Quoting in Congress successful fight
for an adequate Navy. Apology or re-
traction now, it may be apprehended.
will not repair the damage that has
been done scurrility that is equally in
eXCusable and ineXplicable because SO
gratultous."
As against thu views expressed by the
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