DEFENCE OF UNITED STATES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4006, 12 August 1915, Page 7

DEFENCE OF UNITED STATES.

SECURITY LEAGUE FORMED. RESULT OF GERMANY’S ACTIONS EFFORTS TO ENFORCE PEACE. OLME.It WAR NOTES. SAN FRANCISCO, June 22. ine movement for a bigger United ocates army and navy, has received a 1 impetus from tlie torpedoing i Ol , 0 Lusitania ami the diplomatic exchanges with Gernmny that have rolloned. the people Tit large have no thought that this country is likely lo go to war with Gorinanv, hut the view ns spreading that the nation should at least be m shape so that beyond doubt an invader could he repelled. Doubt upon the present ability of the defence rorccs to accomplish this end against a strong enemy is freely east in the pross and on the platform. One expression of the conviction that increased measures of defence are needed is found in the formation of an organisation known as the National j {security League, which recently held I a . nieoting in New York attendee] by I delegates from twenty-five States. The ! conference called upon President WiJ- j son to direct the early attention of | Congress to the necessity oi prompt and efficient action with regard to the national defence. The preamble to the resolution declared; "The reports I °f our naval and military expert's have made it clear that the chFenco forces of the country are inadequate for the proper protection of our coasts, to enable our Government to maintain its accepted policies, to fulfil obligations to other States and to exert in the adjustment of international ijiiestioiis' the iniluence to which the RcpubiiV is entitled.”

lii a speech, George von L. Meyer, former iSVcretary of the Navy, said: “Of 33 battleships, we have only 21 that arc fitted for ■*service without long delay. Furthermore, we have about seventy miscellaneous lighting ships not prepared for service in case of emergency; our submarines are in a crippled condition; the complement of all torpedo destroyers has been reduced Irom 15 to 2d per cent to get men lo commission new boats; the Atlantic fleet alone needs 5000 men.’'

) Henry L. Stimson. wJio was Soerc- ’ tary of War under President Taft, made pointed reference to the issue that has arisen bv reason of the dejst ruction of the Lusitania. i; To-dny we are fata- to face with the European . war,’’ he said, "in which one of the i combatants has roveiTed to t!ie thorough-going logic of primitive warfare. .Finding force to be the ultimate ; factor in war, she has declined to rc- > cognise any inconvenient restrictions upon the use of force which interfered i with her purposes or methods of warfare. The neutral rights of Belgian territory lay between her and her goal, and she trod them underfoot: unable . to harm the fortresses or battleships i of her island enemy, she has not hesitated to bombard unprotected towns [ and villages, and to torpedo unarmed j merchant vessels. It was inevitable | that such an attitude must sooner or later bring ■Germany into antagonism with the rights of every neutral nation dwelling in or doing business with Europe.” Another organisation formed in the I United States as a direct outcome of ihe European war calls itself the League to Enforce Peace, American Branch. Former President Taft is the president of the league. The objects of the signatories before any question stated in the following resolution:‘'We believe it to be desirable for the United States to join a league of nations binding the signatories to the following: (1) All justiciable questions ! arising between signatory powers, not ■ settled by negotiation, shall, subject | to the' limitation of treaties, be sub- ! mitted to -a judicial tribunal for hear- | ing and judgment, both upon the | merits and as to any issue as to its I jurisdiction of the question; (2) ail other questions arising between the signatories and not settled by negotiations shall lie submitted to a council of conciliation for hearing, consideration, and _ (3) the signatory Powers shall jointly use forthwith both their economic and military forces against any one or their number that goes to war or commits act of hostility against another of the signatories ebfore any question arising shall bo submitted as provided in the foregoing; (-1) conferences between the signatory Powers shall bo held from time to time to formulate and codify rules of international law, which, unless some signatory shall signify its dissent within a stated period, shall thereafter govern in the decisions of the judicial tribunal mentioned in article 1.” Steps will be taken to get European countries interested in the league