| Show PRESIDENT ASKS DEFENSE PLANS Extra Session of Congress May MayBe MayBe MayBe Be Called to Consider Mili- Mili Military tary Situation 1 Washington July July Jul 24 Announcement 24 from the White House today that PresIdent PresIdent President Pres Pres- I ident Wilson son had directed Secretaries Garrison and Daniels to report to him hima a program of or national defense caused widespread read comment It became known that several weeks ago ngo the tho President discussed the question ques Clues tion at length with his cabinet with the tho immediate result that both the war and navy departments began secret preparation of or plans plaus to meet an any emergency and also Uso to establish a permanent policy polley to be presented to Congress Congress' for adequate national d ddt ddt- tense The Thc White House statement gave save no reason for the tho announcement stating merely that the tho President would confer confer confer con con- fer on his return from Cornish N N. H H. with Secretaries Daniels Dant Js and Garrison to formulate a sane reasonable and practical program of or national defense In was Indicated clear clearly however In official quarters that the Ule determination to such ouch plans as were wore being made resulted from a a consideration I I of ot the tho many possibilities of ot present In International ln- ln situation Tho President in letters to Secretaries Garrison and Daniels early last week calling for the reports made mado no reference to any particular particular par par- situation but emphasized the importance of or tho the entire subject ct of ot national al defense lIe He wishes wishes wishes' to make the navy nay a as efficient and ser serviceable blo as any In the world tu to sea the tho re regular ular arm army adequately adequate developed and equipped and the citizenry trained to aims In iii a Wa way consistent t with American American Ameri Ameri- can traditions and which will commend Itself to l practical and anti patriotic men May Uny Call Special Session S President Wilson has not Indicated whether or or not he will call Congress Into special session This depends largely on developments In tho the International International international Inter Inter- national situation The dispatch to Germany German of or what Is Js generally regarded aa as tho the strongest note yet written t tany to tp an any of the European belligerents ha has ha accentuated the possibility of or a special session In the event ent that American rights ar are aro again violated by Germ German n submarine submarino commanders dIscussion discussion discussion discus dIscus- While there was widespread sion today of ot the administrations administration's plans for tor the tho national defense the prevailing r interest was tho the probable size of ot the appropriations to be asked for Among arm army and navy officials who ho are familiar familiar fam fam- lUar with the developments and who are ate enthusiastic over O the backing which President Wilson la Js giving tho the tho the be belIet belief belief be- be program as ss so far developed lief lIet prevailed that a a. military budget practically double that ot of last year cor would be lie presented The Tho arm army It ft was onas believed ed would seek at least and the navy perhaps as high as aa Army War Var department plans look Jook toward tho the development of It a. a large reserve army with a n minimum It is said of or men and with adequate provisIon provision provision pro pro- vision for tor the u use uso o of ot tho the militia mUltia and men who have havo previously served In tho the regular army I Tho The navy department It ha has been heen In Indicated indicated In- In will ask for tor at least thirty and probably fifty additional submarines The general boards board's recommendations also are arc expected to Include a R. numb number or oror of or battle cruisers a minimum of or four tour dreadnoughts and a n proportionate num num- ber of scout cruisers and auxiliary craft cratt such as fuel ruel ships and submarine submarine rine tenders The department Is s deeply deeply deep deep- ly engaged In experiment with aeroplanes aeroplanes aeroplanes aero aero- planes and submarines and also with attempts to find a practical means of ot defense for tor battleships against torpe torpo- does doeR The Tho exports experts it Is said are spending spond- spond ing on this this' last problem alone |
