The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-16

aeroplane as a wal engine. just as tho
explosive rifle ball. poisonous gasee
and dangerous microbe Of diyease. and
the like. have been barred from civil
lied warfare, but the same. talk was
once made about the torpedo boat.
1t was believed that 1t would make
war impossible from its great destruc-
tiers have adjusted themselves. SO that
the torpedo bate Is no longer a sea
terror.
The same thing will be true Of the
aeroplane. The problem will be met
and the situation handled in such q
way as to rob it of its greatest ter.
rors. but this can be done only by be-
ing amply prepared and equipped to
meet the eventually Of war with ade..
quatc enginery to oppose h enginery
Of any invader.
Cumbered up with this question of
war cnginery is that other very peril
nent Observation-Disclosures or not we
shall much longer need implements Of
war.
There is at the present time a grow
ing intention to put an end to wars
by international Cancellation and ar
bitration. In other words, 1t is the in
tention to substitute law for war. We
must. however. keep strongly in mind
the interdependence Of international
law n ornaments.
Cancellation must not be confound-
ed with arbitration and persuasion
must not be COMPOUNDED with law.
I believe in international arbitra-
ton. 1t will unquestionably lessen the
frequency OF wars: but many wars
are sure to come. both because Of 1t
and in spite of 1t. There are ills Of
national bodies polite. which can be
cured only by he sword. There are
insurmountable differences between
different nations and races of me
which are always sure to arise. as i'm
possible to arbitrate az the Differences
between the herbivora and the car
nivora.
There are such radical differences
and such concomitant radical diver
sity Of interests between the various
races of men that it is going to be
about as big a task to harmonic their
interests, aims and activities. as it
would be to bleach their skins to a
uniform color. The orators who shall
plead at the international tribunal
will speak in the voice Of the deep
throated guns behind them. Their
%persuasian will be that of cold steel.
international sympathy hat will be
their guide. but self-interest, and no
demands will be relinquished except
from policy in the observance of such
rights of others as are warded by the
frowning ramparts.
We. in our position of so-called
splendid isolation, have little anxiety
about wars preparation, but we must
remember that the fast advances and
improvements in ocean transportation
are bringing the great war powers
nearer and nearer to u shore, for
they are narrowing the seas.
Although there is little likelihood of
our becoming ernbroilcd in war with
Great Britain. for arguments sake,
suppose that England should declare
wal against us, or that Japan should
declare war and England fall in as
Japan's ally. There would be an UNI
protected frontier Of more than 1900
miles from Atlantic to Pacific. across
which aerial fleets could come and
devastate the northern United States.
Ihe German government has appro-
priated $7,500,000 to prepare for aerial
warfare. Suppose this government
only about half that Of a single dread
nought.
1t may be urged that we are in no
danger: that there is no foreign power
threatening the United States, and
none In a position to threaten us. But
It must be borne in mind that soldiers
cannot be made in a day, and that the
experience which will be necessary to
conduct the sky battle of the future.
which other nations are preparing for,
cannot be acquired In a few days, or a
few weeks. or a few months, but will
a years-and there should be time
to spare. Action by this government
should be prompt and generous.
When we assure ourselves of the re-
moteness of the possibility of our be-
coming involved in a war with a for
eign power we do not sufficiently take
into consideration the peculiarities Of
the Monroe doctrine and the contin-
Eencies which may arise from its de-
Tense. Again, the Panama canal will
lead us into new foreign relations;
strange emergencies may arise, and
guns may have to lake part in the
arguments. even, perhaps, with now
friendly England.