The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-03
A VIVID WAR WARNING.

A VIVID WAR WARNING.
Mr.. Homer Lea who has such iNtl-
mate vlcdgc of Oriental. and cs.
pcciaIIv of Chinese, affairs, has recent
ly issued . remarkable volume, "Thc
Valor of Ignorance 1t is fully Illus
trated and has flhly prepared maps,
tables, and statistical data. The Har
pers published the book in fine form
1t is a work of monumental Importance
to the American people. 1t has the en-.
dorSemcnt of many of the higher off
calS Of the army, and lieutenant. Gen
cral Adna r, Chaffee has written a
commentators introduction for IL The
author tells us that he had partially
completed this work Just subsequent 10
the signing of the Portsmouth treaty,
but that it was put aside IN order to
allow sufficient time TO verify or dis
prove its hypothesis and conclusions
Yet IN all the essential details it remains
as originally written. Succeeding events
have so confirmed the beliefs of the
author that he now feels justified IN
giving ihe book 10 the public. 1t has
an introduction by Lieutenant General
Adna r. Chaffcc, who commcnds the
work as one that 'more deserves the
attention of men who study the history
Of the United States and the Science
Of War than any other known TO him.
General Chaffec quotes the following
paragraphs from Washington as TO the
comparative values of regular and vol
unteer troops;
Regular troops alone are equal 10 The
| eNigcnccS OF modern war. as well for de-
fence as offence, and when a substitute
IS attempted, 1t must prove illusory and
ruinous.
No militia will ever acquire the habits
| necessary 10 resist a regular force. The
hrmncss requisite for the real business OF
fighting Is only TO be attained by con-
staut course OF discipline and service.
| have never vet been a witness TO q
| single instance that can Justify differ
ent opinion. and il is most earnestly to be
wished that the liberties OF America may
no longer be trusted. in a material de-
gree. to so precarious defence.
There can he no doubt in the world
about the importance Of the subject
treated herein. nor of the soundDcss OF
the views expressed The author. per.
ud Il>N WdGu'liNe Nh' uAuS'l VI an ~
tack upon the west coast of the United
States by Japan; but he gives the de-
tails of how such an attack could be
made. and would probably he success.
full 1t is hard 10 avoid agreeing with
the conclusion that there is enough
substance to what is shown, TO cause
the United States TO sit up and take no
tice, and prepare for what might come.
The utter inadcquacv oC the United
States army. in numbers, in officers
and in general fighting equipment and
readiness, is shown in quite a startling
way. Ii is shown that ne have pitt.
full lack Of Officers compared with
Japan; that we have no army staff as it
is understood in military countries;
that we have no means Of mobiliZine
and transporting speedily any number
of troops; and that Japan could reach
our coast quite easily with half mil,
lion men before we could get one tenth
that many on the coast TO oppose them
And what is worse, II is shown that
the Japanese would be far better off
cercd. trained, and equipped proper
tionately 10 numbers. and especially in
the quality and training of lis officers
than our own would be If there were
I any immediate danger threatening, this
work might we'll be considered as tax
: ing rank with the suprcmely important
; work. 'Helpcr's Impending Crisis.
which had such tremendous effort
Just prior to the opening Of the WaI
of the Rebellion.
This is certainly an epoch making
work, one that may well cause alarm tc
patriotic Americans, aud even a sort
of disgust when those patriotic Ameri
cans realize the total unprcparcdness
of the United States army, and the alb
I solute indifference with which this con
! dition is generally regarded. Yet, al
though it should stir the nation to il:
e depths. it will probably not make ever
. ripple We arc so optimistic that ",
refuse TO look upon the dark side o.
anything. and VIC have been so fortu
. nate in the outcome Of our trouble.
j that we seem to think that we have
!, God given right to triumph in spite
!, Of our lack Of preparation when w,
/ have any difficulty or engage in any
conflict. The memory Of the attempted
mobilization Of troops for the war il
5 Cuba aQd the Philippines ought to b.
n 8, sufficiently keen reminder of fin,