The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-23
WHAT HAS BEEN DoNEa

1t lacks two days of a month since
formal declaration of war against
Spain was made. During that time
there have been no military operations,
only preparation for them. That the
country was not prepared for war is
now patent to all the world, but to no
one more than to ourselves. 1t being
foreign war, the government was I'M
der the necessity of calling for volun-
teers. The response TO the call has
been prompt and the number of those
who proffered their services was sew
eral times larger than the amount
called for. 1t is splendid tribute to
the patriotism of the people. The vol
unteers have come forward far more
promptly than they could be equipped.
government was absolutely out of all
military supplies, and it is far from
having what it needs yet. The ma
chinery to turn them out is fast being
put in motion, and each day is seeing
deficiencies supplied.
Against this unpreparedness for war
is cited the example of Germany in the
war with France. BY way of contrast
with the fact tnat not an American
soldier has yet started for Cuba or the
Philippine islands, it is said. and truly,
that within three weeks after France
had declared war, Germany had half a
million troops on French soil And it
is said we should be prepared, for war
like that. One of the anecdotes of that
war is that when Won Moltke was in
formed of Frances declaration he sim
ply told his chief of staff to go to his
cabinet. open certain drawer and he
would there find the plan of campaign
against France, complete in all its de-
tails. 1t is a good story, whether true
or not, and while it illustrates the per-
lection of organization of the German
army, it also shows that Germany had
been preparing for years for war with
France, patiently waiting an opportu
nifty to declare it or to force France
10 declare it, It will be an unhappy
day eDr the United States when they
are prepared for war like that. 1t will
mean that the American people must
submit TO the same burdens that the
Germans do; that they must be soldiers
first and citizens afterwards. To be
prepared for war as Germany is means
to turn country into a military ma
ton, and to subordinate everything to
that one end.
There is not nation on the earth
that, being wholly -unprepared for war,
can so quickly make ready for it as
the United States This country could
have had half a million men as easily
as hundred and twenty-five thousand;
and it would not have been necessary
TO resort to CONSUMPTION or the like
Could any other nation do the like?
Can any other nation furnish from its
own resources everything necessary to
equip and furnish an army? While all
this is extraordinary, yet there should
be some constant preparation for war,
such as keeping an ample supply of
arms and artillery, and ammunition
for them. on hand. There should also
be an ample supply of camp equipage,
but there is no necessity that a large
standing army be maintained
In the matter of creating a navy it is
different. Battleships and cruisers
NehiiliOe NC ouiil III DAY or a year, and
they must constantly be in course of
construction, though we do not need to
maintain any such naval establish
ment as England or France does.
The country was unprepared for war.
when war against Spain was declared,
but things are very much different to-
day and will constantly improve They
might have imDrOved mora ra,idI,-
than they have had there been less in
decision and more promptness at
Washington. .........