The Irish standard., 1908-03-28
Professor Monaghan Thinks Not, But Sees
No Harm in Being Ready For
Such Contingency.
Says This Country Could Not Be Defeated
Through Any Combination Of the
Foreign Powers.

1t looks, to some, as if we are to have
war whether we want 1t or not. A lead
ing magazine for March heads an arti-
Gle OH the Lamb Rampant" with a
rather remarkable editorial note. 1t is
hardly necessary to add, hope, that
the written or printed word is no more
oracular than is the spoken word. Just
because: a word appears i'll a book is no
good reason why it should be believed.
An unsupported word is usually worth
less. The editorial in question is as
fellows ''Commissions for the army are
going begging. On November 3, 1907,
there were 3s1 vacancies in the grade
OF second lieutenant, the shortage being
37S7 per cent. :; s. At Fort Leaven-
worth recently only Is enlisted men
were competing for 203 vacancies in
the grade of second lieutenant. s. An
heroic attempt was made recently to
obtain second lieutenants for the COAST
artillery. n =" % The presidents Of 1875
colleges and technical schools were in
formed that the war department would
welcome applications by the graduates.
At the end of four months
rot an application had been received
direct from the institutions canvassed."
IN. Y. Sun, Jan. II, 1908)
'The mobilizing of the U. S. army,
for the benefit to be rendered the little
,In1er f.nnaifi0nS would
duce very poor results" says Lieut. Col.
lie Juge, a retired officer Of the German
army, in a pamphlet just issued on the
American land forces. No preparation
for war is made in peace; no organiza-
ton of the units into armies with their
requisite STATS has been made up, and
no provision is made for supplies."
(Berlin Correspondent Of N. Y. World,
Jan. 13, 190S.)
The foregoing are only random ex-
amples Of constantly appearing news
items and editorials. The country re-
ceives them with indifference. 1t re-
fuses to remember that the most de-
vastating international conflict of mod.
ern times-the Franco -Prussian war
began and ended before France, proud,
rich, but unprepared, had time to con-
centrate her resources. Within a few
weeks she lay bleeding and humiliated
before a nation at that time potential
ly no stronger than herself. Unpre-
pared as she was, the defenses of
France in 1870 far surpassed those of
the United States today. There is no
doubt Of our prosperity; we can raise
more money in less time than any nat
ion on earth. We have unparalleled
aptitude and inventiveness; within
tw wenty-four hours we could have mil
lion men clamoring to march against
the invader. But are We prepared? 1t
takes 1S months to make 12-inch
coast defense gun: from two to three
years to erect a plant to make these
together after the parts have been
made; and, worst of all, it takes a year
to turn a citizen into soldier. Of
none Of these guns nor (sic) soldiers
have we sufficient to begin war. Mean
time, there are nations whose money,
brains and men are practically always
in the field. Are we SO drunk with dol
lars and pride that we are careless of
the day of reckoning. AS We stand to-
day, our assertion Of the Monroe Doc
trine is a monumental bluff, backed by
nothing but noise and luck This mag
azine is not preaching materialism nor
conscription we are not advocating
huge military establishments, but we
are placing before you the plea Of an
army officer, backed by the majority
of his fellows. and in this plea we
earnestly concur. The result is with
you. and you, and you. What are you
going to do about it?" The foregoing
very inaccurate and very foolis', edi-
tcrial is the advance paragraph or fore.
word of long article that is about as